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A Systematic Literature Review of Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain Traceability Implementations

Author

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  • Thomas K. Dasaklis

    (School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patra, Greece)

  • Theodore G. Voutsinas

    (School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patra, Greece)

  • Giannis T. Tsoulfas

    (Department of Agribusiness and Supply Chain Management, Agricultural University of Athens, 32200 Thiva, Greece)

  • Fran Casino

    (Department of Computer Engineering and Mathematics, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
    Information Management Systems Institute, Athena Research Center, 15125 Marousi, Greece)

Abstract

In recent years, traceability systems have been developed as practical tools for improving supply chain (SC) transparency and visibility, especially in health and safety-sensitive sectors like food and pharmaceuticals. Blockchain-related SC traceability research has received significant attention during the last several years, and arguably blockchain is currently the most promising technology for providing traceability-related services in SC networks. This paper provides a systematic literature review of the various technical implementation aspects of blockchain-enabled SC traceability systems. We apply different drivers for classifying the selected literature, such as (a) the various domains of the available blockchain-enabled SC traceability systems and relevant methodologies applied; (b) the implementation maturity of these traceability systems along with technical implementation details; and (c) the sustainability perspective (economic, environmental, social) prevalent to these implementations. We provide key takeaways regarding the open issues and challenges of current blockchain traceability implementations and fruitful future research areas. Despite the significant volume and plethora of blockchain-enabled SC traceability systems, academia has so far focused on unstructured experimentation of blockchain-associated SC traceability solutions, and there is a clear need for developing and testing real-life traceability solutions, especially taking into account feasibility and cost-related SC aspects.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas K. Dasaklis & Theodore G. Voutsinas & Giannis T. Tsoulfas & Fran Casino, 2022. "A Systematic Literature Review of Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain Traceability Implementations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-30, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2439-:d:754105
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gabriella M. Hastig & ManMohan S. Sodhi, 2020. "Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability: Business Requirements and Critical Success Factors," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(4), pages 935-954, April.
    2. Ozgur Kabadurmus & Mehmet S. Erdogan, 2020. "Sustainable, multimodal and reliable supply chain design," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 292(1), pages 47-70, September.
    3. Wang, H. & Pan, Chen & Wang, Qunwei & Zhou, P., 2020. "Assessing sustainability performance of global supply chains: An input-output modeling approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(1), pages 393-404.
    4. Amit Arora & Anshu Arora & Julius Anyu & John R. McIntyre, 2021. "Global Value Chains’ Disaggregation through Supply Chain Collaboration, Market Turbulence, and Performance Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Panagiotis Reklitis & Damianos P. Sakas & Panagiotis Trivellas & Giannis T. Tsoulfas, 2021. "Performance Implications of Aligning Supply Chain Practices with Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence from the Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    6. Melek Akın Ateş & Robert Suurmond & Davide Luzzini & Daniel Krause, 2022. "Order from chaos: A meta‐analysis of supply chain complexity and firm performance," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 58(1), pages 3-30, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sotiris P. Gayialis & Evripidis P. Kechagias & Georgios A. Papadopoulos & Nikolaos A. Panayiotou, 2022. "A Business Process Reference Model for the Development of a Wine Traceability System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "A critical review of formal analytical modeling for blockchain technology in production, operations, and supply chains: Harnessing progress for future potential," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    3. Jiping Xu & Jiaqi Han & Zhibo Qi & Zixuan Jiang & Ke Xu & Minzhang Zheng & Xin Zhang, 2022. "A Reliable Traceability Model for Grain and Oil Quality Safety Based on Blockchain and Industrial Internet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-27, November.
    4. Chibuike Daraojimba & Adeyinka Alex Banso & Kelechi Anthony Ofonagoro & Joy Otibhor Olurin & Sodrudeen Abolore Ayodeji & Vincent Ebhohime Ehiaguina & Tina Chinyere Ndiwe, 2023. "Major Corporations And Environmental Advocacy: Efforts In Reducing Environmental Impact In Oil Exploration," Engineering Heritage Journal (GWK), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 7(1), pages 49-59, October.
    5. Tahir, Iram & Shahzad, Khuram & Ensari, M. Sebnem, 2024. "Utilising blockchain technology for managing natural resources: A case study of Reko Diq copper-gold project, Pakistan," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    6. Jacob Lohmer & Elias Ribeiro da Silva & Rainer Lasch, 2022. "Blockchain Technology in Operations & Supply Chain Management: A Content Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-88, May.
    7. Zaheer Abbas & Seunghwan Myeong, 2024. "A Comprehensive Study of Blockchain Technology and Its Role in Promoting Sustainability and Circularity across Large-Scale Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-33, May.
    8. Giorgio Piccardo & Lorenzo Conti & Alessio Martino, 2024. "Blockchain Technology and Its Potential to Benefit Public Services Provision: A Short Survey," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-22, August.
    9. Hassan Nazir & Jianqiang Fan, 2024. "Revolutionizing Retail: Examining the Influence of Blockchain-Enabled IoT Capabilities on Sustainable Firm Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-23, April.
    10. Talha Ahsan, 2024. "Gemstones Supply Chain Management throughBlockchain Mechanism," International Journal of Innovations in Science & Technology, 50sea, vol. 6(2), pages 833-848, June.
    11. Chen Zhang & Yaoqun Xu & Yi Zheng, 2024. "Blockchain Traceability Adoption in Low-Carbon Supply Chains: An Evolutionary Game Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-23, February.
    12. Syaiful Anwar & Tomy Perdana & Meddy Rachmadi & Trisna Insan Noor, 2023. "Product Traceability and Supply Chain Sustainability of Black Soybeans as Raw Materials for Soy Sauce in Maintaining Quality and Safety," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    13. Jing-Yan Ma & Lei Shi & Tae-Won Kang, 2022. "The Effect of Digital Transformation on the Pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Performance: The Mediating Role of Information Sharing and Traceability Using Structural Equation Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    14. Syaiful Anwar & Tomy Perdana & Meddy Rachmadi & Trisna Insan Noor, 2022. "Traceability Information Model for Sustainability of Black Soybean Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, August.
    15. Mª Del Valle Fernández Moreno & Juan Miguel Alcántara-Pilar & Marta Tolentino, 2025. "Decoding the future: a bibliometric exploration of blockchain in logistics," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 11(1), pages 1-24, December.
    16. Esraa Esam Alharasis & Hossam Haddad & Maha Shehadeh & Ahmad Saleem Tarawneh, 2022. "Abnormal Monitoring Costs Charged for Auditing Fair Value Model: Evidence from Jordanian Finance Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    17. Kadim Lahcen Nadime & Jamal Benhra & Rajaa Benabbou & Salma Mouatassim, 2025. "The Impact of Emerging Blockchain Trends on Supply Chain Management," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-35, March.
    18. Xin Zhang & Yue Li & Xiangzhen Peng & Zhiyao Zhao & Jiaqi Han & Jiping Xu, 2022. "Information Traceability Model for the Grain and Oil Food Supply Chain Based on Trusted Identification and Trusted Blockchain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-21, May.
    19. Sarah Katharina Kraft & Florian Kellner, 2022. "Can Blockchain Be a Basis to Ensure Transparency in an Agricultural Supply Chain?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, July.
    20. LiGuo Yang & Lin Lu, 2025. "Improving supply chain transparency: from the perspective of suppliers," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 350(3), pages 1331-1362, July.

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