Towards a Better Understanding of the Value of Blockchains in Supply Chain Management
Whether or not blockchain technology adds value to supply chains is a highly controversial topic. It has been lauded as the technology that brings transparency and efficiency to supply chains. However, others find this view overly optimistic. In this paper, we aim to add more insight into the issue by applying an action design research approach. We develop and evaluate two artifacts in collaboration with companies and use the results to conclude how blockchain technology can help overcome issues in the current supply chain information flow. It shows that blockchains can provide a shared trust base and a common standard that allows for increased information exchange between supply chain partners. Based on our findings, we propose a research agenda for studying blockchain technology with a stronger focus on governance mechanism and transparency issues.
EMCIS