THE INTEGRATION OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Blockchain technology is a distributed data management system that can be accessed easily, containing blocks that are linked in a chain to maintain tamper-proof transaction records. It differs from other databases in that it has various technological systems, such as peer-to-peer network, distributed ledger, cryptography, consensus mechanism, and smart contracts. While blockchain brings visibility, security, trust environment, and transparency to the supply chain of companies to ensure sustainability, on the other hand, blockchain innovations come together with emerging technologies to provide scalable data management, decentralized networking, automation, predictive performance, real-time traceability that significantly affect productivity and profitability. Our study examines the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating blockchain technology into supply chain management, with ENAGEO as our case study. Through qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, we examine the perception of blockchain technology's impact on supply chain management among employees. Sub-questions address employee familiarity with blockchain, the alignment of current supply chain challenges with blockchain capabilities, and organizational factors influencing integration success. Three hypotheses are formulated to test employee perceptions, pain point alignment, and organizational readiness. The study is structured into two chapters that explore the potential of blockchain for supply chain enhancement and detail the qualitative research methodology using a descriptive and exploratory approach. By shedding light on blockchain's role in addressing supply chain challenges, this study offers insights for businesses seeking to improve their supply chain transparency, visibility, flexibility, and trust.