Blockchain adoption in logistics and supply chain: a literature review and research agenda

Abstract

The supply chain is an important source of knowledge that enables potential emerging technologies and, in this ecosystem, logistics are regarded as an intermediary for disseminating innovative solutions in a coordinated manner. As an emerging solution in the supply chain area, blockchain has recently been discussed as a disruptive technology and has received growing attention from academics and practitioners. Despite this interest, insufficient knowledge on the potential benefits and risks of blockchain technology causes vagueness for its successful implementation. Therefore, since effective management of logistics and supply chain operations through advanced solutions is of utmost importance, adopting an innovative approach rather than providing anectodal evidences or narrative expressions plays a critical role in blockchain adoption. Accordingly, this research aims to an in-depth analysis of the blockchain in logistics and supply chain by investigating enablers, barriers, and risks of this adoption. To this end, through employing both the Methodi Ordinatio and the narrative network analyses, the future direction of blockchain adoption is presented in light of the presented current state of knowledge. Consequently, the obtained findings offer academic and practical insights into the ambiguous, insufficiently explained, and conflicted areas in the relationship between blockchain technologies and logistics and supply chain contexts.