Abstract

Logistics management is a very complex yet unavoidable part of any organization. The complex network of products, people and processes involved in logistics make traceability and verification of anything involved very difficult and very expensive. Till date, centralized approaches to logistics management are cost-ineffective and complex, while decentralized approaches have the problem of providing consistent and relevant data. However, the new blockchain technology has the potential to provide consistent and relevant data and it is cost-effective and yet, it avoids the complex central control structure. We provide an insight into the different applications of blockchain technology to logistics management. Currently, there is a considerable amount of research in this sphere with corporates all over the world investing in pilot projects or full-scale applications of blockchain technology to logistics. In our paper we examine such applications. In addition, we identify different deterrents of applying blockchain technology to logistics management based on our research.

Keywords: Logistics, Blockchain, Information, Traceability, Deterrents