Blockchain Technology – A Breakthrough Innovation for Modern Industries (2nd Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

Blockchain technology (BCT) has evolved far beyond its initial use in cryptocurrency, becoming a key enabler of innovation across industries (Laroiya et al., 2020). In supply chain management, BCT has demonstrated unique potential to address long-standing challenges such as lack of transparency, inefficiencies, and trust deficits among stakeholders (Adamashvili et al., 2021). By providing secure, immutable, and verifiable records of transactions, BCT fosters accountability, traceability, and efficiency across complex global supply networks (Dudczyk et al., 2024).

As industries adapt to shifting consumer demands, stricter regulatory frameworks, and the need for sustainability, BCT emerges as a critical tool for supply chain transformation (Younis et al., 2024). From real-time product tracking to ensuring compliance with sustainability standards, blockchain offers solutions that can drive both operational excellence and ethical business practices (Vongurai, 2024; Bai et al., 2024; Kayikci et al., 2022). Moreover, the integration of BCT with other technologies, such as IoT, AI, and big data analytics, opens up new possibilities for predictive insights and decision-making across the supply chain (Adamashvili et al., 2024).

However, the adoption of BCT in supply chains also presents challenges. Scalability, interoperability, and regulatory uncertainty remain significant barriers to widespread implementation (Jabbar et al., 2021). Furthermore, as the technology matures, there is a growing need to explore its applications in emerging sectors, optimize its technical architecture, and assess its socio-economic impact.

This Special Issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative case studies that explore the role of blockchain technology in revolutionizing supply chains. We welcome contributions that address technical, managerial, and policy aspects of BCT implementation, with a particular focus on its potential to enhance resilience, transparency, and sustainability. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Blockchain-enabled solutions for transparent and ethical supply chains;
• Smart contracts for automating supply chain operations;
• The role of blockchain in addressing supply chain disruptions and resilience;
• Integration of blockchain with IoT, AI, and big data in supply chain management;
• Blockchain for circular supply chains and sustainability goals;
• Overcoming scalability and interoperability challenges in blockchain systems;
• Blockchain’s impact on trust and collaboration among supply chain partners;
• Case studies of blockchain adoption in industries such as agriculture, food, healthcare, and manufacturing;
• The regulatory landscape for blockchain in supply chains;
• Economic and social implications of blockchain adoption in global supply chains.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on blockchain applications in supply chains, offering insights into the opportunities, challenges, and future directions of this transformative technology. We look forward to receiving your original and high-quality submissions.

Cited works

Adamashvili N, State R, Tricase C, Fiore M. Blockchain-Based Wine Supply Chain for the Industry Advancement. Sustainability. 2021; 13(23):13070.

Bai, C. A., Sarkis, J., & Xue, W. (2024). Improving operational efficiency and effectiveness through blockchain technology. Production Planning & Control, 35(9), 857-865.

Dudczyk, P., Dunston, J., & Crosby, G. V. (2024). Blockchain Technology for Global Supply Chain Management: A Survey of Applications, Challenges, Opportunities & Implications (March 2024). IEEE Access.

Jabbar, S., Lloyd, H., Hammoudeh, M., Adebisi, B., & Raza, U. (2021). Blockchain-enabled supply chain: analysis, challenges, and future directions. Multimedia systems, 27, 787-806.

Kayikci, Y., Durak Usar, D., & Aylak, B. L. (2022). Using blockchain technology to drive operational excellence in perishable food supply chains during outbreaks. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 33(3), 836-876.

Laroiya, C., Saxena, D., & Komalavalli, C. (2020). Applications of blockchain technology. In Handbook of research on blockchain technology (pp. 213-243). Academic press.

Vongurai, R. (2024). Investigating Industry 4.0, blockchain adoption, and sustainability on Thai finance's operational excellence. Global Business & Finance Review (GBFR), 29(5), 88-102.

Younis, H., Bwaliez, O. M., Al-Okaily, M., & Tanveer, M. I. (2024). Revolutionizing supply chain management: a critical meta-analysis of empowerment and constraint factors in blockchain technology adoption. Business Process Management Journal.

Dr. Nino Adamashvili
Prof. Dr. Radu State
Prof. Dr. Caterina Tricase
Prof. Dr. Roberto Tonelli
Guest Editors

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• Blockchain technology
• Smart contracts
• IoT
• Big data
• Business intelligence
• Innovation
• Sustainability
• Supply chains
• Transportation