Openness of Digital Twins in Logistics – A Review

Abstract

Openness is becoming increasingly important in scientific research and practice. It describes the phenomenon of sharing information with other internal or external stakeholders by using different technologies, e.g., cloud computing, distributed ledger, or digital twins. Hence, many researchers investigate and evaluate the openness of platforms. Alongside these platforms, digital twins are gaining influence in industrial processes. A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical entity connected through a bi-directional data linkage. Its primary purpose is to visualize, analyze, and optimize production and logistics systems. Nevertheless, research shows a lack of knowledge in the domain of the openness of digital twins and that the topic has not been addressed adequately. To approach this research gap, this paper provides a review of literature-based work on digital twins focusing on logistical contexts. It aims to answer the question of how open digital twins are, depending on their use case, purpose, and status as digital twin or digital shadow. Through a comprehensive research approach, this paper provides researchers and practitioners with meaningful insights into the openness of digital twins.