Examining the Factors That Facilitate or Hinder the Use of Blockchain Technology to Enhance the Resilience of Supply Chains

Abstract

The integration of global supply chains allows for exchanging innovative ideas, knowledge, crafts, and technology across borders. However, it also poses a significant risk of experiencing irregular disruptions. To address these concerns, resilient systems require innovative technology-based solutions, such as blockchain. This comprehensive study involved conducting a systematic literature review and utilizing qualitative input-based DEMATEL methodology to identify the key enablers and barriers for blockchain-enabled resilient supply chains. A total of 11 enablers and 12 barriers were identified. A panel of 15 experts from various backgrounds was utilized to provide the input through the online instrument. Based on the results, transparency followed by trust and collaboration as the top three crucial enablers, and lack of acceptance in the industry, complexity, and lack of standardization as the top three crucial barriers for blockchain-enabled resilient supply chain. The study also identified shared databases, smart contracts and real-time information as key causal enablers and lack of standardization, complexity, and government support as key causal barriers for blockchain enabled resilient supply chain. This study further suggests practitioners and policymakers to prioritize promoting the adoption of BT to ensure the resilience of supply chains by launching awareness programs, conducting world-class training of employees, and implementing blockchain favoring policies. The study further provides a critical insight suggesting that the pillars that promote blockchain adoption inherently favor the resilience strategies/pillars (visibility, collaboration, traceability, risk management, security and real-time data sharing) and hence, indicates that adoption of BT would implicitly enhance resilience. The study concludes with limitations, future research directions and conclusion.

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