Blockchain Papers

Anna Kolmykova

No abstract is available for this record.

Aswini Yadlapalli, Shams Rahman

No abstract is available for this record.

Weili Yin, Wenxue Ran

The supply network becomes more fragile as it becomes more complex, affecting the core firm’s performance. While previous research on supply network complexity existence paradox. Therefore, to study the nature of supply network complexity, this paper divides the supply chain complexity utility into positive and negative valences based on the valence framework and divides supply chain complexity into supply base complexity, customer base complexity, and logistics base complexity. Based on the trustworthiness and transparency characteristics of blockchain technology, this paper investigates how to use blockchain technology to reduce the negative valence of supply chain complexity while adapting to or improving the positive valence to improve enterprise competitiveness and supply chain sustainability. As a result, the focus of this paper is on how to better manage supply chain complexity using blockchain technologies to increase supply chain sustainability and viability.

Karl Seidenfad, Tobias Wagner, Razvan Hrestic, Ulrike Lechner

No abstract is available for this record.

Junhui Ding, Shizhen Bai

Driven by the pain points of the organic food supply chain, which has been plagued by counterfeiting and difficulties in pursuing accountability, this paper investigates a secondary organic food supply chain consisting of suppliers and retailers and establishes two supply chain models under the traditional model and in the blockchain traceability context. In order to effectively solve the problem of unrealized Pareto improvement in organic food supply chain after applying blockchain, a new hybrid contract based on benefit‐sharing and cost‐sharing is designed to coordinate the supply chain and realize Pareto improvement, and this solution is gradually applied to organic food enterprises. Based on the fact that blockchain can improve trust in the supply chain and eliminate counterfeiting of organic food, the relationship between the rate of genuine products and market demand and the cost of blockchain is established, and then the analysis is developed using the Stackelberg game. We compare the traditional model with the model in the blockchain context and analyze the optimal profit of each supply chain entity, comparing the change in optimal profit before and after the blockchain implementation, and clarifying the cost threshold of the blockchain technology input application. We find that: (i) The adoption of blockchain can not only improve the authenticity of products and combat counterfeit and shoddy organic food, but at the same time, the improvement of organic level in the context of blockchain will also attract some consumers to buy organic food, which will increase the main body of the supply chain and the overall profit. (ii) Blockchain‐adopted supply chains are consistently more profitable for all parties and overall than traditional supply chains. The main contribution of this study is that in the organic food supply chain under the application of blockchain technology model, by introducing revenue‐sharing and cost‐sharing contracts, the profit between each member of the organic food supply chain is further improved than the traditional model, and also, all of them are optimized, which further improves the stability of the supply chain and brings the supply chain to a coordinated state. Finally, in this context, the obtained results show the effectiveness and realistic operational efficiency of the proposed approach for companies compared to traditional single revenue‐sharing covenants. A combination of revenue‐sharing and cost‐sharing covenants is the best approach to solve such problems. In conclusion, it should be noted that the analysis presented in this study will help decision makers choose the most appropriate option among the possible solutions according to their criteria. This proposed framework can also be extended in various cases where profits are out of balance in the organic food supply chain, such as safety and value gain.

Shuning Yao, Yuanyi Liu, Xiutian Shi

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been received extensive attentions. However, substantial CSR investment triggers some suppliers’ greenwashing behaviors which refer to hiding irresponsible operations and exaggerating CSR efforts, and raise concerns from consumers with CSR awareness. In this paper, we explore the impact of blockchain implementation on CSR efforts along a supply chain consisting of one supplier and one retailer under the supplier Stackelberg and retailer Stackelberg models. We consider a group of consumers with CSR awareness who have concerns about the supplier's greenwashing behavior. The adoption of blockchain helps the supply chain members foster consumers’ trust about CSR involvement, by linking CSR related information nodes to blockchain. We identify the conditions where blockchain implementation makes the supplier be more responsible. The supplier has stronger incentives to adopt blockchain when undertaking sufficiently high penalty after violation detection. Under the situation, the supplier makes more CSR efforts which is efficient in the presence of blockchain to eliminate consumers’ concerns about greenwashing. For the retailer, blockchain implementation is beneficial when the detection is efficient enough without blockchain and the penalty cost is not significantly high.

Kamar Zekhnini, Anass Cherrafi, Imane Bouhaddou, Abla Chaouni Benabdellah · 5 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Muhammad Salman Asif, Harsimran K. Gill

Abstract In this competitive and technology driven world, businesses are striving to gain benefits of environmental sustainability and energy conservation by implementing the latest technologies in their supply chains. A promising way of evaluating the environmental performance of a product or a process is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) modelling, but the reliability of LCA results is mostly compromised due to the lack of real data from upstream and downstream supply chains. Our research aim is to drive LCA modelling through Blockchain Technology (BCT) and internet-of-things which have the capability to record reliable, transparent, and secure data from across the supply chain. The modified LCA model will provide various industries with the quantified benefits of BCT in terms of industrial emissions reduction. This conference paper reflects the 1st stage of research where we carried out a detailed literature review on potential use of blockchain technology in green supply chain management and based on the findings, we developed an integrative framework architecture for the supply chain of a supermarket product. In the next phase, the integration of BCT and LCA will be studied in food supply chains using a supermarket case study of Walmart-IBM developed blockchain consortium.

Maher Agi

In this paper, 20 enablers of blockchain adoption in Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) are identified and analyzed using DEMATEL methodology. Our analysis uncovers how the identified enablers interact with each other and impact blockchain adoption in SSCM. Results show the primary importance of management commitment and support for adopting and implementing blockchain technology in SSCM. The results also point out the need for the technology to evolve, so that clearer governance rules for blockchains are adopted, and the interoperability with other IT systems is enhanced. Insights from our study are provided to help more informed decisions at the level of the adopting firms, the industry as a whole, as well as at the level of governments and regulations authorities.

Yang Hu, Pezhman Ghadimi

The purpose of this review is to investigate the landscape of scientific literature in analyzing the blockchain technology capabilities for enhancing supply chain resilience in times of increased risk and uncertainty. This article adopts a systematic literature analysis to extract and analyze the related papers. It is found that the blockchain technology can be considered as enabling technology for supply chain risk management. It helps to manage different types of risks in different industries, leading to resilience and robustness of a supply chain. This review also suggested that new research methodology, wider industrial adoption and combined implementation of blockchain and other advanced technologies can be investigated in the future to reduce supply chain risk more efficiently and effectively.

Jiayu Hu, Zhen Tan

No abstract is available for this record.

Asad Ullah, Shahid Imran

The potential impact of block chain on supply chain management has been explored by many authors, and indeed, many articles in the popular press extol the benefits of blockchain in supply chain management. In simple terms, blockchain is a distributed ledger system, or a record book, except that it is not maintained by a single person but by anyone who is interested in keeping the records. Since blockchain is a new and revolutionary concept in technology, more techies are interested in it. However, it also has certain disadvantages. The purpose of this study is to explain the challenges and pitfalls of blockchain in supply chain and logistics. Using a systematic literature review method, this chapter identifies 31 publications that discuss the challenges and pitfalls associated with blockchain in supply chain and logistics.

Wafaa A.H. Ahmed, Bart L. MacCarthy

Blockchain research in the supply chain management field is growing. The complexities of blockchain as a technology and its potential implications for business and digital ecosystems have expanded the spectrum of research areas that need to be investigated to further develop this emerging field. The increasing number of applications of the technology in supply chain practice calls for theory-driven research to develop better understanding of blockchain and its implications for the supply chain. However, theory-based research on blockchain adoption, deployment and use is scarce, limiting theory development in the field. There is a lack of guidance on the range of theories that can be used to undertake theory-driven research that investigates different facets of blockchain adoption, deployment and use. We address this need in this research. We draw on the existing literature to develop a comprehensive list of factors and barriers for blockchain applications in the supply chain. We present a framework for theory-driven research capturing four distinct facets of supply chain research studies - intra-organizational, inter-organizational, technical, and external environment. Considering the multidisciplinary nature of blockchain research, we propose different theoretical perspectives that can be used alone or in combination to advance theory development in each area as the pace of blockchain adoption in the supply chain increases.

Choh Yun Bin, Wentao Yang, Xiaonan Wang

No abstract is available for this record.

Ümit Cali, Muhammet Deveci, Shammya Shananda Saha, Ugur Halden · 5 authors

The modern power systems are evolving in parallel to the development of other technological trends such as decarbonization and digitalization. While the penetration of renewable energy resources is increasing within the national and regional energy mix, emerging digitalization technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain technology are shaping modern power systems. Especially blockchain technology has a very high potential to disrupt the current and future energy sector landscape by enabling various use cases in this domain. This paper aims to prioritize different energy use cases where blockchain technology can actively be utilized to create additional value. This study proposes a Type-2 Neutrosophic Number (T2NN) based Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) to evaluate and rank a set of existing use cases of an energy blockchain system. Testing and validation of the model is done through a comparison against one alternative T2NN based Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) model and an existing approach from literature. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed, revealing that changing criteria weightings do not affect the ranking order of the use cases of the energy blockchain system. Prioritizing the use cases can assist the companies, standardization bodies, and related government authorities to make better decisions for their operations, such as ranking the investment decisions.

Anne-Marthe Rekdal Remme, Stine-Mari Stange, Asle Fagerstrøm, Lester Allan Lasrado

This study explores the relative impact of blockchain-enabled sustainability labeling on consumers purchasing behavior when shopping for fashion products. A conjoint experiment was conducted where participants (n=84) assigned scores to stimuli cards according to preference in a specific shopping scenario. Results showed that “blockchain trademarked” did not have much impact relative to “low price” and “high product rating”. Further analysis showed that “blockchain trademarked” had a relatively stronger impact towards those participants (n=22) who indicated that living a sustainable lifestyle is important. Our findings show that there is a need for educating consumers about blockchain and the associated benefits for improving future transparency in sustainability in the fashion industry. Overall, these findings provide valuable grounds for further research on how blockchain-enabled sustainability labeling can create value for both consumers and companies within the fashion industry.

Lingchao Kong, Weili Chen, Huosheng Lv, Qiming Chen · 7 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Deqing Ma, Jinsong Hu

Inspired by the practice of platform retailers cooperates with blockchain technology service providers to improve the recycling rate of waste products and solve the three bottleneck problems of recycling, this paper examines how the platform should optimize the combination of “blockchain & sales format” to improve the economic, social and environmental (ESS) performance of the closed-loop supply chain (CLSC). Through analytical models, three major effects of blockchain are revealed, namely brand premium effect, forward and backward attraction effect, and optimal combined effect. Besides, intuition suggests that the retail price decreases with increasing of consumer sensitivity to reference price effects, this result occurs in cases where reference price effects dominate demand. When the brand effect dominates demand, the counterintuitive result emerges that firms can raise the retail price with increased sensitivity. The implementation of blockchain will amplify the changes through brand premium effect in two corresponding cases. Another interesting finding is that only when the commission rate is extremely low/relatively high, the CLSC member can reach a stable cooperation relationship with the platform selling/agency selling. At the same time, the optimal “blockchain & sales format” of the platform that can achieve the triple benefits of EES in the CLSC is clarified. Furthermore, combined with the platform sales cases of different categories of products, this paper derives the “blockchain & sales format” combination strategy of platform enterprises for the universality of different attribute products.

Horst Treiblmaier, Abderahman Rejeb, Wafaa A.H. Ahmed

No abstract is available for this record.

Geri Cupi

No abstract is available for this record.

Abderahman Rejeb, Suhaiza Zailani, Karim Rejeb, Horst Treiblmaier · 5 authors

Blockchain technology can play a crucial role to facilitate the transition from a linear to a circular economy. This article evaluates those enablers that influence technology adoption in the circular economy. A comprehensive literature review and feedback from experts revealed nineteen critical enablers. The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology was used to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between them. The findings identified five critical causal enablers: transparency, security, smart contracts, traceability, and enhanced collaboration. Effect enablers were identified as immutability, decentralization, privacy, automation, information sharing, and enhanced regulation.

Weifeng Chen, David Botchie, Ashley Braganza, Hongdan Han

Abstract This study advances theoretical insights into blockchain adoption in the context of global value chains from a transaction cost theory perspective. The research has adopted an exploratory qualitative approach using the Netnography method to scrutinize the case of TradeLens—a thriving blockchain‐enabled ecosystem that Maersk and IBM jointly developed. This study applies textual and audiovisual data from company websites and social media. Our findings indicate blockchain technology's salient and strategic relevance in streamlining business processes, improving efficiency, enhancing visibility, transparency, and traceability for value creation in the global value chains. This investigation supports the notion that blockchain, as a disruptor, will transform global trade with the digital tools to share real‐time information and collaborate security to reduce search and information cost, policing and enforcement cost in global economic transactions and administrative friction in trade. In contrast, the bargaining cost will increase if the information for the transaction is hard to verify where human actor intervention will be required, implying relatively higher designing costs in codifying the agreements in smart contracts.

Elham Ahmadi, Roshaali Khaturia, Pardis Sahraei, Mohammad Niyayesh · 5 authors

Nowadays, Information Technology (IT) is changing the way traditional enterprise management concepts work. One of the most dominant IT achievements is the Blockchain Technology. This technology enables the distributed collaboration of stakeholders for their interactions while fulfilling the security and consensus rules among them. This paper has focused on the application of Blockchain technology to enhance one of traditional inventory management models. The Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) has been considered one of the most efficient mechanisms for vendor inventory planning by the suppliers. While VMI has brought competitive advantages for many industries, however its centralized mechanism limits the collaboration of a pool of suppliers and vendors simultaneously. This paper has studied the recent research for VMI application in industries and also has investigated the applications of Blockchain technology for decentralized collaboration of stakeholders. Focusing on sustainability issue for total supply chain consisting suppliers and vendors, it has proposed a Blockchain based VMI conceptual model. The different capabilities of this model for enabling the collaboration of stakeholders while maintaining the competitive advantages and sustainability issues have been discussed.

Ilhaam A. Omar, Raja Jayaraman, Mazin Debe, Haya R. Hasan · 6 authors

Information sharing is essential for coordination and stakeholder integration and is crucial to achieving sustainable supply chain operations. Furthermore, improved information sharing assists retailers by reducing the time spent looking for alternative suppliers to meet the unexpected demand surge during pandemics. Recent advances in networking and distributed ledger technologies have enabled secure, improved information communication and broader connectivity. However, due to system interoperability, information quality, confidentiality, and trust, information cannot be exchanged seamlessly, resulting in the inefficiency of managing supply chain operations. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based inventory sharing approach based on smart contracts using a private Ethereum network to link suppliers and retailers. Our approach combines blockchain technology with decentralized storage to increase transparency, trust, and security of supply chain transactions. We present a generalized mechanism for secure information sharing that includes comprehensive algorithms to capture supply chain stakeholder interactions that enhance trust among participating entities. The smart contract was developed and validated using the Remix IDE, and the code is made publicly available on Github. We analyze the solution for various security vulnerabilities and provide a detailed cost analysis for various stakeholder transactions in the supply chain. Our solution demonstrates that a blockchain-based approach reduces inefficiencies, is economical, commercially viable, and provides improved information connectivity among supply chain stakeholders in a trusted and secure way.