Blockchain Papers

Ardavan Babaei, Majid Khedmati, Mohammad Reza Akbari Jokar

No abstract is available for this record.

Mohammad Amin Yazdani

Gestion coopérative et intégrée de chaines logistiques par smart contracts adossés à des blockchains Le management des chaîne logistique est l’une des activités et une des parties parmi les plus importantes et les plus difficiles pour les entreprises. L’existence de nombreux défis autour des chaînes logistiques font qu’il est essentiel d’intégrer des technologies nouvelles et efficaces pour améliorer diverses opérations. Parmi toutes les activités de la chaîne logistique, l’approche la plus efficace pour distribuer les produits à différents étages peut être un élément crucial doté d’un fort potentiel de développement. Cette question résulte directement de la gestion des flux de matières, d’informations, et financiers. Par conséquent, la mise en œuvre de technologies efficaces capables de contrôler tous les flux dans la partie distribution de la chaîne logistique et d’aider les décideurs à surmonter les différents obstacles est un point moteur de notre recherche. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons étudié le problème de la distribution des produits dans un processus de chaîne logistique. Notre objectif est de concevoir un système intégré pour aider les décideurs avec différentes solutions pour une meilleure gestion des flux de matériels, d’informations et financiers. Pour ce faire, nous avons introduit une nouvelle approche pour les smart contrats en considérant une programmation en nombres entiers mixtes intégrée directement dans le contrat. Ensuite, nous basant sur les prépondérants de la technologie blockchain et de l’Internet des objets, nous avons discuté de la possibilité d’intégrer les donnes issues de ces outils au smart contrat et au système physique considère. Nous avons étudié trois développement en relation avec le processus de distribution : (i) choisi des temps de réaction possibles en fonction des événements survenus dans le système; (ii) des procédures dynamiques de sélection des fournisseurs dans l’algorithme du smart contrat et étude de son impact sur le processus de distribution ; et (iii) l’interaction possible entre les acteurs par le biais de collaborations. Nous avons réalisé plusieurs entretiens pour obtenir des données fiables et nous avons résolu les problèmes proposés en utilisant des méthodes exactes pour valider le modèle de programmation en nombres entiers mixtes proposé et analyser les résultats finaux.

Debajyoti Biswas, Sara Rezaee Vessal

No abstract is available for this record.

Xiaole Chen, Vernon Ning Hsu, Guoming Lai, Yang Li

Companies have increasingly used supply chain financing instead of bank financing when engaging with financially constrained suppliers. We investigate the effectiveness of different financing mechanisms at supporting supply chain responsibility. We consider a decentralized supply chain where a buyer sources from a financially constrained supplier who borrows from either a bank or the buyer to finance his production. The buyer audits the supplier for responsibility compliance and will refuse to accept and pay for the order if the supplier fails the audit. We find that under conventional bank financing, the bank is concerned with the supplier's audit failure and will raise the interest rate. This not only hinders the supplier's compliance effort but also hurts the profitability of every stakeholder. In contrast, under buyer financing, the buyer may offer the supplier a low interest rate to motivate him to be more compliant when the supplier's collateral is of low value. However, if the supplier's collateral is of high value, the buyer may be tempted to set a high interest rate to exploit the supplier—leading to a reduction in supplier's compliance and supply chain profitability. Thus, we conclude that buyer (bank) financing is more preferable for encouraging responsibility when the supplier has low (high) collateral. Our findings suggest that buyer financing may not always be an effective approach for encouraging supply chain responsibility. As such, we propose an alternative mechanism under which the buyer offers a reward to the supplier if he passes the audit while the supplier continues to borrow from a bank. We prove that this combination of bank financing and buyer reward always improves the compliance level and in most cases increases the total supply chain profit. It is even more effective than buyer financing in encouraging responsibility especially when the supplier's collateral is of low value.

Mark A. Chen, Shuting Hu, Joanna Wang, Qinxi Wu

Real-world contractual agreements between firms are often incomplete, leading to suboptimal investment and loss of value in supply chain relationships. To what extent can blockchain technology help alleviate problems arising from contractual incompleteness? We examine this issue by exploiting a quasi-natural experiment based on the staggered adoption of U.S. state laws that increased firms’ in-state ability to develop, adopt, and use blockchain technology. We find that, after exposure to a pro-blockchain law, firms with greater asset specificity exhibit more positive changes to Tobin’s Q, research and development, and blockchain-related innovation. Also, such firms appear to rely less on vertical integration, form more strategic alliances, and shift their emphasis to less geographically proximate customers. Overall, our results suggest that blockchain technology can help firms remedy constraints and inefficiencies arising from contractual incompleteness. This paper was accepted by Will Cong, Special Section of Management Science: Blockchains and Crypto Economics. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.04139 .

Yuxuan Kang, Xianliang Shi, Shuai Liu

Abstract The emerging blockchain‐supported platforms (BSPs) become prevalent with higher product quality and guaranteed authenticity, making the competition between BSP and traditional sales channels (TSC) gain attention. To explore the optimal operation strategies for retailers in TSC and BSP, we develop the vertically differentiated model to describe the channel competition and derive optimal decisions for two retailers. Then, the BSP's comparative advantage and the value of blockchain technology are analyzed. Next, we examine how blockchain quality disclosure and network externalities affect channel competition, as well as the impact of government policies. We find that (i) a higher quality improvement in BSP will simultaneously increase both retail prices and retailers’ profit under some circumstances. Meanwhile, the counterfeit sold in the TSC and channel switching hassle in the BSP make retailers’ products less competitive and reduce profits, respectively. (ii) Being a BSP retailer is not necessarily better, as blockchain's effect on product quality and consumer experience determines market share and profitability. Whether consumers can benefit from blockchain depends on the basic value of the BSP product and the aggregate level of consumer utility from the BSP. (iii) Blockchain‐based quality disclosures and network externalities might not always benefit BSPs, they could increase BSP retailers’ costs or increase competition in the market. (iv) The strict supervision policy reduces the TSC retailer's profit and product quality. Meanwhile, the technology subsidy policy contributes to the development of the BSP, but the BSP retailer needs to be wary of uncontrolled price increases due to policy spillover effects.

Chun Wai Lau, Joseph K. Liu, Xin Ma

Air cargo supply chain has become an integral stage in the transportation sector. Transparent information sharing is an important factor to facilitate fast communication and achieve efficient collaboration among stakeholders in handling the air cargo processes. However, the fundamental air cargo communication channel relies on the traditional peer-to-peer messaging approach that cannot ensure efficient communication flow, and this also caused complexity in digital connections due to multiple ownership in an air cargo supply chain. Leveraging the blockchain technology (BCT), which can ensure data transparency and security, our work first explores a variety of real-world applications of BCT in the air cargo activities coordination; we then propose the blockchain-based messaging and information systems and a self-enforceable smart contract framework to streamline the communication among stakeholders. Supported by the proposed BCT-based systems, shipment coordination and collaboration are strengthened through enhanced information transparency, communication efficiency and messages accountability in the end-to-end air cargo supply chain journey.

Shuhua Chang, Haiteng Ma, Pengwen Hou, Li Cao

No abstract is available for this record.

Mirko Pezo

Jedna od popularnijih primjena blockchain tehnologije su NFT-ovi ili nezamjenjivi tokeni. Ti tokeni predstavljaju vlasništvo nad nekim resursom. NFT-ovi se programiraju koristeći pametne ugovore koji se postavljaju na Ethereum mrežu. Za pisanje pametnih ugovora je korišten programski jezik Solidity. U radu je pokazan proces kreiranja produkcijskog NFT pametnog ugovora koji ima razne funkcionalnosti kao što su cijena tokena i ograničenje ukupnog broja tokena. Također, objašnjen je mehanizam tantijema i kako ispravno postaviti metapodatke za tokene. Od naprednijih tehnika pokazano je kako implementirati listu korisnika s posebnim privilegijama unutar pametnog ugovora.

Md Al Amin, Dewan Hafiz Nabil, Roberto Baldacci, Md. Habibur Rahman

This study investigates the challenges in implementing blockchain technology (BT) in sustainable supply chain management (SSC). The study thoroughly analyzes the literature and expert opinions on BT, SCM, and sustainability. A total of 24 barriers are identified, categorized into the Internet of Things, strategic, supply chain, legislation, and external factors. The findings are evaluated using the Integrated Fuzzy TOPSIS–ISM tool. The results indicate that barriers related to the supply chain have the most significant impact on the adoption of BT in SSC. The study also reveals the interrelation among sub-barriers within the supply chain, providing valuable insights to improve adoption. Finally, a strategic action plan based on a fishbone diagram is provided to reduce the effects of supply chain barriers. This study provides a theoretical foundation for using BT to achieve long-term supply chain goals.

Bernardo J. R. Figueiredo, Catarina I. Reis

Distributed Ledger Technology is increasingly employed to address real-world challenges, such as those encountered in agri-food supply chains. Characteristics such as immutability, accuracy, and resilience, facilitate transparency in trustless environments. We present a blockchain-based "farm-to-fork" solution that enables end-to-end traceability of goods throughout the supply chain. A brief overview of the current landscape and state-of-the-art developments enhances comprehension of the existing advancements and limitations. It reveals that many projects lack detailed information on the technologies and technical implementation. Moreover, energy consumption remains an acknowledged obstacle to the widespread adoption of blockchain technology. The COW platform, an open-source proof-of-concept, is introduced for tracing the lifecycle of livestock. The architecture and technical details of COW, which leverages the high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-negative capabilities of Hedera Hashgraph, are meticulously described. COW enables geotracking of pastures, veterinary interventions, as well as livestock acquisitions and transfers in markets.

Salah Eddine Bellal, Seyf El Islam Bousiouda, Abelhamid Dekhinet

This article specializes in the implementation of Blockchain generation in deliver chain control in Algeria, with the aim of improving transparency and security of operations. The article highlights the importance of supply chains for local businesses and the global economy, introducing the decentralized architecture and secure capabilities of blockchain's distributed ledger. The work implements blockchain technology in supply chain management in Algeria, with a view to improving transparency and security of operations. We begin by highlighting the importance of blockchain as a key business priority and its potential to reshape the future of business through the process of reform and reconstruction. Next, we present an extensive overview of the advantages and limitations of blockchain technology. By analyzing its advantages and disadvantages, we also look at existing solutions to address these drawbacks. Finally, a use case is presented to validate this technology in the pharmaceutical sector in Algeria.

Arunodaya Raj Mishra, Pratibha Rani, Adel Fahad Alrasheedi, Rajeev Dwivedi

No abstract is available for this record.

Ehsan Izadi, Mehrdad Nikbakht, Mohammad Reza Feylizadeh, Arash Shahin

No abstract is available for this record.

Chengfeng Wu, Chunfeng Xu, Qiuhong Zhao, Jianhua Zhu

No abstract is available for this record.

Muddassar Sarfraz, Kausar Fiaz Khawaja, Heesup Han, Antonio Ariza‐Montes · 5 authors

Abstract This paper seeks to examine the influence of sustainable supply chain strategy (SSCS) on sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) by considering the mediating role of blockchain technology (BCT) adoption and the moderating role of Digital Transformation (DT) and sustainable supply chain practices (SSCP). Drawing upon the resource-based view theory, we empirically tested our model using a sample of 331 hotel and resort managers, and a quantitative approach was used. The results revealed that BCT adoption mediates the relationship between SSCS and SCA. They further explain that DT significantly moderates the relationship between the SSCS and BCT adoption, whereas SSCP significantly moderates the relationship between the BCT adoption and SCA. All research objectives are successfully obtained. As a result, firms must not only adopt sustainable strategies, but also adopt advanced technologies and transformative practices in order to maintain a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic market landscape. The findings of this study hold significant implications for both theory and practice, providing strategic insights for organizations seeking to improve their competitive positioning by embracing sustainable strategies and technologies.

Morteza Ghomi‐Avili, Seyed Taghi Akhavan Niaki, Reza Tavakkoli‐Moghaddam

No abstract is available for this record.

Ajay Kumar Pandey, Yash Daultani, Saurabh Pratap

Abstract Increasing complexity and the involvement of additional stakeholders make it impossible to predict the impact of each decision, which puts supply chain managers in uncertain situations. However, a supply chain that can adapt and react to the current scenario gives them some control over these ambiguous circumstances. These characteristics of sensing disturbances or threats and giving appropriate responses can be improved with the implementation of blockchain‐enabled technologies and can prove critical to the success of supply chain resilience and sustainability. This study has identified 21 blockchain technology‐enabled critical success factors for supply chain resilience and sustainability and grey theory is used to address the limitation of data availability. This study incorporates the combination of the Grey‐DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method to investigate the impact of critical success factors and to obtain the cause/effect relationship. Sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the robustness of obtained results. The findings indicate that internal integration is the most crucial causal factor, as it initiates the effects of many other critical success factors. Whereas Standardized Data Management, followed by Smart Ordering tops the effect group. As blockchain technology is still in its early stages of development, this study will encourage researchers and industry practitioners to strive for greater efficiency and effectiveness in their supply chain practices and to enhance the resilience and sustainability of their supply chains.

Hongbo Tu, Mo Pang, Lin Chen

As a result of the increasing scrutiny of fresh products, greengrocers are now forced to concern themselves with the deterioration of their products’ freshness and employ blockchain technology as a tracing system. However, in the logistics system, the third-party logistics service provider (LSP) is motivated to be overconfident in order to extract extra profits, thus intensifying the dilemma faced by the fresh agricultural product industry. This paper focuses on the association between blockchain technology and overconfidence, in which the third-party LSP is supposed to overestimate the effect of the retailer’s freshness keeping measures. Differing from the previous literature, we analyze a situation wherein blockchain technology is adopted with explicit execution. Based on the optimal control model, we obtained three main conclusions: First, the overconfidence of a third-party LSP does not damage the logistics system but changes the freshness-keeping strategy of the retailer. Second, interestingly, although blockchain technology performs effectively when it is adopted as an initially established system with a freshness keeping strategy, it is not always a wise decision for managers to adopt a blockchain, especially when adopting it as a countermeasure for overconfidence. Third, we found that blockchain technology has a greater effect on freshness-keeping than overconfidence. Thus, in the fresh agricultural product industry, managers should adopt blockchain technology before overconfidence occurs and pay more attention to exogenous prices and freight to decide whether to adopt blockchain technology.

Zhiwen Li, Xianhao Xu, Qingguo Bai, Cheng Chen · 6 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Jianghua Wu, Chenchen Zhao

It is often difficult for consumers to predict the greenness of a new green product, reducing their willingness to purchase the product. Numerous companies have recently started adopting blockchain to demonstrate their products' quality. In this study, a market is considered where consumers decide what to buy when they know the greenness of existing products but are unsure about the greenness of new green products. This research presents a game theory model to examine the incumbent's entry-deterrence strategy and the entrant's blockchain adoption strategy. We examine the conditions under which blockchain can help an entrant's market entry, and the impact of blockchain adoption on firms' pricing strategies and profits, consumer surplus, and social welfare. The findings denote that blockchain adoption makes the incumbent more inclined to tolerate the entrant when the blockchain adoption cost is negligible. In addition, blockchain adoption can result in a “win-win” outcome for the two firms when the cost of the green products is low and the proportion of high-type consumers is high. However, blockchain adoption may not always benefit the entrant even if the blockchain adoption cost is negligible, particularly when consumers' perceived greenness of green products is significant enough. Furthermore, blockchain adoption may not be beneficial for consumer surplus and social welfare when green products' cost is moderate. Finally, blockchain adoption may drive the entrant to improve or reduce product greenness, depending on the proportion of high-type consumers and their uncertainty about the greenness.

James C. Brau, John W. Gardner, Hugo A. DeCampos, Krista Gardner

Purpose Blockchain technology offers numerous venues for supply chain applications and research. However, the connections between specific blockchain features and future applications have been unclear to date in its evolution. The purpose of this study is to fill this void. Design/methodology/approach The authors advance the understanding of blockchain in supply chain management by providing a new research framework built on unique blockchain features as applied across core supply chain functions. Findings This study’s framework is a feature-function matrix that integrates four overarching supply chain functions (i.e. supplier management, logistics, production processes and customer management) with nine blockchain features (i.e. traceability/provenance, accessibility, visibility, immutability, distributed/shared ledger, validity, peer-to-peer transacting, pseudonymity and programmability). This study’s feature-function framework is supported by a structured, systematic review of reviews using PRISMA methods. The authors use the framework to present a future blockchain research agenda in supply chain management. Originality/value The authors provide a new blockchain feature/supply chain function framework and provide a structured path for future research.

Ruli Liu, Wenxue Ran, Shiwen Liu

Blockchain technology can be used to record real data at various nodes in the entire supply chain and can achieve timely data sharing and full traceability of the whole lifecycle of products in the supply chain. This study conducts a systematic literature review based on the WOS database, focusing on the research topic of the application of blockchain technology in supply chain management. We propose clear search and screening criteria based on 4 research questions and finally obtain 591 target studies. We conduct a detailed study on the distribution of the target literature in this research area, country/region, institution, and journal. Different countries/regions cooperate with each other and, thus, are clustered into five significant countries regions’ cooperation networks. There is a strong coupling relationship between research institutions, forming four major institutional cooperation networks. According to the analysis of those papers with a high number of citations, most of such papers were published in 2019, while the cross-citation phenomenon between papers occurred more frequently in 2021 and 2022. We use VOSviewer for visual coupling analysis of all keywords, which are automatically clustered into three research hotspots. Using CiteSpace to perform timeline-based keyword cooccurrence analysis, we find that scholars have gone through a “discovery-acceptance-question-improvement” process for the application of blockchain technology in supply chain management. According to the intensity and duration of burst detection words in different years, we draw three key points for future research. (i) Blockchain technology should be used to restructure and optimize the high-end food and medical cold chain supply chains. (ii) Blockchain technology should be used to enhance the cooperative relationship between supply chain members and the overall competitiveness of the supply chain. (iii) Innovate blockchain encryption technology that should be used to reduce the risk of information and privacy leakage in the supply chain.

L. Schädler, Michael Lustenberger, Florian Spychiger

Blockchain systems are a novel technology that allow for innovative business models. However, due to the decentralized nature of blockchains, new organizational challenges arise. Blockchains require intricate governance mechanisms to align all interests of the involved stakeholders. A crucial part of blockchain governance is decision-making, i.e., the way how a community of a blockchain system can reach decisions. While blockchain governance has received considerable interest of academia, decision-making in blockchains has not yet been sufficiently addressed. Through an exploratory multiple case study, we establish a framework for analyzing decision-making in blockchain systems and identify two dimensions along which decision-making in blockchains can be classified—namely community-driven vs. institution-driven as well as off-chain vs. on-chain decision-making. Even though blockchains are decentralized systems, we can show that there are often highly centralized elements present. The degree of this centralization varies across blockchains and might be connected to the business cases and origins of the different systems. Furthermore, many factors of decision-making processes in blockchains are still off-chain and only some factors are truly on-chain. We arrived at these insights through a structured approach for decision-making in blockchains. Thus, we provide new tools for researcher and practitioners and pave the way to novel blockchain applications with sound decision-making mechanisms.