A survey of digital twin implementations for industrial transformation: analysis of real-world case studies

This article thoroughly examines Digital Twin (DT) technology through 19 empirical case studies in manufacturing, healthcare, environmental services, and urban planning. This study distinguishes itself from previous surveys by analysing practical implementations, integration levels, and lifecycle phases, thereby providing a deeper understanding of measurable outcomes and addressing existing research gaps. It highlights the importance of digital technologies in enhancing efficiency, streamlining operations, and enabling data-driven decision-making, including real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. Key findings reveal a predominance of comprehensive digital transformation integration and system-level applications, with a focus on the utilisation phase (72.7%) of a system’s lifecycle. Success mainly depends on human factors, inter-departmental cooperation, and advanced data analysis. The study also examines significant implementation challenges, including data integration, real-time processing, security, and the need for standardised frameworks, providing detailed insights into the transformative potential of digital technologies in industrial transformation.