In the era of Industry 4.0, the metaverse and digital twins have become transformative technologies for sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and machine tools, among others. These innovations are redefining how companies understand, interact with, and optimize their processes and manage their various data sources.

Although both technologies share several aspects, such as the virtual representation of physical spaces and real structures, and as we will see next, their purpose, applications, and scope are very different.

Definition of what a digital twin is

The meaning of a digital twin can be summarized as a virtual replica of a physical object, system, or process, designed to monitor, simulate, and optimize its operation in real-time. One of its great benefits is that we can integrate other technologies that enhance its capabilities to optimize operations and decision-making. For example:

• IoT Devices (Internet of Things): We can connect IoT sensors that measure temperature, energy consumption, or pressure, and visualize these parameters in real-time.

• Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Thanks to the machine learning models, we can equip our digital twin with artificial intelligence for various uses, such as predictive maintenance of machinery based on historical data and real-time data.

• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): By integrating these technologies, we can visualize data interactively in a virtual environment or overlay digital information onto a physical environment in real-time.

Typically, we can see digital twin solutions in action in sectors that have multiple assets requiring precise and constant monitoring. For example, in a factory, we can replicate a production line and measure the performance of each machine, monitor the consumption of goods and raw materials, and the wear of machines.

So, what is the metaverse?

Nowadays, the metaverse is defined as a shared and persistent virtual environment that combines the physical and digital worlds, where users interact through avatars, digital objects, and immersive experiences, allowing for social, economic, and recreational activities in a connected digital space. And, unlike digital twins, the metaverse does not seek to replicate the real world but to create an interactive virtual ecosystem with new possibilities.

But this does not mean that the metaverse does not exist for businesses. As the metaverse market was developing, corporate metaverses emerged: business solutions like AltspaceVR or platforms like Microsoft Mesh used “digital representations” of their offices and incorrectly coined the term “digital twin.”

Therefore, we can say that a digital twin is not the same as the metaverse.

Comparison between digital twins and the metaverse: differences

As we have seen, both solutions rely on common technologies, which tends to blur the distinction between one and the other. However, here we will look at how they differ:

• Focus and objective: Industrial companies use digital twins to monitor assets and optimize production processes in real-time. In contrast, the metaverse's focus is to create and provide an interactive and dynamic environment that fosters social interaction or commercial purposes.

• Applications and use cases: The applications of digital twins like TOKII are 100% professional, especially in sectors such as the industrial one. For example, it can be used for preventive maintenance of machines, optimizing production processes, and monitoring assets located at various points simultaneously. In contrast, the metaverse generally applies to commercial, entertainment, social, or collaborative use cases.

• Economic purpose: Digital twins are a type of investment focused on optimizing resources, reducing costs, and improving industrial operational efficiency. Meanwhile, the type of investment in the metaverse aligns more with the goals of generating new experiences for consumers.

As we can see, although both solutions may share technologies, they are not utilized in the same way, nor are the expectations the same for each of them. The digital twins are practical and technical tools aimed at optimizing processes in the real world, while the metaverse focuses on immersive and collaborative experiences in virtual environments. Understanding these differences can help you choose the solution that best aligns with your strategic needs.