As industrial sectors increasingly explore Digital Twin (DT) applications for energy, process engineering, and smart infrastructure, a critical question emerges early: Are organisations suitably prepared to implement a DT? This work introduces a multi-dimensional Digital Twin Readiness Framework tailored for pre-implementation project evaluation. It synthesises findings from academic literature, organisational change theory and industrial insights to highlight key factors that contribute to DT readiness. The framework is structured across four dimensions: i) Technical, ii) Organisational, iii) People & Cultural, and iv) Adaptability & Lifecycle Readiness. Each dimension comprises self-assessable factors – ranging from data interoperability and platform selection to stakeholder alignment. Collectively, it aims to provide a holistic view of DT preparedness, supporting resource allocation in digital twin facing projects. Unlike post-deployment maturity models, this structured framework is designed for early-stage decision-making, categorising each factor at a stage ranging from no awareness to full preparedness. It can be used to highlight any gaps and latent risks such as unclear integration pathways or limited digital skills before significant investment, minimising adoption risk by prioritising capability building efforts and aligning stakeholders around realistic and attainable DT objectives. It aims to bridge the gap between conceptual ambitions and operational deployment of digital twins.
Yılmaz et al. (Wed,) studied this question.