WORKSHOP: Digital Twins

Raj Bondugula, Verizon; ABSTRACT: Prescriptive analytics has been promised as the next evolutionary step in analytics practice. However, the mechanisms to deliver prescriptive analytics have not been fully realized yet. Digital twin is one powerful way we can deliver prescriptive analytics. It can be used in operations, sales, marketing and strategic decision making. In addition, since real-life experiments are often too expensive or even impossible, decision makers, researchers, and engineers can create and test models of various system designs and answer hundreds of “what-if” questions, all by virtually experimenting in a risk-free environment. This workshop provides an overview on Digital Twins. It covers the definition, a simple example of a digital twin that we all use, and the various uses of Digital Twin. In addition, technical aspects such as why Digital Twins work, how they are different from existing analytical practices will be covered. The practical challenges of building digital twins will be discussed next. Finally, the simulation part of a grocery store Digital Twin will be demonstrated.