Evaluation of blockchain implementation solutions in the sustainable supply chain: A novel hybrid decision approach based on Z-numbers

Abstract

Nowadays, because of the increase in global competition and the need to pay attention to sustainable issues, achieve a competitive advantage, reduce costs, and improve Supply Chain (SC) network management, the use of blockchain and its integration have become necessary in the network. The use of Blockchain Technology (BT) leads to transparency, controllability, security, flexibility, visibility, reduction of costs, efficient processes, and achieving sustainable development goals in the SC network. To successfully implement BT in SC, it is necessary to identify and evaluate the operational solutions to solve the challenges and obstacles of BT. Therefore, this study aims to identify and evaluate BT implementation solutions to achieve sustainability in the SC. The novelties and contributions of this research include identifying blockchain solutions to achieve sustainable development goals in the SC, proposing a new application for the agricultural products SC to utilize blockchain, and presenting a novel hybrid decision procedure including the Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and the Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) using on Z-numbers for evaluating solutions. The proposed approach can deal with ambiguity in the complex environment of the decision due to the consideration of reliability and uncertainty in the data, reducing the number of pairwise comparisons, low inconsistency rate, reducing the complexity of calculations, ease of implementation, no limit in the number of criteria, no dependence on predetermined scales, and providing compromise solutions based on different opinions of experts. To examine the results, sensitivity analysis, and validation were performed. The findings showed that for the successful implementation of blockchain in the agricultural SC, the infrastructure of this technology must be created and integrated with all levels of the SC, and using BT must be provided through the use of sustainable methods. By developing areas of cooperation and participation through the creation of facilitating rules between different partners in the SC, collective investments can be made in the development of the infrastructure.