Human-Centric Interfaces for Digital Twin as a Service: A Framework for Managerial Decision Support
Digital Twin as a Service (DTaaS) is emerging as a paradigm that enables scalable, interoperable, and service-oriented implementation of digital twins (DTs). While this approach has the potential to reduce technical barriers to using simulation, a key gap remains: managers and decision makers often lack intuitive tools to interpret and act on DT results. This article proposes a conceptual framework that connects DTaaS with digital tools specifically designed to improve managerial decision-making. Drawing on Product-Service Systems (PSS) logic, the framework structures DTaaS into three levels: the technological engine, the managerial decision process, and a mediating human-centric interface. This approach aims to demonstrate that DTaaS must evolve from a technical infrastructure into an integrated socio-technical system. The result is a continuous "data-insight-action" loop that augments rather than replaces human judgment, ensuring that simulation power translates into accessible and human-centered business value. Indeed, by integrating DTaaS into a decision-oriented framework, this research work aims to bridge the gap between technical infrastructure and human-centered value creation, aligning DT research with the principles of Industry 5.0.
Authors
- Karen Althea Manfredi
- Vittorio Solina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5585-3444)
- Letizia Mortara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0461-5339)
- G. Mirabelli
- Francesco Longo
- Antonio Cimino
Institutions
- University of Messina (IT)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- University of Calabria (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Procedia Computer Science
- Published
- 2026-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.422
- Primary Topic
- Digital Transformation in Industry
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00