Where and how to get started with Blockchain in the supply chain : Beyond the hype, navigating the trough of disillusionment

Abstract

There is a lot of excitement around Blockchain in the supply chain but, according to Gartner, we are moving beyond the peak of expectations into the trough of disillusionment. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of research to support managers navigating this stage. There is research on use case considerations1 and research that confirms that use cases can contribute to high-level supply chain objectives,2 but what is missing is research on pilot design and implementation considerations. We have been at this crossroad before, however, with other technologies in the supply chain, and lessons learned from earlier efforts to digitise the supply chain might inform decision making. This paper considers the lessons learned in three case studies of Blockchain adoption in the supply chain. Findings reveal that some lessons learned with older technologies apply to Blockchain, including the need to clean up master data and fix processes. There are also clear differences that make Blockchain different. For example, it is actually fairly inexpensive to get started with Blockchain and, provided a targeted scope, the process can move fairly quickly. Additionally, Blockchain can leverage data from existing technologies, rather than replace those technologies. This paper aims to support managerial consideration of Blockchain adoption and to extend research beyond the exploration of use cases with lessons learned about piloting and implementing Blockchain in the supply chain. We do so by extending the Verhoeven et al. framework3 for use case considerations with pilot design considerations and factors to consider when scaling from pilot to larger-scale adoption.