Driven by successful pilot projects in supply chain and logistics, Blockchain has become one of the industry’s latest technology hypes. In this paper, we cut through the hype and shed light on the expectations of industry professionals towards the benefits and challenges of Blockchain. Also, we categorize current Blockchain applications that are expected to provide tangible benefits for supply chain and logistics processes. To explore such potentials, we argue that companies should gain own first-hand experiences through small-scale experiments.
Blockchain is expected to have a transformational effect on supply chain and logistics due to its promise to improve the information flow between the supply chain partners. However, despite their high hopes, incumbent companies from supply chain and logistics are still struggling to deliver on this promise. In this explorative, qualitative interview study, we identify how incumbent companies try to make use of Blockchain in supply chain and logistics and we also analyze the barriers hampering them. The analysis of twenty-four semi-structured expert interviews and extensive secondary data collates a comprehensive picture of incumbent companies' activities around Blockchain adoption. We find that companies use Blockchain to drive digital transformation, constitute new business models and unify the industry through consortia. The main barriers to such solutions are a lack of technological usability and long-term uncertainties. The results of our study provide evidence for theoretical constructs and guide managerial practice. INDEX TERMS Blockchain, decision making, logistics, supply chain management, technology management.
Kurzfassung
Blockchain ist eine neue Technologie, mit deren Hilfe Transaktionen dezentral, manipulationssicher und transparent für alle Mitglieder eines Netzwerks abgewickelt werden können. Besonders im Finanzsektor wird Blockchain derzeit als disruptive Schlüsseltechnologie gehandelt, deren Anwendungsmöglichkeiten jedoch weit über die Branche hinausgehen. Um das Potenzial von Blockchain für Produktion und Logistik zu verdeutlichen, werden in diesem Beitrag exemplarische Anwendungsfälle vorgestellt.
Blockchain-Lösungen für Supply Chain und Logistik können die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit von Unternehmen stärken. Aber wie sollten sich insbesondere KMU diesem Thema nähern? Basierend auf 26 Experteninterviews arbeiten wir in diesem Beitrag zunächst Einsatzpotenziale für Blockchain heraus. Zur Realisierung der Potenziale leiten wir anschließend drei idealtypische Rollen ab. Diese Typologie kann Praktiker bei der Entwicklung eines unternehmensindividuellen Blockchain-Ansatzes unterstützen.**)
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