The Parallels Between Drone Adoption and Immersive Tech Adoption

The rise of digital twins and reality capture technology is looking a lot like the early days of drone adoption. A decade ago, drones were making their way into industries like energy, construction, and infrastructure, promising efficiency gains, cost savings, and enhanced data collection. However, the road to widespread adoption was not immediate — it required education, proof of ROI, and overcoming regulatory and operational hurdles. Today, we’re seeing a nearly identical trajectory with digital twins and reality capture technology.

The Early Days: Uncertainty and Curiosity

From Allen3D

When drones first entered commercial industries, businesses were intrigued by their potential but were also uncertain about practical applications. Companies knew drones could provide aerial data, but many didn’t fully grasp what that meant in terms of deliverables, workflows, or cost savings. Early adopters had to bridge the knowledge gap, explaining the difference between autonomous and piloted flights, LiDAR scanning and photogrammetry, and old-school vs. new-school image processing — all while proving the technology’s value in real-world applications.

The same knowledge gap exists today with digital twins and reality capture. Companies are eager to integrate these technologies but struggle to define their exact needs. Director of Reality Capture at Allen3D, Walter Lappert, explained to Geo Week News that many potential users believe a digital twin is just a 3D model, when in reality, it must include metadata, IoT connections, or other functional components to unlock its full potential. This lack of clarity mirrors early drone adoption, where leaders knew they needed drones but didn’t initially understand the outputs or analytics they would provide.

Education and ROI: The Keys to Adoption

Just as drone service providers had to educate clients on how aerial data could be used to improve inspections, maintenance, and mapping, today’s reality capture leaders must guide businesses through the possibilities of digital twins. They must explain why reality capture isn’t just about having a 3D scan but about enabling better decision-making, predictive maintenance, and operational efficiencies.

One of the biggest adoption barriers for both drones and digital twins is proving ROI. Early drone adopters often started with small pilot projects, demonstrating how aerial mapping could save time, reduce risk, or improve asset management. Once businesses saw the financial benefits, they scaled their usage. The same strategy is being applied to reality capture — companies are starting small, using digital twins for one facility or project before expanding to broader implementations.

Overcoming Skepticism and Standardization Challenges

Another parallel between the two technologies is the initial skepticism from industry leaders and decision-makers. With drones, concerns around regulations, privacy, and operational complexities slowed adoption. For digital twins, the challenges are different but just as significant: standardization, interoperability with existing systems, and the learning curve associated with new data formats.

The drone industry overcame these hurdles through technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and industry-wide education. Similarly, digital twin evangelists are now working to establish standards and demonstrate seamless integration with existing enterprise tools. As these efforts continue, adoption will accelerate — just as it did with drones.

The Future: From Niche to Necessity

Drones have gone from being a novel technology to an essential tool across multiple industries. The same shift is underway for digital twins and reality capture. As businesses become more familiar with these technologies, and as their value becomes undeniable, what is now seen as an emerging innovation will become a standard practice.

For companies already leveraging drones, the move toward reality capture and digital twins is a logical next step. The ability to combine aerial data with highly detailed, interactive models of facilities, assets, and infrastructure opens up new levels of operational insight and efficiency.

The story of drone adoption offers a roadmap for the future of reality capture tech. Those who recognize the pattern early and take steps to integrate reality capture and digital twins today will be in the best position to lead their industries tomorrow.

Join us March 3-4 in Houston, TX, for two groundbreaking events: the Industrial Digital Twin Forum, exploring how digital twins are transforming energy, engineering, and construction, and the Industrial Reality Capture Forum, where digital meets real-world innovation. Both are co-located with Industrial IMMERSIVE — don’t miss this chance to connect with the future of industry, at two events for the price of one ticket!