The effect of the blockchain technology on service companies and food retailers: An overview of the blockchain use cases and applications

Nowadays, as a result of the vertical development of technology, the concepts of information technologies and digital transformation have become more important for the service companies and food retailers. In this ecosystem, there are numbers of actors involved in the supply chain and logistics activities regarding service companies and food retailers. On the other hand, there are lots of technologies and applications to support the flow of the products and services in the supply chain activities. Here, the supply chain and logistics of the service companies and food retailers should remain efficient for the organizational structure. So blockchain is a disruptive technology that ensures support for supply chain management. Blockchain is a new technology that can be implemented to most of the sectors. From the perspective of service companies and food retailers, blockchain technology can ensure some feasible solutions and systems for them. Although there are some application challenges and steps for the installation architecture in blockchain technology, with the correctly constructed use cases and applications, service companies and food retailers can benefit from this disruptive technology. The aim of this study presents a comprehensive and descriptive use case for implementing blockchain technology service companies and food retailers. The literature part of the study was also examined in detail. For the methodology part of the study, semi structured and in-depth interviews are conducted with supply chain and logistics managers of the service companies and food retailers. Also, semi structured interviews are conducted with the blockchain technology experts. With respect to analyzes and findings gathered from interviews were discussed particularly. In this context, service companies and food retailers may face some significant challenges when they want to apply blockchain technology in their main workflow activities. However, they need to have technology support and consultancy regarding blockchain technology from technology consulting firms. Because of these reasons, one of the most commonly used methods; Quality Function Deployment (QFD) was applied in the study. Before applying the QFD method, the use cases and applications of blockchain technology regarding service companies and food retailers were discussed particularly. Consequently, it is crucial for companies to ensure these customer requirements of service companies and food retailers and also to ensure the technical specifications of them. In this way, service companies and food retailers can provide rapid technology adaptation and competitive advantage. This paper is a descriptive study that gives a roadmap for service companies and food retailers that want to apply blockchain technology in their supply chain and logistics activities