Supply chains around the globe are faced with difficulties and disruptions due to the worldwide pandemic situation and digital solutions are needed. There is significant research interest in the implementation of blockchain technology (BCT) for supply chain management (SCM). A challenge that remains is analyzing the interactions of BCT in different areas of SCM. This study aims to identify the influential dimensions of the impact of BCT adoption in SCM and to discuss the synergetic and counter-synergetic effects between these dimensions. Advantages, disadvantages, and constraints of adopting BCT in the SCM context are explored through a systematic literature review, which provides the foundation for identifying the dimensions of impact. The interactions between these dimensions are conceptually discussed. This study introduces three dimensions of the impact of implementing BCT in SCM: ‘operations and processes’, ‘supply chain relationships’, and ‘innovation and data access’. These dimensions are interrelated and have overlapping areas within them, which leads to synergetic and counter-synergetic effects. The overlaps and synergies of the three dimensions of impact are illustrated, and the virtuous and vicious cycles of BCT adoption in SCM cases are highlighted. This study assists scholars and practitioners by clarifying the synergetic relationships within the dimensions of the impact of BCT in SCM and by providing considerations to prevent undesirable effects and expand desired ones.
With the worldwide pandemic outbreak, the style of restaurant food consumption underwent a major shift towards online delivery services. This poses an urgent need in trust between main stakeholders of the process: requiring restaurants to correspond to the quality declared, providing high quality and safe to consume meals, and obliging delivery entities to deliver food carefully, scrupulously following the delivery conditions. In this research, we explore a novelty approach that combines IoT, Blockchain technology, and city LoRa network to create a new trusted, decentralized approach for food distribution process in the context of a Smart City. This approach allows controlling the food delivery process using sensors data to control live location, temperature, vibrations, and shakings during the transportation process. We also suggest a fresh perspective on a rating system of delivery entities, where reputation points will be provided both from the side of the restaurant and the final consumer. This will create more trust towards the delivery entity since information will be tamper-proof and immutable due to the nature of Blockchain. This novel system proposal allows rethinking the online food delivery process in the context of Smart City, using the city’s LoRa LPWAN radio frequency technology and Blockchain decentralized solution.
Following the interest in blockchain technology (BCT) business solutions and the nascent stage of technology in supply chain (SC) practices, this research compares views from business practitioners who are experienced in real cases of BCT adoption with the views of technology consultants proficient in the complexities of BCT to analyze the benefits and challenges BCT holds for SCs. Based on the comparison of the two sides, the joint views that both adopters and technology consultants share is the ability that BCT holds to speed up processes across SCs through decentralized data access, thus decreasing human errors and reducing paperwork. However, technology consultants perceive the need to increase BCT awareness levels of businesses, to prevent BCT implementation just for reasons such as ‘recordkeeping’ and to reduce misconceptions in areas such as cryptocurrency applications. The findings also revealed that technology consultants insist on the careful evaluation and definition of records to be kept on BCT platforms prior to the adoption process, in order to avoid unnecessary data input. Currently, according to early industry adopters’ cases, most business attempts of BCT adoption use private networks, so technology consultants promote business entities on developing plans towards open-access public networks.
Relationships in multi-tier supply chains (MTSCs) are complex and require constant information sharing. For MTSCs involved in perishable product distribution, blockchain technology (BCT) is one of the most promising technologies that can ensure products’ traceability and safety. This study examines a Portuguese MTSC for frozen fish products piloting BCT adoption for its supply chain (SC) practices. The goal is therefore to explore the consequences of information availability inherent for BCT adoption pilots in the SC context. This study follows a mixed-method approach, with qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Three semi-structured interviews with players from a single frozen fish SC, including supplier, transporter, and retailer were conducted. MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2022 software was used for further coding and data analysis. An online survey among retail chain consumers was conducted resulting in 112 responses. Regression analysis and Pearson correlation test were further performed via IBM SPSS Statistics software. Data collection for both parts took place between December 2021 and July 2022. This study explores four layers in the SC– including supplier, transporter, retailer and final consumer. Findings revealed a current lack of extensive and detailed information from upper tiers regarding products’ characteristics. Despite being hyped as a “trust-enabling” technology, BCT was found not to eliminate the need for trustful relationships between players prior to adoption, as information input requires human intervention. Even in those cases when the traceability option is not of major interest to final consumers, findings revealed a higher probability of purchasing fish products that have traceable information available.
Blockchain technology (BCT) is being actively discussed for application in business contexts to digitalize supply chains (SCs). The current nascent level of BCT adoption in businesses creates resistance for further scalability in the industry. This study explores real pilot cases and experiences of BCT pioneers from various continents and industries, revealing the intentions behind the adoption, feasible improvements, and challenges that need to be further addressed. Findings reveal the business incentives of decentralizing trust constituent and efficiency improvements of data sharing. However, the challenges remain in scaling the adoption to a broader level and guaranteeing the accurate input of data.
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