Digitizing global supply chains through blockchain

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to understand the industry perspective towards the benefits of embedding blockchain technology (BCT) in global supply chains (GSC). A qualitative approach with the view of transaction cost economics (TCE) and diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory is applied. Semi-structured interviews with 23 industry experts showcased the benefits of application of BCT into GSC and this yielded interesting themes and sub-themes using the thematic analyses first yielding, the critical issues and challenges in traditional supply chains (TSC) and second, how BCT can contribute to overcome these challenges to support digital GSC; and third, possible challenges adapting BCT. This study advances the supply chain decision making complemented with elements of TCE and DOI theory through the application of BCT. GSC managers can deploy BCT integrated with the Internet of Things to effectively meet worldwide supply chain demands and complex situations.

Keywords:

• Digital supply chain
• global supply chain
• blockchain
• diffusion of innovation theory
• transaction cost economics

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Komal Rauniyar

Komal Rauniyar is a Ph.D. Research Scholar at the School of Management at Zhejiang University, China. She received her Master of Business Administration degree in finance from Pokhara University in 2017. She has more than five years of work experience in multiple sectors such as: Banking, E-Commerce, Teaching as well as Research experience in Blockchain, Statistics, Big Data Analytics and Cloud Computing.

Xiaobo Wu

Xiaobo Wu (Ph.D.) is the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at the Zhejiang University China. He is also the Director of National Institute for Innovation Management (NIIM), the Director of the Zhejiang University – Cambridge University Joint Research Centre for Global Manufacturing and Innovation Management and Ruihua Institute for Innovation Management. He also serves as Board member and the vice-president of the Central, East European and Middle Asian Network on Management Development Association (CEEMAN), and the member of Global Future Council.

Shivam Gupta

Shivam Gupta (Ph.D.) is a Professor at NEOMA Business School, France with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Statistics, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability. Strong education professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focussed in Cloud Computing and Operations Management from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. Followed by PhD, postdoctoral research was pursued at Freie Universität Berlin and SUSTech, China. He has completed HDR from University of Montpellier, France. He has published several research papers in reputed journals and has been the recipient of the International Young Scientist Award by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2017 and winner of the 2017 Emerald South Asia LIS award.

Sachin Modgil

Sachin Modgil (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor at IMI Kolkata in India. He has pursued his PhD from NITIE, Mumbai, India in the domain of technology and operations management. His areas of interest include big data, artificial intelligence, supply chain management, sustainable operations and production management, lean management, operations and strategy control. He has more than 8 years of experience including industry and academia. He has conducted several MDPs and FDPs in operations management domain and has published research papers in leading academic journals.

Ajay Kumar

Ajay Kumar (Ph.D.) is an Assistant Professor at the AIM Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence in Value Creation, EMLYON Business School. His expertise lies in helping companies leverage data-science, machine learning, AI and business analytics for competitive advantage and to understand of how consumers, firms, industries and societies are being reshaped by the big-data and business analytics revolution. His research and teaching interests are in data and text mining, decision support systems, knowledge management, business intelligence and enterprise modelling.