Blockchain application in modern logistics information sharing: a review and case study analysis

Abstract

In the traditional logistics industry, asymmetric information, issues with goods’ authenticity, and insufficient security can hinder business transactions, which induces high operating costs and is time-consuming. With its decentralisation, transparency, high security, and resistance to tampering, blockchain technology can effectively solve these issues. In this study, we designed a two-stage analysis scheme to identify and summarise how blockchain has been applied in modern logistics information sharing and its challenges. The latent Dirichlet allocation topic model was employed with 2465 selected studies to summarise the application scenarios. These data were used to create a blockchain integration framework to determine the optimal use of blockchain in modern logistics information sharing. Six key areas were identified: supply chain finance, logistics tracking, logistics collaboration, process optimisation, data security management, and logistics business mode innovation. Then, three typical real-world cases were analysed, and managerial recommendations to boost blockchain adoption in this industry are proposed.

Keywords:

• Blockchain
• information sharing
• integration framework
• business mode
• latent Dirichlet allocation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 71871222] and China University of Petroleum Funds for ‘Philosophy and Social Sciences Young Scholars Support Project’ [Grant No. 20CX05002B].

Notes on contributors

Xiaofeng Xu

Xiaofeng Xu is a Full Professor with the School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum. His research interests include operations management, smart logistics system, and their applications. He has authored more than 30 articles in journals including the International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Annals of Operations Research, Computer and Industrial Engineering, Resources Policy, and so on.

Yangyang He

Yangyang He is currently working towards a doctorate at the School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Shandong Agricultural University China, Taian, China, in 2018. Her research interests include operations management, smart logistics system, and their application. She has authored an article in the International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications.