Digital twin
A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical product, unit or process, kept up to date with real data, used to simulate, predict and improve how the real thing behaves.
Ask which twin someone means before you build one. A twin of the product design, of a serialized unit in the field, and of the manufacturing process are different things with different data needs.
The digital thread is what feeds a twin. Without connected data, the twin is a nice 3D model that drifts out of date.
Related terms
Go deeper
Last reviewed November 2026 by Element Consulting
