A Hybrid Blockchain Implementation to Ensure Data Integrity and Interoperability for Public Service Organisations

Abstract

Public service organisations (PSOs) have a need to collaborate with each other in order to provide a seamless user experience, mitigate fraud and increase operational efficiency at a reduced tax payer's cost. However, legacy systems built over decades using different technology stacks, make collaboration challenging and hinder efficiency. Distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) have been proposed as a trust and efficiency mechanism for several inter organisation collaborative tasks. They can reduce friction in operations and help achieve a more streamlined and unified public service infrastructure. However, most of the work are either based on theory or purely conceptual and lack implementation. In this paper, we elaborate on the design and implementation of a proof of concept (POC) of a blockchain based interoperability and data sharing system that allows PSOs to seamlessly collaborate and share information in real time. The POC is based on the Registration of Overseas Entities and Beneficial Owners (ROEBO) legislation in the UK and demonstrates interactions between Companies House UK and other PSOs in a hybrid blockchain setting.