March 7th, 2023
The logistics business is primed for change, since it faces various difficulties such as inefficiency and a lack of transparency. Enter blockchain technology, a possible game changer that provides a secure, tamper-proof alternative!
In this blog, we will explore the potential applications of blockchain in logistics!
Table of Contents
The logistics industry encompasses all aspects of the movement of goods and products, from raw materials to finished goods, as well as the associated services such as warehousing, transportation, and distribution. The industry is critical to the global economy, as it enables the movement of goods and products between producers and consumers around the world.
Global Logistics Market by Expert Market Research
Global Logistics Market by Expert Market Research
According to EMR (Expert Market Research), the global logistics market attained a value of USD 9.96 trillion in 2022, driven by the increased popularity of online shopping and, thus, the rapid growth of the e-commerce industry. Aided by the increased adoption of automated material handling equipment and growing demand for green logistics solutions, the industry is expected to witness a further growth in the forecast period of 2023-2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.3%. The logistics market is projected to reach USD 14.37 trillion by 2028.
At the present time, logistics companies implement cargo transportation services by land, air, and water while adjusting to the evolving nature of economic trends and digitalization.
Key Processes in Logistics
The logistics industry has long faced a number of challenges related to efficiency, transparency, and security.
The logistics industry is highly complex and involves a large number of stakeholders, including suppliers, distributors, and customers. However, the lack of transparency and visibility into the movement of goods through the supply chain can lead to delays, errors, and inefficiencies.
The logistics industry is highly fragmented, with different stakeholders using different systems and processes to manage their part of the supply chain. This can lead to communication breakdowns, delays, and errors in the supply chain due to the lack of direct control.
The movement of goods through the supply chain involves a high degree of risk, including theft, damage, and fraud. The lack of security measures can lead to losses and delays in the supply chain, resulting in the exposure of customer personal data or sharing of commercially-sensitive information.
The logistics industry has traditionally relied on manual processes and paperwork, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. This can lead to delays and inefficiencies in the supply chain. Traditional supply chain management systems often involve multiple parties, such as suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, each keeping their own records of transactions and inventory movements. This can lead to a lack of transparency, delays in verifying the accuracy of data, and difficulties in resolving disputes.
Overall, the logistics industry has faced a number of challenges related to efficiency, transparency, and security, which have led to inefficiencies and delays in the movement of goods through the supply chain. The adoption of blockchain technology has the potential to address many of these challenges by providing a secure, transparent, and efficient way to manage the movement of goods through the supply chain.
Lack of transparency and traceability in the supply chain is one of the main problems with logistics. By producing an unchangeable record of all real-time transactions and movements along the supply chain, blockchain can assist in addressing this problem. This can aid in increasing openness, lowering the likelihood of fraud, and counterfeiting, and improve accountability.
Thus, this is a reliable way to verify the authenticity of products and make it easier to track the origin, movement, and destination of products.
By simplifying operations and removing the need for middlemen, blockchain can assist in better efficiency and cost reduction.
Several logistics-related processes, from purchasing and inventory control to payments and dispute resolution, can be automated with the aid of smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the contents of the agreement encoded directly into code. Both costs and efficiency may be lowered as a result.
Logistics companies deal with a large number of sensitive data, including financial and personal data. Blockchain can address the issue of security and data privacy by offering a safe and unhackable method for storing and exchanging data.
This can lower the risk of data breaches and increase consumer and partner trust.
Blockchain technology can offer a safe and open ledger of all transactions and movements along the supply chain, from raw materials to completed goods. This can serve to boost transparency and accountability, lower the chance of fraud and counterfeiting, and raise overall supply chain effectiveness.
Moreover, blockchain technology can help with logistics planning, especially in multi-party supply chains that are intricate. Blockchain can assist to eliminate delays, disagreements, and errors while also enhancing communication and cooperation by giving all stakeholders a common platform to access and exchange data.
Blockchain technology can help decrease mistakes and delays in the customs clearance process while also enhancing accountability and transparency by providing a visible and searchable record of all pertinent information.
Many logistics businesses must adhere to a number of laws and rules, including those governing the environment, human health, and safety. By automating compliance management, blockchain technology can make sure that all parties are abiding by the necessary regulations and standards.
TradeLens is a blockchain-based platform developed by IBM and Maersk that is designed to increase efficiency, transparency, and security in the global supply chain. It provides a single, tamper-proof record of all transactions, from the point of origin to the point of consumption, that can be accessed by all parties involved in the supply chain. TradeLens has already been adopted by several major shipping companies and ports around the world.
Walmart has developed a blockchain-based solution for tracking and tracing the origin of food products in its supply chain. The system allows Walmart to quickly identify the source of any food safety issues and remove contaminated products from its stores. The blockchain-based system also provides increased transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain, allowing customers to track the journey of their food products from farm to store.
UPS has developed a blockchain-based system for tracking the movement of packages and shipments throughout its global network. The system provides real-time updates on the location and status of shipments, as well as an immutable record of all transactions. This increased transparency and traceability helps to reduce errors and delays in the supply chain, as well as increase customer satisfaction and trust.
These examples demonstrate the potential of blockchain technology to transform the logistics industry, providing increased efficiency, transparency, and security throughout the supply chain. As more companies adopt blockchain solutions, we can expect to see even more innovative use cases and benefits emerge in the years to come.
More and more logistics firms are expected to explore and use blockchain solutions as the technology continues to develop and mature. By doing this, businesses may put themselves in the forefront of innovation and maintain an edge over competitors in a market that is getting more and more competitive.
