The application of blockchain technology for supply chain visibility - A case study of the fish farming industry

Abstract

The fish farming industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Norway, and is stated to be the “new oil” and one of the most important industries for the future. Blockchain is one of the biggest buzzwords in the business environment today and there have in the last years been more use areas towards logistics and supply chain management. In this study, the authors were set to explore how blockchain technology could improve supply chain visibility. To reach the objective of answering the research question, the authors found it necessary to conduct a case study of a general supply chain. The authors, therefore, analysed the fish farming industry and investigated whether the industry as a whole could benefit from blockchain technology. Also, it was found necessary to examine key barriers for technology adoption. To do so, exploratory research was conducted based on semi-structured interviews with actors from the fish farming industry and blockchain experts. The theoretical background will consist of theory regarding supply chain visibility, the fish farming industry and lastly, various blockchain concepts to build up evidence and documentation for the discussion. The results are divided into two parts, where the authors first will include industry findings on the current situation. Further, will the second part display the findings related to blockchain technology and how it can affect the current situation in the fish farming supply chain. The main conclusion that can be drawn from the results is that blockchain can enhance visibility in the industry with usefulness of the information, where better operational efficiency through better forecasting and planning through data anlaytics would increase business value. Further, would the quality of information and the documentation of information of the fish be more secure and reliable using blockchain technology. Lastly, will blockchain combined with other technologies improve how the fish farming supply chain capture information through autonomous solutions.