The paper focuses on the current problem of shaping the appearance of promising products using modern computer programs (in particular, Siemens PLM-applications). The author reviews the results obtained by companies using the modern software PLM-solutions, as well as digital design and simulation tools used when creating a digital model (digital twin) of a product in PLM systems. The effectiveness of the digital twin of future products and the economic benefits received by the organization from its creation and use at the stages of development are substantiated. The recommendations regarding the creation of a digital twin of a product are given. A formula allowing to calculate the effect of the additional profit of the enterprise obtained with the implementation of PLM systems is presented. The author proposes a set of indicators for evaluating technical and economic efficiency in PLM systems and a three-level system for determining the achieved level of automation of design work based on intelligent PLM systems. In addition, the research considers the dynamics of production costs with a digital approach; it also compares digital and traditional approaches to product manufacturing. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.