Digital technology keeps evolving year after year, making our lives easier and spaces more interactive. Not long ago, we used simple 2D plans when designing our buildings, while now BIM is all the rage. Similarly, objects and spaces no longer exist only in the physical realm — they’re getting their electronic copies too.

But how can these electronic copies, or digital twins, actually help us? Can they make our workplaces more efficient? Will they drastically change space and employee management? We’ll answer all those questions in this article.

What Is a Digital Twin?

To put it simply, a digital twin is an electronic representation of a physical item. However, that doesn’t mean it’s just a simple 2D photo with highlighted key features. Digital twins usually contain a wealth of information that changes along with the real environment. In other words, a digital twin isn’t a static model but a dynamic one.

For example, let’s say you have a printer in your office. A digital twin of that printer would provide necessary diagrams and instructions, which most regular manuals include anyway. But that wouldn’t be all. You would also get data on where exactly it’s located, when it was last serviced, and how often it is used. And naturally, this information would update regularly.

With all these insights, maintenance and troubleshooting should be rather easy. That’s not all you could do, either. The data would help you maximize your printer’s efficiency, as well as decide whether you need to buy another. And this time around, your decisions would be data-based rather than feelings-based as they so often are.

4 Ways Digital Twins Would Change Workplaces

1. They Show How the Workspace Is Used

No matter how closely you follow your employees, you can never precisely know how they use their workspace. For instance, which rooms do they visit most frequently? Are certain spots busy at one time and then completely empty at another? Which areas receive the least traffic?

Knowing all this information can help you organize your resources better, as well as determine which spaces need more cleaning or security. For example, instead of heating all rooms equally in the winter, you can focus on those that are more in use. That way, you’ll save up some money that you can then redirect elsewhere.

Thus, the purpose of a digital twin is to show you exactly this missing information. With its dynamic floor plans and dashboards, it will paint a complete picture of how your workspace is used. Based on the available data and the software’s predictions, you can make your workplace more efficient and cost-effective.

2. They Help With Employee Management

If a company is big, it can be challenging to monitor the hiring process, resignations, and promotions. HR is usually in charge of this department, but due to the amount of work it has, it may sometimes fail to notify relevant people of the changes. That can result in confusion and even serious work delays until the situation gets cleared up.

But with a digital twin that consolidates all the data into one platform, that shouldn’t be an issue. Whenever someone’s employment ends, begins, or their position changes, that information would automatically show up in the software. All the relevant personnel — such as managers and security teams — would receive a notification immediately. Thanks to that, there would be no confusion or breakdowns in communication.

3. They Improve Employee Experience

Happy employees whose needs are regularly met are more likely to stick around and do a good job. Thus, it’s crucial to keep track of whether all facilities are functioning properly and address the issues swiftly as possible when they’re not.

And what exactly does that entail? Well, for instance, all bathrooms should have soaps and hand towels, lights should be working, and the water dispenser should be full. If one of those things is lacking or not functioning, the management should take care of it as soon as it becomes aware.

Usually, it’s up to the employees to report issues when they come across them. But that’s not particularly efficient — in big companies, their requests often get lost in the pile of others. It can be hours before someone notices and even longer before they take action.

With digital twins, though, that process becomes much simpler. Instead of relying on employee reports, the management will receive an alert from an IoT sensor. Then, it should be easy to locate the sensor and the issue and respond immediately. That way, managers can provide a satisfying and seamless experience to their employees.

4. They Help With Business Scaling Decisions

If you’re thinking of expanding your business, you probably want to know how viable that is. Will you have to rent more space for new employees? And if so, how much room will you actually need?

When considering these questions, it’s good to have actual data on office occupancy and your current efficiency. And as it happens, digital twins keep track of exactly such type of information. They can give you a detailed analysis of your current capacities, as well as inform you whether an expansion is feasible and necessary. Ultimately, the decision will still be yours, but these valuable insights might be exactly what you need to help you reach it.

In Conclusion

The digital twin technology might still not be widespread, but its potential is already immense. In no time, it will transform our workplaces, note down all of our decisions and make workplace management more efficient than ever. Actually, we have yet to discover all the possibilities digital twins can offer us, and we are excited about the changes they will bring.

HR Future Staff Writer