Blocking And Tackling In A Blockchain Universe

Blockchain is getting more than its fair share of PR these days.  The inevitable questions rotate among a few key issues: What is it?  What does it mean?  Hoiw much is fairy dust, and how much is substantive?  Where will it be five years from now?  Is it practical, or cost effective, and will it transform supply chain operating networks?

Blockchain advocates herald its contributionsto a brave new world of transparency and security - and trust - with positive financial impacts of: counterfeit prevention, active shrink (theft) recovery, fraud, insurance protection, and prospectively the emergence of new markets.

Blockchain technology, while it may reconfigure supply chain operating networks (SCON) appears to be limited to retail, especially B2C, appears to be primarily a matter of front-end information sharing, reducing redundancy and establishing a common base of traceability and visibility.  One might ask how such technology application limits differentiation among retail competitors, with the answer developing continually greater focus.  

With Wal-Mart's announcements today regarding a captive blockchain test, the differentiation factor has grown in limitation, it seems.  How does a "tame" blockchain application enhance univbersal access to visibility and tranmsparency.

 

And, if blockchain is primarily limited to retail, how does it benefit other supply chains, and why is it important?   Stay tuned.  The pundits, columnists, and trade journalists will inform us when we are ready to know the how, when, and why of blockchain.