Blockchain in the supply chain: A cross-case analysis based on 21 case studies

This paper contains a cross-case analysis of 21 feasibility studies on the <br/>application of blockchain in 16 companies, performed at two Universities of <br/>Applied Sciences as a part of the research SIA-Raak project ‘From hype to <br/>reality’ between 2018 and 2020 and the affiliated BlockStart project. The <br/>paper analyses the effect of blockchain on the KPIs of the companies, by <br/>inventorying and classifying the KPIs and connecting them with the logistics <br/>processes. The research findings show that the main benefits of blockchain <br/>for these companies are transparency and traceability, especially in food <br/>chain companies. The advice for these companies is to invest in blockchain. <br/>Reasons for companies why they do not invest in blockchain are related to <br/>preferences for proven technologies. In these situations, it shows that a better <br/>business case can be exploited, or companies already trust each other and do <br/>not feel the need to secure trust even more. This cross-case analysis is a first <br/>attempt to understand the main drivers for blockchain implementation at <br/>companies. For future analysis on blockchain feasibility studies, we advise to <br/>use a more standardized set of KPIs and the application of a methodology <br/>developed during this project to connect the use of blockchain to the <br/>companies’ strategies.