Digital Twins: Start with Strategy, Not Technology

What became clear during COAA-CA’s Digital Twins for Owners discussion is that a successful Digital Twin doesn’t begin with buying technology—it begins with the Owner. The panel emphasized establishing data governance and ownership, defining the information the organization actually needs, and starting small rather than waiting for a perfect model. From a basic building and space inventory, Owners can incrementally connect existing data and systems, then focus on practical use cases such as space management, energy performance, predictive maintenance, safety, and access to O&M information.

The message for Owners was refreshingly straightforward:

“This is a journey.” “End goals are key.” And “Simplicity is OK.”