Blockchain application for enterprises: the value of traceability

Abstract

Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology which in 2009 was chosen by the inventor of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, as the technological infrastructure of this cryptocurrecy system. Since that moment, it has gained tremendous popularity in the public debate, drawing the attention of plenty of scholars and practitioners. Thanks to its distinctive features such as decentralization, transparency and immutability, this technology has found suitable applications in different fields other than cryptocurrencies, among which enterprise supply chain management. After having provided the reader with a brief overview on supply chain management and the value that blockchain can offer in this field, the focus of this dissertation is going to be on the possibility that this technology opens in tracking the movements of a product along the supply chain and how this can bring value to enterprises. Firstly, these issues are going to be discussed under a theoretical point of view, also bearing in mind their correlation with sustainable and ethical business practices. Then, such dynamics are going to be reviewed with a practical approach through the analysis of some case studies of companies that have undertaken blockchain initiatives.