Blockchain Papers

Peng Zhang, T. Ramayah, May‐Chiun Lo

This study examines the present scholarly research on blockchain technology in supply chain management. The primary purpose of this working paper is to visualize and perform a scientometric review of 468 publications and research published between 2007 and 2021 from the Web of Science database. Co-author analysis, co-word analysis, and co-citation analysis highlight main concepts and research hotspots and provide light on important specializations and developing trends. This study primarily uses Citespace5.8. R1 to conduct a systematic analysis of author collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence networks, keyword clustering, keyword burstiness, and literature co-citation graph spectrum networks in the domain of blockchain in supply chain management to identify the research state, development trend, hotspots, and frontiers. Research shows that :(1) since 2017, the literature on the application of blockchain in supply chain management has expanded rapidly. China and the United States are particularly advanced in this area compared to other nations. (2) The "blockchain in supply chain management" research mainly focuses on technical framework theory, which uses distributed ledger technology and smart contracts to control supply chain operations. Simultaneously, technical innovation should be combined with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and other technologies to enhance the trust, transparency, traceability, performance index, and security of the supply chain. (3) The horizon of study in this area is the integration of RFID and blockchain technology for technical innovation in Industry 4.0, intending to improve and optimize each supply chain node.

Nishant Sapra, Imlak Shaikh, Ashutosh Dash

Blockchain technology is being looked at to solve numerous real-world problems that demand transparency by meeting sustainable goals. Do we ponder whether this technology is a boon or a bane for the environment? This paper analyses blockchain’s dominant consensus method, Proof-of-Work (PoW), which consumes more energy than Malaysia and Sweden and further deteriorates the environment through carbon emissions. This study is the first systematic evaluation of PoW consensus-based blockchain applications’ environmental consequences. We found 11 significant Theories, 6 Contexts, and 26 Methodologies (TCM) in 60 reviewed articles. We propose an Antecedents, Drivers, and Outcomes (ADO) model, which depicts that marginal profits drive high energy consumption and carbon emissions, with non-renewable energy proportionally responsible for carbon emissions. The article distinctively uses an integrated TCM-ADO framework for literature synthesis and the PESTLE framework for reporting future research areas. This is the first study to use the following four frameworks: PRISMA; TCM; ADO; and PESTLE for systematic literature review. Profit is identified as one of the most significant drivers of energy consumption and further carbon emissions. The article proposes 65 future research areas and makes theoretical contributions to the literature that may interest academicians, practitioners, and social stakeholders.

Aurélien Bruel, Radu Godina

Industrial Symbiosis (IS) involves a network of organizations that exchange energy, materials, and by-products to lower production costs, reduce environmental impact, and conserve natural resources. Despite over two decades of extensive research into IS, its benefits are well known, but implementation remains challenging. This paper proposes utilizing blockchain technology (BCT) to digitize IS, making it more secure and transparent. First, drivers and barriers of BCT implementation in IS are identified. A smart contract architecture framework using Hyperledger Fabric is then proposed using the constructed theoretical background and abductive method. Finally, the paper discusses how this framework supports the implementation of BCT in IS by addressing its drivers and attempting to overcome its barriers. It is a resource for those seeking a comprehensive grasp of the foundational elements necessary for constructing a successful IS blockchain design, which is adaptable to all types of IS network configurations.

Azmat Ullah, Muhammad Ayat, Yi He, Benjamin Lev

No abstract is available for this record.

Hang Thanh Bui, Omar Khadeer Hussain, Daniel D. Prior, Farookh Hussain · 5 authors

Blockchain technology has the potential to be applied widely in supply chain operations. One such area is proactive supply chain risk management (SCRM). In this area, existing researchers have highlighted the fraudulent behaviour of supply chain partners who do not disclose information on the risks that impact their operations. Blockchain can address this problem by encoding each partner’s commitment to SCRM and achieve consensus. However, before this can be achieved, a key challenge to address is the inability of existing consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Authority (PoA) and Proof of Stake (PoS) to deal with information that does not have a digital footprint. In this paper, we address this gap by proposing the Proof by Earnestness (PoE) consensus mechanism which accounts for the authenticity, legitimacy and trustworthiness of information that does not have a digital footprint. We also propose the Subjective Information Authenticity Earnestness Framework (SIAEF) as the overarching framework that assists PoE in achieving its aim. We test the applicability of SIAEF and PoE in a real-world blockchain environment by deploying it as a decentralized application (Dapp) and applying it in BscScan Testnet which is an official test blockchain network.

Di Wang, Daozhi Zhao, Fang Chen

With the development of ecological economics, energy-saving green energy chain management has been a wide concern of academia and industries. However, the relatively high cost of green investment makes manufacturers face the problem of financial constraints. On this basis, because the green level information of products is proprietary to manufacturers, manufacturers will lie about the green level of products in order to improve their profits out of the principle of profit maximization. As a result, banks cannot obtain the true green level of products, reducing the benefits of the green energy-efficient supply chain system and making the market of green products volatile. In view of this, blockchain technology is introduced in this paper to improve customer’s product green level sensitivity and obtain lower green credit interest rates from banks. In this paper, a green supply chain financing model based on blockchain technology was constructed under the condition of green information misreporting, and it is compared with the benchmark without blockchain technology. Research shows that the adoption of blockchain can achieve Pareto improvement of green supply chain members. In addition, manufacturers have an incentive to adopt blockchain if the cost of blockchain investment falls below a certain threshold, and consumer green sensitivity increases below that threshold. We compared the profits of green manufacturers with those of retailers and the total emissions of manufacturers. The results show that: (1) When the financing intensity exceeds a certain value, there is an optimal coverage of green financing to ensure that the profit target of manufacturers, the profit target of retailers and the emission reduction target are achieved simultaneously. (2) The adoption of blockchain can achieve Pareto improvement of green energy supply chain members. The actual data of green transformation of Jinyuan New Technology Company were cited. Through calculation, it was found that green transformation can reduce the emissions of enterprises. When the financing intensity is in a certain range, the profits of manufacturers and retailers can be maximized, and the emission reduction degree is the highest. Thus, the practicability and reliability of this model were proved. (3) Manufacturers have an incentive to adopt blockchain if the cost of blockchain investment falls below a certain threshold, and consumer green sensitivity increases below that threshold. The research results of this paper provide solutions for enterprises with limited funds for green transformation and provide a theoretical basis for the government to formulate emission reduction incentive mechanism.

Elias Ribeiro da Silva, Jacob Lohmer, Michelle Rohla, Jannis Angelis

Electric vehicles are perceived as a key technology to make mobility more sustainable, leading to a sharp rise in electric battery production and use. However, electric vehicle batteries are only a sustainable solution if they support decreasing the total impact of the supply chain, which makes circularity initiatives a key element in this transition. Currently, this is limited by the data sharing among actors in the supply chain on critical information needed to support a circular economy approach. In this study we explore how data sharing and information technology support the development of circularity in electric vehicle supply chains and examine the role of blockchain technology to address the circularity needs of battery tracking and capability sharing. To allow a comprehensive analysis, we conduct a case study in the electric vehicle battery supply chain, including companies from multiple tiers to capture all relevant perspectives. The results show that data sharing supports extended value chain activities, evolving from a linear to a circular supply chain perspective. It also indicates that blockchain technology supports removing existing barriers for a circular economy by facilitating transparency and traceability, especially for second-life applications beyond the dominant players in this industry.

Atul Kumar Singh, V. R. Prasath Kumar, Gholamreza Dehdasht, Saeed Reza Mohandes · 6 authors

Blockchain technology (BT) can execute transactions verifiable and permanently, which can help foster the idea of embracing sustainability pillars within industries. Therefore, BT holds considerable promise for the industrial and service sectors; however, its implementation during the procurement stage in a sustainable construction project (SCP) is a bottleneck because of inherent and unknown barriers. Though some attempts on the identification of these barriers have been carried out, the literature lacks a thorough investigation into the relationships and inner dependencies among the related barriers within the realm of SCP. Thus, a novel combination of fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) and social network analysis (FDSNA) is proposed in this paper to fill this gap; FDSNA uncovers causal relationships among leading barriers that impede the adoption of BT within an SCP, and it determines the most critical barriers by modeling their complex interrelationships in related intricate environments. The obtained results suggest “inadequacies in implementing block chain-based policies” and “unawareness and resistance to BT among customers” as the most significant barriers, and “technology immaturity,” “market uncertainty and competition,” and “technology accessibility” are identified as the most critical. These results present managers and governmental bodies with an inclusive picture regarding the major obstructions to the successful implementation of BT, and it is expected to open avenues to accrue benefits from such leading-edge technologies at a greater pace.

Shuai Li, Shaojian Qu

With the gradual and widespread application of blockchain technology in the supply chain, its characteristics can help solve the financing problem of MSMEs. To this end, this paper constructs a cooperative game model for suppliers, manufacturers and retailers in the case of a cross-level guarantee of order-to-factoring, studies the pricing strategy of supply chain finance members based on blockchain technology by adopting the Stackelberg primary-secondary game method, and makes a reasonable allocation of total supply chain revenue with the help of the Shapley value of the cooperative game. The study found that the adoption of blockchain can be effective in increasing the benefits to supply chain members and systems. The adoption of blockchain increases the blockchain costs but decreases the financing costs for the supplier. The Shapley value of the cooperative game is used to distribute the benefits, allowing for Pareto improvements in the benefits to supply chain members. In the next step, we will focus on examining the impact of risk assessment and the degree of information disclosure on supply chain finance with blockchain technology.

Lei Yang

This study presents an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategic model to manage pharmaceutical supply chains with financial obstacles. ESG environmental, social, and governance research can help managers make informed decisions so that managers can better choose the corresponding operating strategies, pay attention to environmental protection, and actively fulfill social responsibilities. We consider matching strategies between manufacturers and retailers by classifying them into no matching, decentralized matching, and centralized matching strategies between manufacturers and retailers. Under the matching strategy, we consider the decentralized ESG operation strategy and centralized ESG operation strategy, divide the decentralized ESG strategy into a supplier-dominant mode (SD), manufacturer-dominant mode (MD), and retailer-dominant mode (RD), and study the optimal decision-making methods of supply chain members in different modes. The innovation of this study lies in (1) considering financing constraints; (2) the impact of indicators on society and the environment; (3) no matching strategy, decentralized matching strategy, and considerations of centralized matching strategy; (4) decentralized and centralized strategies under relevant ESG indicators to improve the accuracy of the model; (5) the decentralized ESG operation strategy is divided into a supplier-dominant mode (SD), manufacturer-dominant mode (MD), and retailer- dominant mode (RD); and (6) Applying the ESG strategy to Pharmaceutical supply chain Management. The different models are compared and analyzed to find the equilibrium strategy and the optimal solution under different models. Through various analysis, we found that integrating a pharmaceutical supply chain and the ESG governance strategy can effectively promote the innovation of the industrial chain supply chain. A supply chain matching strategy is more effective in managing a supply chain than a no-matching strategy and can improve the financing efficiency of capital-constrained manufacturers. In the matching strategy, centralized matching can better attract consumers who prefer green and “double carbon” products than decentralized matching. Under the lower level of green investment, the centralized ESG governance strategy can better contribute to developing the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Ardavan Babaei, Majid Khedmati, Mohammad Reza Akbari Jokar, Erfan Babaee Tırkolaee

With the development of communication infrastructure, the design of supply chains has changed significantly. Blockchain technology, as one of the most cutting-edge technologies, can promote transparency among members of the supply chain network. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that tries to develop a novel bi-objective optimization model to integrate the transparency resulting from the use of blockchain for designing a three-level supply chain network. The first objective function is to minimize total cost while the second objective function seeks to maximize transparency based on the application of blockchain technology. Moreover, it is worth noting that it is the first attempt to investigate the role of a blockchain model under stochastic conditions. The bi-objectiveness and stochastic nature of the proposed model are then treated using Fuzzy Goal Programming (FGP) and Chance-Constrained programming (CCP) approaches, respectively. To tackle the problem, an improved Branch and Efficiency (B&E) algorithm is developed by incorporating transparency along with cost and service. The impacts of blockchain exclusively through transparency (Case 1) or through transparency, cost, and benefits (Case 2) in Supply Chain Design (SCD) are compared. The results demonstrated that the first case has less computational complexity and better scalability, while the second case has more transparency, less congestion, and more security. As one of the main implications, supply chain managers who are focused on cost minimization as well as transparency maximization are advised to take into account the trade-off between featuring costs and benefits of blockchain technology.

Jung‐Fa Tsai, Dinh-Hieu Tran, Phi-Hung Nguyen, Ming-Hua Lin

Blockchain technology is emerging and has high potential to improve and transform the agricultural supply chain. This study investigates the critical barriers to blockchain technology adoption in the Vietnamese agricultural supply chain using a novel interval-valued hesitant fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (IVHF-DEMATEL) approach. The IVHF-DEMATEL technique is applied to identify cause-and-effect relationships and draw the influence-relations map of the barriers. In contrast to prior work, which converts fuzzy sets into crisp sets and then uses crisp set operations, this study is the first study to investigate the Vietnamese agricultural supply chain that uses fully hesitant fuzzy operations representing experts’ assessment without information loss during the conversion. Our results show that ‘lack of government regulation’, ‘lack of scalability and system speed’, ‘a large amount of resource and capital requirements’, and ‘lack of trust among agro-stakeholder or public perception’ are the main barriers. Consistent with previous studies, ‘lack of government regulation’ is the most significant barrier. The results also indicate the hesitant degree of each barrier and better inform decision-makers about uncertain situations. Moreover, a priority order for tackling barriers is proposed to accelerate blockchain adoption in the Vietnamese agricultural supply chain.

Mengyuan Cheng, Heap‐Yih Chong, Yongshun Xu

No abstract is available for this record.

Wei Guo

Blockchain technology has gained significant attention for its potential to transform various industries, including supply chain management. In the context of integrated green supply chain management in China, this conceptual study explores the implications and potential benefits of blockchain technology. The study focuses on key aspects such as traceability and transparency, carbon footprint reduction and emissions tracking, smart contracts and automated compliance, and stakeholder collaboration and trust-building. Additionally, the study discusses the challenges and barriers to the implementation of blockchain in green supply chains, including technological challenges, legal and regulatory considerations, and adoption barriers. Future research directions, including empirical studies, comparative analysis, and policy implications, are also highlighted. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the potential impact of blockchain technology on integrated green supply chain management in China.

Matthew Quayson, Chunguang Bai, Lihua Sun, Joseph Sarkis

Abstract Globally, firms face increasing pressure to efficiently utilize resources and minimize costs and may do so through sustainable supply chains and circular economy practices. Emerging technologies, such as blockchain, to enable a circular economy have become a new industrial paradigm. However, firms require building dynamic capabilities through blockchain, which can be key to realizing circular economy model. This study introduces a framework for building blockchain‐driven dynamic capabilities for a circular supply chain. We further use the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method to evaluate three major dynamic capabilities and 18 sub‐dynamic capabilities and their interrelationships. The mining industry in Ghana sets the stage for this analysis. The study results show that although blockchain‐driven sensing dynamic capability, seizing dynamic capability, and reconfiguring dynamic capability are crucial for developing a circular supply chain, they do not strictly follow a sequence and overlap. We highlight various cause–effect relationships, providing insights into the role of sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring dynamic capabilities. That information is important to firms, stakeholders, and partners to draft an appropriate strategy to build blockchain‐driven dynamic capabilities for developing a circular supply chain.

Jasur Salikhov, Saidjahon Hayrutdinov, Timur Muminov

The objective of this study is to establish an efficient contractual coordination model for advancing the supply chain (SC) towards sustainability with blockchain technology. The problem of SC unsold product remanufacturing is investigated under the influence of efforts on recovery quality and information sharing within blockchain technology. Firstly, a functional model describes how the recovery quality affected by the added effort and demand of the remanufactured products is affected by the price. Secondly, the downstream SC faced market uncertainty with consumer sensitivity analyzed, and the SC information-sharing systems were reconsidered in order to improve consumer satisfaction. Then, under the conditions of information sharing and recovery quality efforts, the decentralized SC decision-making mode is discussed. The above demonstrates that the SC unsold products remanufacturing under the decentralized decision-making mode cannot be coordinated. To prove the efficiency of unsold products remanufacturing we investigated the centralized SC mode as a benchmark, which is known as the most efficient system. Finally, in order to effectively coordinate the whole chain, a mechanism of “cost and revenue sharing” is proposed, and the constraints of supplier’s choice of remanufacturing are given. The results show that the “cost and revenue sharing” mechanism can effectively coordinate the SC and the expected profits of downstream and upstream will be in win–win condition. Moreover, the “cost and revenue sharing” mechanism in a sustainable SC unsold product remanufacturing essentially builds an incentive among members to improve the efficiency of existing resource usage and the environmental implications.

Manjot Singh Bhatia, Atanu Chaudhuri, Yaşanur Kayıkçı, Horst Treiblmaier

Agricultural commodity supply chains are characterised by the involvement of multiple intermediaries, lack of access to finance and poor financial conditions of farmers. Additionally, there exist numerous inefficiencies and a lack of transparency in the trading processes. Blockchain-enabled supply chain finance (SCF) solutions can potentially help to overcome these problems. However, there is limited research on the process of developing and implementing such solutions and the potential consequences of their implementation. In this paper, we apply the Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome (CIMO) framework to systematically analyse case studies of four firms that have developed blockchain-enabled SCF solutions in agricultural commodity supply chains. The findings show that blockchain-enabled SCF solutions can reduce different types of transaction costs such as costs associated with information search, negotiation and contracting costs, and costs of accessing finance. The solutions designed with the core objective of improving the financial conditions of farmers will differ from those with the core objective of reducing process inefficiencies. The findings of the study will benefit companies planning to develop and implement blockchain-enabled SCF solutions, by highlighting operational challenges and offering concrete solutions on how they can be overcome.

Aayushi Badhwar, Saniyat Islam, Caroline Swee Lin Tan

Blockchain Technology has shown tremendous potential to be a foundation for the currently shifting paradigm towards more traceable and transparent supply chains. This review highlights the opportunities that exist in adapting Blockchain Technology in the fashion and textile supply chain, while also providing insight into the challenges of adopting this technology. This paper provides a systematic review of the potential of Blockchain Technology within the fashion and textile industry’s supply chain to analyse its role in traceability, transparency, and product authenticity. To achieve this, a substantive number of research papers and non-scholarly resources have been scrutinised. An emphasis was placed on topics regarding Blockchain Technology (BT), the fashion and textile industry and supply chain (manufacturing and distribution), traceability, transparency, and product authenticity. The selected research papers range from empirical analysis, argumentative, case studies, opinion articles, review articles, short reports, and book chapters.

Inês A. Ferreira, Guido Palazzo, Helena Carvalho

A vibrant debate has been initiated around the potential adoption of blockchain technology for enhancing the development of industrial symbiosis networks, particularly for promoting the creation of additive symbiotic networks. Despite the potential benefits of trust creation and elimination of intermediary entities, adopting such innovative technologies promises to disrupt the current supply chains of those symbiotic networks. The literature on these topics is still beginning; thus, the present research intends to contribute. A framework for understanding the implications of adopting the blockchain technology in the supply chain structure (specifically, in the dependency dimension) of an additive symbiotic network was developed, considering a network theory lens. The case study method was deemed to be suitable for carrying out this research. A case study related to an additive symbiotic network is described in detail, with the development of two scenarios: scenario I “as-is” for the current state of the network and scenario II “to-be” considering the adoption of the blockchain technology. Results show that adopting blockchain technology impacts the supply chain structure of additive symbiotic networks. More specifically, there are implications for the power distribution among the network’s stakeholders.

Jinxuan Song, Xu Yan

At present, environmental and competitive pressures urge enterprises to engage in research and development (R&D) of green products, and a green supply chain has become the main trend in the sustainable development of enterprises. This study analyzes the optimal operation decisions of a green supply chain for two manufacturers under different competitive and cooperative relationships, considering factors such as government subsidies, consumer green preferences, and the impact of the green information trust. The results show that government subsidies can lead to higher social welfare when manufacturers have a cooperative relationship, but the optimal choice of subsidies (for R&D costs or product production costs) depends on the level of competition and the difficulty of R&D. For the manufacturers, the optimal choice of R&D strategy (individual or joint) and the use of blockchain technology also depends on the level of difficulty of R&D and the type of government subsidies. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering various factors when making decisions in a green supply chain to achieve the best outcomes for all parties involved.

Xiutian Shi, Siru Chen, Xiaofan Lai

No abstract is available for this record.

Liupengfei Wu, Weisheng Lu, Ziyu Peng, Chris Webster

No abstract is available for this record.

Yeray Mezquita, Blaž Podgorelec, Ana Belén Gil González, Juan M. Corchado

The main purpose of supply chain systems based on blockchain technology is to take advantage of technology innovations to ensure that a tracked asset's audit trail is immutable. However, the challenge lies in tracking the asset among different blockchain-based supply chain systems. The model proposed in this paper has been designed to overcome the identified challenges. Specifically, the proposed model enables: (1) the asset to be tracked among different blockchain-based supply-chain systems; (2) the tracked asset's supply chain to be cryptographically verified; (3) a tracked asset to be defined in a standardized format; and (4) a tracked asset to be described with several different standardized formats. Thus, the model provides a great advantage in terms of interoperability between different blockchain-driven supply chains over other models in the literature, which will need to replicate the information in each blockchain platform they operate with, while giving flexibility to the platforms that make use of it and maintain the scalability of those logistic platforms. This work aims to examine the application of the proposed model from an operational point of view, in a scenario within the pharmaceutical sector.

Davide Basile, Idiano D’Adamo, Valerio Goretti, Paolo Rosa

The integration of circular economy (CE) models into everyday contexts generates huge amount of data involved in goods tracking and tokenization procedures. The sector of blockchain platforms is extremely varied, and the choice of the proper technology is not easy. It is important that the selection is conducted consistently with respect to the CE models. With this study, we present a performance index named Blockchain Circular Economy Index (BCEI). BCEI, obtained through Multicriteria Decision Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process, aims to measure the suitability of blockchain platforms to the needs highlighted by a CE scenario. The present study is contextualized by comparing six blockchain platforms, for each of which, the related BCEI is calculated. The results of the analysis show that transaction fee and energy consumption are the two most critical parameters. In addition, the results show the lack of a leading blockchain technology in CE models. Thus, there is a market space that can be exploited given the growing interest in digital and sustainable issues.