An explorative study on blockchain technology in application to port logistics

Over eight years from its conception, Blockchain is considered as a ground-breaking innovation in information technology. The technology’s promises of complete disintermediation and enhanced process visibility turned supply chain and logistics into a fertile ground for a blockchain potential implementation. Despite these high expectations, both practitioners and researchers still struggle in identifying the blockchain real benefits to the industry. Moreover, the several private projects and start-ups offering blockchain solutions, which are blossoming in the logistics environment, are threatening the role of the Port of Rotterdam and Portbase as the port inter-organizational information system. Commissioned by Smartport, this research aims to identify the potential blockchain uses on port logistics as well as their relative impact. Therefore, the functionality offered by the current market applications are categorized into four business cases, which identify different uses of the blockchain. These blockchain business cases are subsequently analyzed under six different points of view in order to evaluate the expected benefit that the major stakeholder expect to gain from the technology implementation. Finally, the impact of these business cases is tested on the business model components of the current port information system, Portbase, to identify the disruptive power of the technology. To face the potential issue of disintermediation; a set of solutions have been developed for Portbase on how to adapt its business model in case of a blockchain implementation. This strong conceptualization of the blockchain technology helps the main logistic stakeholders to understand and discuss the potential application of blockchain technology on port logistics, and it provides a much-needed basis for further scientific research. Further development of this conceptualization is needed to structure the ongoing blockchain discussions in both scientific literature and practice.Management of Technology (MoT