In recent years, digital twin technology has emerged
as one of the most transformative tools for the built environment, enabling
smarter buildings, more efficient operations, and more sustainable cities. Yet
despite its growing adoption, the term “digital twin” is still widely
misunderstood. Many organizations remain hesitant to invest in it, often
because of misconceptions that limit their understanding of its true potential.
Here are some of the most common
misconceptions about digital twins — and how Senfi, G Element’s
flagship digital twin platform, is proving them wrong.
1. “A Digital Twin Is Just a 3D Model.”
One of the most widespread misunderstandings is that
a digital twin is merely a visual representation — a fancy 3D model of a
building or asset.
✅ Reality: While visualization is a foundational layer,
a true digital twin goes far beyond 3D modeling. It integrates real-time
data from IoT sensors, systems, and devices to reflect the current state of
a building, system, or city. More importantly, it enables analysis,
automation, and predictive insights.
� How Senfi Helps: Senfi unifies 3D visualization with live sensor data, video feeds, and operational data streams — delivering a single source of truth for facility operators. Instead of just “seeing” your building, you can understand and act on what’s happening inside it, in real time.
2. “Digital Twins Are Only for New Buildings.”
Another misconception is that digital twin technology can
only be applied to new, state-of-the-art buildings designed with digital
systems from the ground up.
✅ Reality: Digital twins
can be created for existing buildings and infrastructure too. Through
retrofitting with IoT sensors, integrating with existing systems (like BMS,
CCTV, or access control), and digitizing legacy data, older buildings can
benefit just as much from digital twin capabilities — often improving their
performance significantly.
� How Senfi Helps: Senfi’s open integration architecture connects seamlessly with legacy systems and protocols — from BACnet and Modbus to ONVIF and MQTT — making it easy to digitize existing infrastructure without major overhauls.
3. “It’s Too Expensive and Complex.”
Many decision-makers assume that implementing a digital twin
is a large-scale, high-cost project requiring huge budgets and complex
integration.
✅ Reality: Modern digital
twins are more modular, scalable, and cost-effective than ever. Organizations
can start small and scale up as value is proven.
� How Senfi Helps: Designed as a modular, SaaS-ready platform, Senfi allows organizations to start with a single use case — such as energy monitoring or facilities management — and expand over time. Its flexible cloud, on-premise, or hybrid deployment models also make it budget-friendly and future-proof.
4. “Digital Twins Are Only for Monitoring.”
Some view digital twins as passive dashboards that simply
display what’s happening in a building.
✅ Reality: Modern digital
twins do much more — enabling simulation, automation, and prediction.
� How Senfi Helps: Beyond real-time monitoring, Senfi transforms raw data into actionable intelligence. Facility teams can use Senfi to automatically adjust HVAC and lighting systems based on occupancy patterns, improving energy efficiency and reducing costs.
Senfi
even enhances incident response and safety workflows. For example, when
a security breach or system fault is detected, the platform can automatically trigger
alerts, notify the right teams, and provide visual guidance in 3D to
resolve the issue faster. This level of automation helps organisations move
from reactive responses to proactive, intelligent building operations
5. “It’s Only for Large Enterprises or Governments.”
Because many early adopters have been major corporations or
city-scale projects, smaller organizations often assume digital twins are out
of reach.
✅ Reality: Digital twins
are increasingly being adopted by mid-sized companies, campuses, hospitals,
and even individual buildings.
� How Senfi Helps: Senfi is designed for scalability — whether you’re managing a single building, a hospital campus, or an entire city district. Its low-code environment allows even non-technical teams to configure dashboards, workflows, and alerts tailored to their needs.
6. “A Digital Twin Is a One-Time Project.”
Some believe that once a digital twin is deployed, the job
is done.
✅ Reality: A digital twin
is a living, evolving ecosystem that grows more powerful over time.
� How Senfi Helps: Senfi’s continuous data ingestion and analytics capabilities ensure the digital twin evolves with your building. As new systems are added, the platform adapts — delivering deeper insights and improving decision-making over time.
7. “It’s Just a Trend.”
Skeptics may dismiss digital twin technology as a passing
buzzword.
✅ Reality: Digital twins
are quickly becoming mission-critical infrastructure for smart buildings
and cities.
� How Senfi Helps: Deployed across commercial towers, hospitals, data centres, campuses, and even smart city command centres, Senfi is already helping organizations improve efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve ESG goals — proving that digital twins are here to stay.
From Misconception to Mission-Critical
Digital twin technology is far more than a visual tool —
it’s a powerful platform for data-driven decision-making, predictive
intelligence, and operational transformation. Solutions like Senfi
are leading the way, turning the digital twin vision into real-world impact —
from energy savings and predictive maintenance to safer cities and more
sustainable operations.
In an era where the physical and digital worlds are
converging, embracing digital twin technology isn’t just a technological
upgrade — it’s a strategic imperative. And with platforms like Senfi, it’s also
more accessible, scalable, and impactful than ever.
President and CEO of CLIXLogic, Inc., Mr. Charlie Fernando (left), with G Element’s CEO and MD, Mr. Eric Loh (right)
Singapore / Manila, [3 Oct 2025] – G Element Pte Ltd, a leading provider of 3D Digital Twin solutions for smart buildings and cities, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CLIXLogic, Inc., a leading Filipino systems integrator specializing in IoT and energy efficiency solutions, to drive the adoption of intelligent building and smart city technologies in the Philippines.
Under this collaboration, CLIXLogic becomes G Element’s first Senfi Partner in the Philippines, integrating Senfi’s advanced digital twin capabilities with CLIXLogic’s IoT, energy monitoring, and control systems expertise. The partnership enables unified monitoring and management of diverse sensors and devices — from air conditioning systems and energy meters to environmental and structural sensors — through a single interactive 3D platform.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Clixlogic as we expand our footprint into the Philippines,” said Mr. Eric Loh, CEO and Managing Director of G Element Pte Ltd. “This partnership marks an exciting step forward for G Element, and we look forward to jointly exploring opportunities — including the potential of securing our first project as early as next year.”
“Our goal is to help property developers and BPO operators transform their buildings into intelligent, responsive environments,” said Charlie Fernando, President and CEO of CLIXLogic, Inc. “By combining G Element’s Senfi platform with our IoT and energy management expertise, we can deliver smarter, safer, and more sustainable workspaces for today’s dynamic business ecosystems.”
The partnership will prioritize real estate developers, business process outsourcing (BPO) campuses, and mixed-use estates, where energy efficiency, occupant safety, and predictive maintenance are top priorities. Through real-time integration of IoT sensors, energy monitoring, and 3D visualization, building owners and facility managers can monitor entire estates — from chillers and elevators to workspace utilization — all within a single digital twin dashboard.
Beyond buildings, CLIXLogic is also helping local government units (LGUs) transform public spaces through intelligent streetlighting — a practical first step toward Smart City adoption. These adaptive lighting systems serve as a foot in the door for LGUs to later integrate environmental sensors, traffic analytics, and emergency response networks — turning ordinary streetlights into multipurpose IoT nodes that support safer, greener, and more connected communities.
“Our mission is simple,” Charlie added. “Whether it’s a building or a highway, we want to help organizations and LGUs make every watt and every sensor count.”
This collaboration complements CLIXLogic’s broader Smart Building and Smart City strategy, integrating energy efficiency, IoT, and digital twin technologies to help developers and enterprises future-proof their assets across Southeast Asia.
About G Element Pte Ltd
G Element is a Singapore-based company that specializes in smart 3D Digital Twin technology, offering innovative solutions for buildings and cities. Established in 2001, G Element’s solutions have been successfully deployed across diverse industries, including commercial, healthcare, education, and government sectors throughout Asia. By harnessing the power of IoT, AI, and Big Data analytics, G Element is transforming traditional building management practices, empowering clients to achieve the twin goals of operational efficiency and sustainability.
For more information, visit G Element’s website at: www.gelement.com