Blockchain Technlogy: applications, implementations and barriers in Supply Chain

Abstract

Nowadays, plans to implement the use of blockchain are not limited to the financial and payment sectors. It is expected that the technology, although in its infancy, will be implemented in other sectors such as healthcare, government, legal, fundraising, security, education and academia and many other industries. The main reason why industries are embracing blockchain technology is because of its unique features, such as real-time information sharing, cyber-security, transparency, reliability, traceability, and visibility. This study attempts to understand the possible applications of technology in supply chains. Furthermore, the implementation processes will be analysed and what are the barriers and difficulties to be faced and considered. This thesis will be divided as follows: the first part aims to define what is meant by supply chain, supply chain management and what are the pain points that supply chains suffer nowadays. Proceeding then to a review of the literature related to what blockchains are, how they came about, their distinguishing features, and how they can be implemented in supply chains besides of the barriers and difficulties of this process. Then concluding with a study of some real cases of application of the technology on some supply chains.