A Conceptual Model for the Role of Blockchain in Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges

Blockchain is an emerging and disruptive technology that has gained growing popularity in recent years and has been implemented in different fields. This chapter reviews the Blockchain adoption in the supply chain domain by examining the achievements of Blockchain in overcoming supply chain difficulties. The majority of prior research is predominantly about possible ways of adoption, proofs-of-concept, and beta projects. This research goes a step further and describes the effects of implementing Blockchain-based applications in real supply chain cases. The findings are achieved with a multiple case-study analysis on a sample of 10 projects selected out of 45 Blockchain-based supply chain projects. Finally, a conceptual model incorporating the formulated propositions is presented, suggesting that Blockchain has more potential to address enhanced collaboration, transparency, sustainability, risks mitigation, and efficiency challenges of supply chains.