Blockchain adoption in cross-border cold supply chains: Cost, Efficiency and Trust

Cross-border cold supply chains face critical challenges, including demand variability, quality degradation, and inefficiencies due to limited transparency. This study presents an analytical model comparing traditional and blockchain-enabled cold supply chains, emphasizing optimal order quantities, retail pricing, quality preservation, and profitability. A distinctive feature of this work is the integration of real-time data-sharing capabilities enabled by blockchain, which enhances demand estimation by incorporating additional data from random demand variations, an essential factor in improving forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency. A novel blockchain cost-sharing mechanism is introduced, redistributing implementation costs among stakeholders to lower financial barriers and encourage collaborative participation. Our findings reveal that blockchain adoption not only improves supply chain coordination and profitability but also fosters greater customer trust by enabling lower retail prices, in contrast to traditional models that rely on higher prices to offset transparency gaps. These insights offer a strategic framework for managers aiming to leverage blockchain technology for more resilient, efficient, and sustainable cross-border supply chain operations.