Potentialanalyse eines blockchainbasierten Gleichlaufs von Informations-, Material- und Finanzfluss in der Supply Chain

Blockchain technology and smart contracts enable the automated settlement of payments between different parties of the supply chain. In the field of logistics, the information and material flow are typically synchronized. The flow of funds is not included in this synchronization and often takes place days after the shipment of goods. Blockchain-based smart contracts can close this gap. This bachelor thesis aims to examine the potentials of a synchronized stream of information, ma terial and funds. Beside the exploration of the integrated flows, this paper investigates the archi tecture of blockchain platforms given in the observed literature. Furthermore, blockchain and smart contracts bear many other improvements for the subfield of supply chain finance. Thus this paper also targets examining the general potentials in the processes of supply chain finance. In order to benefit from a synchronized information, material and financial flow, it is inevitable to elaborate on existing barriers hindering the implementation of blockchain applications.
To meet the described objectives of this paper, a systematic literature review was conducted to sum up and systemize the knowledge in the academic literature. Moreover, to discuss and eva luate the findings in the literature and gain insights of the industry, three interviews with employees of different industrial enterprises have been carried out.
The results show that a synchronized stream of information, material and funds entails many potentials. The information exchange and exisiting information silos can be reduced. Further more, the financial flows in the supply chain can be accelerated and the integration of all flows enables a centralized management in the supply chain. With regard to general improvements brought by blockchain technology and smart contracts, the research identified an increased level of automation and efficiency, the reduction of transaction costs and process times, the funding of suppliers at the end of the supply chain, enhancements in the execution of the KYC-process and the less restricted access to loans. Existing barriers in the implementation of blockchain are tech nical limitations such as the throughput of transactions and shortcomings in regulations and the legal body.