Blockchain’s potential to revolutionize supply chain and logistics with transparency and equitable stakeholder engagement is significant. However, challenges like scalability, privacy, and interoperability persist. This study explores the scarcity of real-world blockchain implementations in supply chain and logistics since we have not witnessed many real-world deployments of blockchain-based solutions in the field. Puzzled by this, we integrate technology, user experience, and operational efficiency to illuminate the complex landscape of blockchain integration. We present blockchain-based solutions in three use cases, comparing them with alternative designs and analyzing them in terms of technical, economic, and operational aspects. Insights from a tailored questionnaire of 50 questions addressed to practitioners and experts offer crucial perspectives on blockchain adoption. One of the key findings from our work shows that half of the companies interviewed agree that they will miss the potential for competitive advantage if they do not invest in blockchain technology, and 61% of the companies surveyed claimed that their customers ask for more transparency in supply chain-related transactions. However, only one-third of the companies were aware of the main features of blockchain technology, which shows a lack of knowledge among the companies that may lead to a weaker blockchain adaption in supply chain use cases. Our readers should note that our study is specifically contextualized in a Netherlands-funded national project. We hope that researchers as well as stakeholders in supply chain and logistics can benefit from the insights of our work.

Blockchain is a new promising technology for SMEs. This paper analyses 17 blockchain feasibility studies in order to answer the question, in which cases blockchain creates value for individual companies and how does it create this value. The research is conducted by Windesheim and Rotterdam Universities of Applied Sciences and 23 consulting at small and medium size enterprizes (SMEs) that were acquired by the consortium partners of the Blockstart project. The data was collected by extended interviews, the results of which are categorised into 13 criteria. In the paper these criteria for the individual companies are compared and analysed. The results of the analysis are that blockchain can add value in most cases in three ways, the first important factor is cost reduction. The second one is enhancing existing processes which is often related to avoiding risks. Blockchain as a trust anchor can provide traceability of transactions and prevents costly disputes or provenance claims, creating a win-win cost reduction. Thirdly, blockchain can contribute to the market position of a company by creating a new playing field in an existing market. This can be reached by means of a platform for transactions, creating access to information that supports trust, in a secured manner. For these value adding factors the question whether to apply blockchain or not can be definitely answered by a ‘yes.