The Impact of Blockchain Technology on Trust in the Supply Chain

Abstract: Background: Trust is a main issue in supply chain collaboration. Since the Blockchain technology has received lots of attention, researchers and industries started to ask what the impact of BCT on supply chain collaboration is, and how they can benefit from BCT in supply chain relationships. This research is about exploring the impact of Blockchain technology on trust in supply chain relationships. Different interviews were conducted with different companies about the effects of the blockchain on the supply chain. The companies included: Arya Hakim and Nestle, Zalando, VESRES and Modum. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to identify the impact of private BCT applications on trust in the supply chain. Methodology: The methodology of this study was divided into three phases. The first phase was a literature review that provide the investigated model. The second phase was interviews for the selected cases. In this study, cross-case analysis was done using within-group similarities and intergroup differences technique to analyze the data and to understand the situation of trust. For instance, similarities between different companies were evaluated with regards to blockchain technology, motives and challenges. The third phase was the conclusion and answering the thesis questions. Conclusion: Many researchers pointed out that trust in SC is a major issue as it needs information sharing of sensitive data and openness between the different parties. This report has discussed the importance of technology in influencing behavioral intention. It is mentioned that BCT improves the level of trust in the relationships within SC; however, one hundred percent trust in the records may not be achieved due to human errors in inputting data. As one of its main conclusions, the research especially points out the relationship between trust and information sharing among partners in SC. The degree of information sharing between partners in different industries is varied. Trust is mentioned as an important aspect of managing both positive and negative issues such as increasing profits and reducing risks. One of the drivers to shift traditional information sharing toward BCT i consumers' trust. Nowadays consumers show an increasing interest in knowing the background of products. Therefore, they need to get clear information, for instance, about production and delivery conditions. Companies try to respond to this need by being more transparent in their supply chain. By facilitating transparency and traceability, BCT is a solution for improving supply chain trust. In this thesis, trust is discussed from two different perspectives, trust between SC partners and trust in the platform. The companies presented in the study are at different levels of trust and our investigation model in this thesis showed that investment in BCT can improve the level of trust.