The Future of Supply Chain Industry with Blockchain Technology
Blockchain is famous around the globe, especially because of its use for cryptocurrencies. Virtual currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and some others are famous for a number of reasons. But today, what you need to know is that they are backed by Blockchain.
But is Blockchain something that is good for doing transactions and building virtual currencies? Certainly not.
The scope of Blockchain is broader, and the implementation could be more than what most of us understand. The potential of Blockchain technology is only understood by a few.
Whether you are finding mobile game app development companies or looking for expert healthcare app developers, Blockchain is useful everywhere.
But there is one more industry that can reap much more benefits. That is the supply chain industry.
The supply chain is the backbone of the world, whether you agree or not. The systems of the supply chain industry are often complex and require high-efficiency levels for everyone. These systems can be made better with Blockchain with ultimate ease.
Many organizations around the globe are exploring avenues to use this technology for their good.
Today, we will understand what Blockchain is and how it can benefit the supply chain industry. We will also shed light on a few challenges that it brings along.
Understanding Blockchain
Everyone is talking about it, and the internet is full of articles defining Blockchain.
That is why, today, we won’t be stressing too much about what Blockchain is; rather, we will be focusing on its potential impact on the Blockchain industry.
To simply define Blockchain, it is a technology that stores data in blocks that are shared along with a large number of decentralized blocks. Blockchain is hard to tamper with, making it one of the most secure. The decentralized feature of technology makes it available to everyone.
Here are a few most important features.
- Data is secure because of the architecture
- Changing the data is impossible
- Makes the transaction speeds quicker
- No single entity holds the authority
- Everyone in the chain has the access
Blockchain is a technology that can be worked in a number of ways. Especially for the supply chain. The global Blockchain supply chain market has been rising and will be reaching around $10 billion by the end of the year 2025.
How Blockchain Is Revolutionizing the Supply Chain Industry
The applications of Blockchain technology are unlimited. Blockchain has proved its worth in a number of industries and in all kinds of work. For the supply chain, it has a number of benefits, some that most of us haven’t even thought about.
Let’s have a look at how Blockchain technology is revolutionizing the supply chain industry.
Better Efficiency & Preparation
The efficiency of work and preparation plays an important role in identifying the right ways to excel. Whether it is a small company or a big organization, efficient planning in the supply chain department could always benefit. Blockchain can help improve these sectors with state-of-the-art solutions.
The decentralized architecture of the Blockchain is an easy way of handling all the tasks conveniently. The characteristics of Blockchain technology make it a hot favorite for solving all the inefficiency-related issues. Blockchain will inevitably make this industry better with time.
Moreover, companies dealing with Blockchain have enough data to play with, which makes the situation ideal for them, as far as the situation is concerned. The more data you possess, the better results you can expect with exceptional forecasting.
Improved Delivery Management
Since the supply chain deals with the physical goods industry, the state and time of the delivery matter a lot; also, it is not as easy as it looks– it is much more complex. But that is where the use of Blockchain can solve the problem.
Here, you are not consulting with mobile game app development companies or finding healthcare app developers – here, you deal with physical goods and have to be extremely careful with everything. The reduction of delivery times and improved management of the overall operations, whether local or international, can help a lot.
From the beginning of the shipping process till the delivery, there are all sorts of data being generated. That data is stored and managed regarding all the shipment details, which can be managed and processed through Blockchain. Each time you see an issue or a change, you will be sure that it is recorded. Moreover, it also cannot be modified, securing the whole process.
Improved Tracking & Updates
In the shipment and the supply chain industry, tracking and updates regarding the goods are of ultimate significance. The more the value, the more is important it is. The trust already doubles when the customer or the user, or the agency knows about the exact location.
Through Blockchain, this whole process can be expedited, sharing all the necessary information in a timely manner. Through the decentralized chain, you can easily track all the shipments, goods, and products with the information. You would also be sure about the fact that the data is accurate as well.
The improved tracking and updates options that users will get will surely make their lives easier and allow them to conduct their operations easily. This will also give a boom to the supply chain industry and attract more people to enjoy the advantages of the technology.
Enhanced Overall Cooperation
Cooperating and coordinating with each other is important in any organization. The better you coordinate, the better you work as an organization. Blockchain is one such technology that can be used to improve coordination throughout the supply change industry by making everything transparent.
The processes of supply and delivery are delicate and require close inspection and accuracy. Through modern coordination measures such as GPS coordinates, swift data transfer, and more, Blockchain technology can really come in handy – without the data being played with.
The decentralization feature of the technology helps everyone stay updated, which eventually improves the effectiveness of the ops. The flow of operations and relationship management could well be improved with ultimate ease when there is a need for it.
Complete Digital Management
Moving further, most of today’s supply chain industry is very much dependent upon paperwork. Among many ways, digitizing the whole framework is one of the ways to improve the standing of the supply chain industry. The reduction of the paperwork is top on the list when implementing digital.
With paperwork, it is essential that someone will be looking after the whole structure, and through digital implementation, the whole cost will be reduced, adding significantly to the revenue. You also get to improve the overall performance as well.
Blockchain in Supply Chain Industry & The Challenges
There is no doubt that there are a number of benefits of the technology, but there are surely a few challenges as well that come along. Only with time will we be able to solve the problem and allow for options that help scale the matter.
- Whenever a new technology is implemented, there is a lot of change resistance at the start
- Implementing new technology comes with a cost, and you have to do things in a certain manner
- The technology is still new, and that is why there will be trial and error when implementing it
- Being in its infancy, Blockchain technology might be difficult to scale and would require time
- Effective planning is necessary when implementing Blockchain because it is needed
Takeaway
Blockchain technology is amazing. The world has already started to witness its amazing features and functions of it in many forms. Blockchain in the supply chain industry is important, and it could help a great deal in making it better.
It can be implemented to bring up better things for us. Still, there are a few challenges with the technology as well. Only with time will we learn more about the technology and how we can better implement them in the supply chain industry.