Letters of Credit (LCs) are pivotal in global trade finance, yet traditional processes are plagued by inefficiencies, fraud, and a lack of transparency, particularly in developing economies such as Bangladesh. This study investigates how three technological innovations Blockchain Database Integration (BDI), Collaborative Platforms (COP), and Compliance Automation (CAU) drive the evolution of a Sustainable Letters of Credit Supply Chain (SLCSC), mediated through the development of a Technology-based LC Supply Chain (LCSC). Drawing on a sample of 400 LC stakeholders in Bangladesh, the research employed a quantitative methodology using a reflective measurement model. Data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) in IBM SPSS and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in IBM AMOS to assess reliability, validity, and the hypothesized relationships. The results indicate that Compliance Automation exerts a strong, significant positive effect on the LCSC (? = 0.661, p < 0.001) and Collaborative Platforms a weaker but significant effect (? = 0.087, p = 0.04), whereas Blockchain Database Integration has no significant effect (? = 0.016, p = 0.687). The LCSC, in turn, exerts a strong positive impact on the SLCSC (? = 0.938, p < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that compliance automation is the primary enabler of a technology-based LC supply chain, while the influence of blockchain remains constrained by prevailing infrastructural and regulatory conditions. The study’s principal contribution is to disaggregate the technological drivers of trade-finance digitalization into three empirically distinct constructs and to demonstrate that their influence on sustainability is fully mediated by the technology-based LC supply chain, providing structural- model evidence of this mechanism from Bangladesh’s banking sector. The study offers critical insights for banks, businesses, and policymakers seeking to modernize LC operations for enhanced efficiency, security, and eco- efficiency.
Yahaya Saidu, Shuhaida Mohamed Shuhidan, Dahiru Adamu Aliyu, Izzatdin Abdul Aziz · 5 authors
The need for sophisticated traceability systems has become essential in increasingly complex and globalized supply chains. The convergence of Blockchain (BC), Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies offers promising solutions to enhance traceability systems across various sectors, particularly supply chain management (SCM). This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric and systematic literature review to explore emerging trends, research patterns, and methodologies in integrating BC, IoT, and AI into traceability systems. In the study, 530 documents from the SCOPUS database for bibliometric analysis were examined, alongside a detailed review of 43 selected articles from multiple databases. The findings highlighted a significant increase in research output in recent years, with a dominant focus on agricultural supply chains and SCM. Notably, India and China lead the field in publications and citations. Furthermore, key authors and influential journals significantly contributed to advancing the research. The analysis also revealed a predominance of experimental and hybrid research methodologies, with Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric emerging as the most widely adopted platforms for system implementations. The study identified critical research trends, including the growing role of AI-driven analytics, the importance of real-time IoT data collection, and the critical need for secure, tamper-proof data provided by BC. However, challenges, such as interoperability, scalability, and standardization, remain hindering the widespread adoption of these technologies. The paper proposes a four-layer conceptual framework for integrating BC, IoT, and AI into future traceability systems, emphasizing their potential to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency across various application areas. The paper concludes by offering directions for future research, highlighting the need for more empirical studies, industry-specific frameworks, and standardization to overcome existing limitations.
This study presents a blockchain-based traceability system designed specifically for the olive oil supply chain, addressing key challenges in transparency, quality assurance, and fraud prevention. The system integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology with a decentralized blockchain framework to provide real-time monitoring of critical quality metrics. A practical web application, linked to the Ethereum blockchain, enables stakeholders to track each stage of the supply chain via tamper-proof records. Key functionalities include smart contracts that automate quality checks, ensuring data integrity and providing immediate verification of product authenticity. Initial user feedback highlights the system's potential to enhance transparency and reduce fraud risks in the olive oil market, supporting consumer trust and regulatory compliance. This approach offers a scalable solution adaptable to other high-value agricultural products, demonstrating the blockchain's transformative potential for secure and transparent food traceability.
In Tunisia, one of the major problems of the olive oil industry is marketing. Several factors have an impact, such as quality, originality, lobbying, subsidies and the certification of extra virgin olive oil. The major problem remains the traceability of the production process to guarantee the origin of the food at all times. This fine-grained traceability can be achieved by applying Blockchain technologies. Blockchain can be used as a solution that could bring visibility to the oil supply chain. It is proposed in order to guarantee the veracity of the product information at different stages. In this paper, a multi-Blockchain, multi-sensor traceability system using IoT will be presented. Two Blockchains that can be programmed via Smart Contract will be used. The first one is Quorum, which is a private Blockchain used by the actors of our system, and the second one is Ethereum, which is public and connects the different actors who have access to our system. This smart contract allows us to conta our system to track the olive oil manufacturing process from the farmer, through the oil mill, the transporter and the quality controller to the customer. A general approach for managing the olive oil supply chain is presented. This approach offers the possibility for the system to be configurable. It is based on smart contracts and applications that interact with the same smart contracts. The IoT is used to configure sensors. These sensors are the source of data for the supply chain process. These sensors are connected to the embedded platforms that host Quorum.