A Systematic Review of Blockchain Literature in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Identifying Research Questions and Future Directions

Potential blockchain applications in logistics and supply chain (LSCM) have gained increasing attention within both academia and industry. However, as a field in its infancy, blockchain research often lacks theoretical foundations, and it is not clear which and to what extent organizational theories are used to investigate blockchain technology in the field of LSCM. In response, based upon a systematic literature review, this paper: (a) identifies the most relevant organizational theories used in blockchain literature in the context of LSCM; and (b) examines the content of the identified organizational theories to formulate relevant research questions for investigating blockchain technology in LSCM. Our results show that blockchain literature in LSCM is based around six organizational theories, namely: agency theory, information theory, institutional theory, network theory, the resource-based view and transaction cost analysis. We also present how these theories can be used to examine specific blockchain problems by identifying blockchain-specific research questions that are worthy of investigation

Bedeutung von Standards für Innovationen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Standards für Distributed Ledger Technologien in der Transportlogistik

Die Transportlogistik ist aufgrund ihres unternehmensübergreifenden Charakters oft durch eine sehr hohe Komplexität gekennzeichnet. Dem effizienten Austausch von Informationen entlang von Wert-schöpfungsketten und der Koordination der an der Leistungserstellung beteiligten Akteure kommt in diesem Kontext eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Blockchain- und Distributed-Ledger-Technologien können grundsätzlich dabei helfen, die interorganisationale Abstimmung zu erleichtern, die Effizienz und Qualität von Prozessen zu erhöhen und korrespondierende Kosten zu sparen. Zahlreiche Bei-spiele aus dem In- und Ausland demonstrieren eindrucksvoll das Potential von Blockchain-Lösun-gen im Supply Chain Management. Für viele Unternehmen der Transport- und Logistikbranche ist die Nutzung dieser neuen Technolo-gien zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt jedoch noch mit hohen Risiken verbunden. Besonders kritisch ist in diesem Zusammenhang das Fehlen von Standards zu beurteilen, das selbst technologieaffine Be-triebe mit entsprechendem Know-how und Investitionsmöglichkeiten vor große Herausforderungen stellt. Die Verfügbarkeit von (offenen) Standards und unternehmensübergreifend anwendbaren Re-ferenzlösungen bildet eine wesentliche Voraussetzung für den Abbau von Investitionsrisiken. Aus diesem Grund ist es erforderlich, die Rolle von Standards bei der Entwicklung und Diffusion von Blockchain-Lösungen zu untersuchen

Citylogistik Wien: Der Einfluss von Paketdienstleistern auf den Gesamtverkehr. Endbericht der Studie

In der öffentlichen Diskussion über die Citylogistik der Stadt Wien werden zunehmend Kurier-, Express und Paket (KEP)-Dienste für die Überlastung des Gesamtverkehrs verantwortlich gemacht. Jedoch gibt es kaum spezifische Erkenntnisse oder Studien darüber, in welchem Ausmaß KEP-Dienstleister im Vergleich zu anderen gewerblichen Branchen zum Gesamtverkehrsaufkommen in Wien beitragen. Um diese Diskussion zu versachlichen, wurde eine empirische Bestandsaufnahme durchgeführt, die sich mit drei Forschungsschwerpunkten befasst: 1. dem Anteil der Paketlogistik am Gesamtverkehr der Stadt Wien, 2. den Optionen für eine effiziente Gestaltung der Gesamtverkehrssituation in Wien, sowie 3. der potenziellen Schadstoff/CO2-Einsparung durch eine komplette Umstellung der Post-eigenen Paketzustellflotte auf E-Fahrzeuge

Blockchain for and in Logistics: What to Adopt and Where to Start

Despite the claim that blockchain will revolutionise business and redefine logistics, existing research so far is limited concerning frameworks that categorise blockchain application potentials and their implications. In particular, academic literature in transport and logistics to date has not sufficiently distinguished between blockchain adoption ('what to adopt') and the identification of the right business opportunity ('where to start'). In response, this paper (1) uses Rogers¿ (2003) 'attributes of innovation framework' to identify potential blockchain applications and (2) presents a framework explicating four transformation phases to subsequently categorise the identified areas of application according to their effects on organisational structures and processes. Using academic and practitioner literature, we classify possible applications for adoption and provide a framework to identify blockchain opportunities in the logistics industry, thereby helping managers to systematically assess where to start building organisational capabilities in order to successfully adopt and deploy blockchain-based technology

Smart Contracts for Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Conceptual Frameworks for Supply Chain Maturity Evaluation and Smart Contract Sustainability Assessment

Current research on smart contracts focuses on technical, conceptual, and legal aspects but neglects organizational requirements and sustainability impacts. We consider this a significant research gap and explore the relationship between smart contracts and sustainability in supply chains. First, we define the concept of smart contracts in terms of supply chain management. Then, we conduct a content analysis of the literature to explore the overlapping research fields of smart contracts and sustainability in supply chains. Next, we develop a semi-structured assessment framework to model the potential environmental and social impacts induced by smart contracts on supply chains. We propose a conceptual framework for supply chain maturity by mapping the relationships between organizational development, sustainability, and technology. We identify smart contracts as a foundational technology that enables efficient and transparent governance and collaborative self-coordination of human and non-human actors. Thus, we argue that smart contracts can contribute to the economic and social development of networked value chains and Society 5.0. To stimulate interdisciplinary research on smart contracts, we conclude the article by formulating research propositions and trade-offs for smart contracts in the context of technology development, business process and supply chain management, and sustainability

The impact of courier-, express- and parcel (CEP) service providers on urban road traffic: The case of Vienna

Current urban city logistics literature often claims that rising e-commerce and the associated courier-, express- and parcel- (CEP) deliveries are inherently responsible for the increase in urban road traffic and the related congestion, disturbances and delays within cities. However, existing research is so far limited concerning studies to what extent CEPs impact and contribute to urban road traffic, particularly in comparison with other commercial sectors and passenger cars. In response, collecting data through an extensive empirical survey, counting urban road traffic in the city of Vienna in Austria, this paper identifies the share of CEPs and other selected categories of road vehicles. Results show that the share of CEPs in urban road traffic consists of merely 0.8 per cent, while the delivery vans’ share of craftsmen/technicians is almost eight times bigger with 6.0 per cent. Overall, delivery vehicles comprise 13.5 per cent of the total urban road traffic in Vienna, thus policies to reduce traffic should include not only other commercial sectors, but should also focus on passenger cars comprising the majority with 86.5 per cent of total urban road traffic. This is the first study that specifically investigates the share of CEPs and other vehicle categories in the context of city logistics

Blockchain research, practice and policy: Applications, benefits, limitations, emerging research themes and research agenda

YesThe blockchain has received significant attention from technology focussed researchers, highlighting its perceived impact and emerging disruption potential, but has been slow to engender any significant momentum within the Information Systems (IS) and Information Management (IM) literature. This study approaches the subject through an IS/IM lens developing the key themes from the blockchain based research via a comprehensive review. This analysis of the body of literature highlights that although few commercial grade blockchain applications currently exist, the technology demonstrates significant potential to benefit a number of industry wide use cases. This study expands on this point articulating through each of the key themes to develop a detailed narrative on the numerous potential blockchain applications and future direction of the technology, whilst discussing the many barriers to adoption. The study asserts that blockchain technology has the potential to contribute to a number of the UN Sustainability Development Goals and engender widespread change within a number of established industries and practices

Corrosion Behaviour and Properties of PVD Coatings on Steel Alloys

Neprevlečena jekla, ki ne vsebujejo veliko protikorozivnih elementov (npr. krom), so zelo dovzetna za korozijo. V teoretičnem delu je predstavljena teorija korozije, nato tipi korozije in sama kemijska reakcija oksidacije ter teorija PVD prevlek. V sklopu eksperimentalnega dela smo v prvem delu analizirali lastnosti posameznih prevlek, v drugem delu pa preizkusili učinkovitost različnih prevlek za zaščito jekel C45E in 42CrMo4 pred korozijo v slanih pogojih. Med testiranimi prevlekami so bile PVD prevleke, nanešene z različnimi tehnologijami in tudi s tradicionalnimi metodami, kot je elektrokemijsko nikljanje. Rezultati so pokazali, da so PVD prevleke pokazale izboljšano odpornost proti koroziji. Najboljše se je izkazala prevleka SMUX in tradicionalno elektrokemijsko nikljanje. Najmanj primerna prevleka je bila prevleka CrSiN, nanešena s postopkom ARC.Uncoated steels that do not contain many anti-corrosion elements (e.g. chromium) are very susceptible to corrosion. The theoretical part presents the theory of corrosion, types of corrosion and the chemical reaction of oxidation itself, as well as the theory of PVD coatings. As part of the experimental work, in the first part we analyzed the properties of individual coatings, and in the second part we tested the effectiveness of different coatings for protecting C45E and 42CrMo4 steels against corrosion in salty conditions. Among the coatings tested, PVD coatings were applied using a variety of technologies and as well traditional method such as electrochemical nickel plating was used. The results showed that the PVD coatings showed improved corrosion resistance. SMUX coating and traditional electrochemical nickel plating proved to be the best. The least suitable coating was the CrSiN coating deposited by the ARC process