Supply Chain Revolution: How Blockchain Technology Is Transforming the Global Flow of Assets

by Don Tapscott (Editor)

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken precious lives and devastated the global economy. It has also revealed chinks in our supply chains. Not only have manufacturers found themselves scrambling unsuccessfully to find new suppliers when their Asian sources shut down, but the Western world has experienced across-the-board shortages of essential consumer packaged goods for the first time in decades. Blockchain technology has the potential to minimize these kinds of pandemic disruptions.In this book, some of the world's top experts show how blockchain—in combination with other innovations such as additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things—can address longstanding problems that make the business of getting goods to customers so slow and expensive, especially in crises. Today's supply chains are complex, as they move resources through trucks, planes, boats, and trains. Too many parties rely on a hodgepodge of documents and intermediaries to do business, which make the whereabouts and custody of goods unclear. That's why, in a pandemic, uninformed consumers might reasonably believe that toilet paper won't be available for many months. Enter blockchain—the Internet of Value. For the first time in human history, individuals and organizations can manage and trade their assets digitally peer to peer. In doing so, they will reinvent global commerce and how we exchange value. This will transform the best practices of operations, logistics, procurement and purchasing, transportation, customs and border control, trade finance and insurance, manufacturing, and inventory management. Global supply chains are ripe for disruption at every level and in every role.Supply Chain Revolution identifies what leaders should be doing now to prepare their organizations for the inevitable decentralized future. Enterprise executives and entrepreneurs alike will find ideas and opportunities to discuss with their stakeholders and decide how best to participate in the blockchain revolution.This is the second book in the Blockchain Research Institute Enterprise Series aimed at entrepreneurs, innovators, executives, and investors in breakthrough technologies.“An invaluable collection of industry research. The hyper-convergence of blockchain, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence/machine learning will enable accuracy and new business models where our customer will enjoy supply chains that are trusted, decentralized, and open.”—Robert B. Carter, Chief Information Officer, FedEx Corporation“Blockchain technology empowers businesses to track goods and freight more effectively, create new revenue streams, and operate their supply chains more seamlessly. With this research, business leaders can begin transforming the global supply chain through the transparency and innovation offered by blockchain.”—Chris Burruss, President, Blockchain in Transport Alliance“Supply chain management is one of the earliest and most consequential use cases for blockchain technology at the enterprise level. This compilation of research, which Sweetbridge is proud to support, is the definitive guide for companies looking to transform their supply chains for the next era of the digital economy.”—J. Scott Nelson, Chairman and CEO, Sweetbridge“Replacing paper-based, manual processes with modern technology and automation is only part of the solution for transforming global trade. The secret sauce lies in reframing business models and unlocking new capital, where reducing friction for customers is the main driver of innovation. Through many use cases, this book demonstrates blockchain's role in the supply chain revolution.”—Soumak Chatterjee, Partner and National Leader, Payments and Blockchain, Deloitte Canada

Genres: Business

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2020

About the author

Don is one of the world’s leading authorities on innovation, media, and the economic and social impact of technology and advises business and government leaders around the world.

In 2011 Don was named one of the world's most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50. He has authored or co-authored 14 widely read books including the 1992 best seller Paradigm Shift. His 1995 hit Digital Economychanged thinking around the world about the transformational nature of the Internet and two years later he defined the Net Generation and the “digital divide” in Growing Up Digital.

His 2000 work, Digital Capital, introduced seminal ideas like “the business web” and was described by BusinessWeek as “pure enlightenment." Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything was the best selling management book in 2007 and translated into over 25 languages.

The Economist called his newest work Macrowikinomics: New Solutions for a Connected Planet a “Schumpeter-ian story of creative destruction” and the Huffington Post said the book is “nothing less than a game plan to fix a broken world.”

Over 30 years he has introduced many ground-breaking concepts that are part of contemporary understanding. His work continues as a the Chairman of Moxie Insight, a member of World Economic Forum, Adjunct Professor of Management for the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and Martin Prosperity Institute Fellow.

Reviews

[Yann Roshdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je termine à l'instant ce petit livre-conférence sur la chaîne d'approvisionnement mondiale et l'arrivée de la blockchain.

Dans chaque innovation technologique révolutionnaire, il y a trois grands moments: 1) "proof-of-concept", 2) standardisation et 3) "scaling-up". Le "proof-of-concept" c'est l'application concrète de l'innovation dans une entreprise, un secteur, une usine, etc. La standardisation, c'est l'établissement d'une harmonisation entre les différents systèmes qui participeront à la plateforme. Le "scaling-up" c'est la mise en fonction finale du système pour tous les utilisateurs.

Dans les blockchains, nous sommes rendus entre les étapes 2 et 3. Il s'agit d'une course à l'armement.

Et la Belt and Road Initiative du parti communiste chinois (qui a son infopub dans l'ouvrage) a dans sa stratégie un plan de plateforme standardisé via les technologies blockchains.

Cette révolution, souvent appelée "quatrième révolution industrielle" (je suis en désaccord avec le qualificatif) fait partie du paradigme de la guerre froide. La géopolitique doit rester dans notre esprit lorsque nous discutons de ces sujets.

Dans tous les cas, à l'intérieur du bouquin nous avons l'état de la situation pour différents projets partout sur la planète et en date de fin 2019 début 2020. Évidemment, comme nous sommes dans un moment critique de l'histoire des technologies humaines, le marché évolue très rapidement.

[Rahul Prakash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Tapscott's latest book made for an interesting and easy read. Gave me a holistic view into how blockchain can help streamline supply chain processes and therefore reducing cost and eliminating fraud. The cool thing is that we get the benefit of hive mind as there are many contributors. People who have known different initiatives closely give the info. It's interesting to see the interplay of Blockchain with other technologies like IoT as they work together for making supply chains smoother. It certainly gives a glimpse into what's coming on the Blockchain front.

[Andrew Turtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise picture of blockchain. this is an amazing series worth reading in entirety