Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management and Logistics

A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Supply Chain Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 18213

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
Interests: sustainable and smart industries; manufacturing and industrial engineering; applied artificial intelligence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Asian Institute of Management, Makati 01229, Philippines
Interests: system dynamics modeling; warehouse optimization; process improvement; digital transformation; blockchain design and development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid development of technology has greatly impacted various industries. Blockchain technology has gained significant attention due to its potential to revolutionize supply chain management and logistics. Blockchain technology offers a decentralized and transparent platform that can revolutionize the way supply chains operate. By using blockchain technology, supply chains can achieve greater transparency, traceability, agility and security, thereby improving overall efficiency and trust.

We invite all theoretician scientists and practitioners to submit articles related to exploring the applications, challenges, and opportunities of blockchain technology in supply chain management and logistics. The aim is to bring together researchers and practitioners to share their insights, experiences, and innovative solutions in this field. The Special Issue covers a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Blockchain features and influence on supply chain practices;
  • Smart contracts and decentralized applications in logistics;
  • Blockchain-enabled inventory management and optimization;
  • Privacy and security considerations in blockchain-based supply chains;
  • Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain in supply chain management;
  • Blockchain-based supply chain finance and payment systems;
  • Case studies and real-world implementations of blockchain in supply chains;
  • Challenges and key success factors of blockchain in supply chain and logistics management;
  • Integration of blockchain with enterprise systems for supply chain and logistics management.

Dr. Funlade Sunmola
Dr. Albert Wee Kwan Tan
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 8278 KiB  
Article
Holistic Framework for Blockchain-Based Halal Compliance in Supply Chains Enabled by Artificial Intelligence
by Funlade Sunmola, George Baryannis, Albert Tan, Kenneth Co and Emmanuel Papadakis
Systems 2025, 13(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13010021 - 1 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2197
Abstract
The global halal market is growing, driven by rising stakeholder populations and increasing consumer interest in ethical and sustainable food choices. This surge in demand necessitates robust halal compliance throughout complex supply chains. However, there are several challenges, including fragmented information, increased understanding [...] Read more.
The global halal market is growing, driven by rising stakeholder populations and increasing consumer interest in ethical and sustainable food choices. This surge in demand necessitates robust halal compliance throughout complex supply chains. However, there are several challenges, including fragmented information, increased understanding of halal requirements among stakeholders, and difficulties in tracing product provenance. This paper proposes a holistic framework for halal certification and compliance, addressing these challenges through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies. AI can automate halal compliance checks, identify potential irregularities in sourcing and composition, and facilitate risk management. The blockchain offers an ideal platform for tracking product provenance throughout the halal supply chain. This ensures trust and confidence among consumers by providing verifiable information on ingredient origin and production processes. This paper further strengthens the potential of this framework by presenting an illustrative example that utilises knowledge graphs, machine learning, and smart contracts. This exemplifies the potential application of the proposed framework in the context of halal pre-certification processes. By fostering transparency and streamlining compliance procedures, the proposed holistic framework, empowered by AI and the blockchain, can significantly enhance trust and confidence among stakeholders within the halal food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management and Logistics)
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29 pages, 716 KiB  
Article
The Role of Strategic Partnerships and Digital Transformation in Enhancing Supply Chain Agility and Performance
by Ibrahim Mutambik
Systems 2024, 12(11), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12110456 - 29 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6442
Abstract
In times of disruption, a company’s ability to manage its supply chain effectively can determine its success or failure. This paper explores the extent to which strategic partnership development, mediated by digital transformation, enhances supply chain effectiveness during such periods. A mixed methods [...] Read more.
In times of disruption, a company’s ability to manage its supply chain effectively can determine its success or failure. This paper explores the extent to which strategic partnership development, mediated by digital transformation, enhances supply chain effectiveness during such periods. A mixed methods approach was used, involving surveys and interviews with professionals from the Saudi Arabian manufacturing sector. The study’s findings reveal that digital transformation and strategic partnerships work synergistically together to enhance supply chain resilience and effectiveness, resulting in improved operational agility and adaptability. Four key enablers of supply chain digital transformation were identified: inter-business coordination, leadership, technological culture, and recruitment management. These insights contribute significantly to our understanding of how businesses can build resilient supply chains in uncertain environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management and Logistics)
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20 pages, 1122 KiB  
Article
Factors Influencing Blockchain Technologies Adoption in Supply Chain Management and Logistic Sectors: Cultural Compatibility of Blockchain Solutions as Moderator
by Zenah Mahmoud AlKubaisy and Sabah Abdullah Al-Somali
Systems 2023, 11(12), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11120574 - 13 Dec 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5206
Abstract
The rapid advancements in blockchain technology have heralded a new era for various industries, including the supply chain and logistics. However, despite the promising opportunities, the adoption of blockchain within supply chain and logistics still needs to be explored, especially in Saudi Arabia. [...] Read more.
The rapid advancements in blockchain technology have heralded a new era for various industries, including the supply chain and logistics. However, despite the promising opportunities, the adoption of blockchain within supply chain and logistics still needs to be explored, especially in Saudi Arabia. This study investigated the impact of technological, organizational, and environmental factors on blockchain adoption among Saudi supply chain and logistics companies. The study also tested cultural compatibility’s moderating role in solving blockchain issues. A quantitative method approach was employed, utilizing a survey questionnaire. Data were gathered from various stakeholders across the industry, including managers, IT experts, and logistics professionals. The findings indicate that relative advantage, top management support, and competitors influence blockchain technology adoption significantly and positively. However, openness to innovation use has an insignificant effect on adoption. Government support demonstrates the strongest positive influence on blockchain adoption, whereas vendor orientation and support showed an insignificant impact. Both blockchain technology adoption and the cultural compatibility of blockchain solutions significantly enhance operational excellence, but the moderating effect of cultural compatibility of blockchain solutions shows no effect on operational excellence. This study stands out as one of the first explorations into blockchain adoption in the supply chain and logistics sector within the Saudi context, identifying the factors contributing to blockchain’s successful implementation for operational excellence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management and Logistics)
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18 pages, 539 KiB  
Article
Blockchain-Embedded Strategic Options for Satellite Operators: Sell, SataaS, or Dual?
by Yihan Jing, Chenyi Chen, Jichang Dong  and Zhou He
Systems 2023, 11(11), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11110550 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2446
Abstract
With the rise of satellite-as-a-service subscriptions as technology improves, our paper examines how satellite operators (SOs) can choose between traditional channels for selling satellites, satellite-as-a-service (SataaS), and dual-channel strategies. In the space supply chain, commercial satellites display several distinct characteristics that differentiate them [...] Read more.
With the rise of satellite-as-a-service subscriptions as technology improves, our paper examines how satellite operators (SOs) can choose between traditional channels for selling satellites, satellite-as-a-service (SataaS), and dual-channel strategies. In the space supply chain, commercial satellites display several distinct characteristics that differentiate them from other physical commodities in traditional supply chains, most notably their exposure to significant launch risks. In addition, SataaS suffers from the risk of secure data transmission. However, the emergence of novel technologies such as blockchain technology (BCT) could help to mitigate such risks. Therefore, our study analyzes the optimal strategy among the sell, SataaS, and dual-channel approaches for SOs by considering the above distinctive characteristics in the case without blockchain and the case with blockchain. Our paper reveals the existence of a dual-channel strategy that generates the highest profit for the SO and yields the highest consumer utility when launch success is high and when SataaS fixed costs are low. When the launch success rate is very high, the dual-channel strategy transforms into a pure sell strategy. After the adoption of BCT, when the cost of BCT is low, the SO’s profit is enhanced in all three sales channels compared to the case without blockchain. Notably, in SataaS as well as in the dual-channel approach, the adoption of BCT always improves consumer utility compared to the case without blockchain. However, in the sell channel, the consumer benefits depend on the relatively low cost of blockchain customization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management and Logistics)
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