DHL has just launched the new “Digital Twins in Logistics” Trends Report as part of the first Internet of Things (IoT) Day of Germany’s DHL Innovation Center. The report explains the concept and rise of digital twins and how they create added value. The technology, which involves the use of digital models to better understand and manage physical assets, is already established in some industries and has the potential to significantly improve logistics operations.
A digital twin is a virtual and unique representation of something physical that monitors and simulates the physical state and behavior of that same object. The digital copy is continually attached to the physical object and is undergoing updates to reflect changes in the real world. Applied to products, machines and even corporate ecosystems, digital twins can reveal insights from the past, optimize the present, and even predict future performance.
“The digital twins market is expected to grow more than 38 percent a year, surpassing the $ 26 billion mark by 2025,” said Matthias Heutger, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Innovation & Commercial Development at DHL. “Digital twins offer unparalleled capabilities for locating, monitoring, and diagnosing assets. These will change traditional supply chains with a variety of options that facilitate data-driven and collaborative decision-making, streamlined business processes, and new business models. We are committed to working with our customers and partners to jointly explore the different applications of this solution in our industry, “he adds.
Applications of digital twins in logistics
Digital twins can have a wide variety of applications along the entire logistics value chain, including container fleet management, shipment tracking, or logistics systems projection. IoT sensors in individual containers, for example, show their location and monitor possible damage or contamination. This data is sent to a twin digital container network, which uses machine learning systems to ensure that containers are sent as efficiently as possible.
Digital twins can be applied not only to individual assets but also to entire networks and ecosystems such as warehouses, combining a 3D model of the facilities with operational data and stock information. The system would be able to provide an overview of the state of the machines and the availability of the product and could make predictions and make autonomous decisions about stock or deliveries. The same principle applies to large logistics centers or global logistics networks.
