How Blockchain Will Transform the Supply Chain and Logistics Industry 區塊鏈將如何改變供應鏈和物流業

伯納德?馬爾

Managing todays supply chains—all the links to creating and distributing goods—is extraordinarily complex. Depending on the product， the supply chain can span over hundreds of stages， multiple geographical （international） locations， a multitude of invoices and payments， have several individuals and entities involved， and extend over months of time. Due to the complexity and lack of transparency of our current supply chains， there is interest in how blockchains might transform the supply chain and logistics industry.

How is the supply chain broken？

Our current supply chain is broken in several ways. Over a hundred years ago， supply chains were relatively simple because commerce was local， but they have grown incredibly complex. Throughout the history of supply chains there have been innovations such as the shift to haul freight via trucks rather than rail or the emergence of personal computers in the 1980s that led to dramatic shifts in supply chain management. Since manufacturing has been globalised， our supply chains are heavy with their own complexity.

Its incredibly difficult for customers or buyers to truly know the value of products because there is a significant lack of transparency in our current system. In a similar way， its extremely difficult to investigate supply chains when there is suspicion of illegal or unethical practices. They can also be highly inefficient as vendors and suppliers try to connect the dots on who needs what， when and how.

What is blockchain and how could it help supply chains？

While the most prominent use of blockchain is in the cryptocurrency， Bitcoin， the reality is that blockchain—essentially a distributed， digital ledger—has many applications and can be used for any exchange， agreements/contracts， tracking and， of course， payment. Its highly secure since every block links to the one before it and after it. There is not one central authority over the blockchain， and its extremely efficient and scalable. Ultimately， blockchain can increase the efficiency and transparency of supply chains and positively impact everything from warehousing to delivery to payment. Chain of command is essential for many things， and blockchain has the chain of command built in.

The very things that are necessary for reliability and integrity in a supply chain are provided by blockchain. Blockchain provides consensus—there is no dispute in the chain regarding transactions because all entities on the chain have the same version of the ledger. Everyone on the blockchain can see the chain of ownership for an asset on the blockchain. Records on the blockchain cannot be erased， which is important for a transparent supply chain.

Examples of blockchain being used in supply chains today

Since blockchains allow for transfer of funds anywhere in the world without the use of a traditional bank， its very convenient for a supply chain that is globalized. Thats exactly how Australian vehicle manufacturer Tomcar pays its suppliers—through Bitcoin.

In the food industry， its imperative to have solid records to trace each product to its source. So， Walmart uses blockchain to keep track of its pork it sources from China and the blockchain records where each piece of meat came from， processed， stored and its sell-by-date. Unilever， Nestle， Tyson and Dole also use blockchain for similar purposes.

BHP Billiton， the worlds largest mining firm， announced it will use blockchain to better track and record data throughout the mining process with its vendors. Not only will it increase efficiency internally， but it allows the company to have more effective communication with its partners.

The transparency of blockchain is also crucial to allow consumers to know they are supporting companies who they share the same values of environmental stewardship and sustainable manufacturing. This is what the project Provenance hopes to provide with its blockchain record of transparency.

Diamond-giant De Beers uses blockchain technology to track stones from the point they are mined right up to the point when they are sold to consumers. This ensures the company avoids ‘conflict or ‘blood diamonds1 and assures the consumers that they are buying the genuine article.

There are several supply chain startups such as Cloud Logistics who saw an opportunity to provide blockchain-enabled supply chain solutions to improve efficiencies and reduce costs for the massive supply chain industry. More will most certainly join them as they realize the potential and demand for blockchain-enabled solutions to transform the supply chain and logistics industry.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?■

現在的供應鏈涵蓋從產品制造到分銷的所有環節，管理起來極其復雜。依據產品類別，供應鏈可以包含數以百計的步驟，跨越（不同國別的）多個地點，需要多次處理交易票據和支付事宜，許多人或單位參與其中，往往會歷時數月之久。當今的供應鏈非常復雜，透明度也不高，因此，區塊鏈將會如何改變供應鏈和物流業引發了關注。

供應鏈出現了哪些變化？

當今的供應鏈已經在若干方面發生變化。一百多年前，商業活動局限在某一區域，因此供應鏈相對簡單。時至今日，供應鏈已經變得十分復雜。供應鏈發展歷史上曾經出現多次革新，比如，卡車運輸取代了鐵路運輸;20世紀80年代個人電腦出現，又給供應鏈管理帶來了翻天覆地的變化。由于制造業的全球化，供應鏈自身充滿復雜性。

現有供應鏈系統極度不透明，客戶或買家很難真正了解產品的價值。同樣，出現疑似違法或不道德行為時，對供應鏈展開調查也極為困難。另外，每當經銷商和供應商試圖將客戶、產品、交易時間以及供貨方式這些因素串聯起來，現有的供應鏈也會顯得極為低效。

何為區塊鏈？區塊鏈會如何改善供應鏈現狀？

區塊鏈主要應用于加密貨幣，即比特幣，但事實上，其本質為一個分布式數字賬本，具有多種用途，可以適用于任何形式的交易、協議/合同，以及產品追蹤，當然，支付環節也不例外。它安全可靠，因為每一區塊都鏈接到其前后區塊。區塊鏈中沒有中心化的權威機構，因此還具備高效性和可擴展性。總而言之，區塊鏈可以提高供應鏈的效率，增強其透明度，為其從倉儲、運輸再到支付的所有環節帶來積極變化。很多情況下指揮鏈不可或缺，而區塊鏈具有內置的指揮鏈。

區塊鏈使得供應鏈必備的可靠性和完整性有了保障。區塊鏈實現了數據同步——因為鏈條上的所有實體共用同一分類賬簿，所以各類交易不會存在爭議。區塊鏈上的每個人都可以看到資產的所有權鏈。區塊鏈上的記錄無法擦除，這對確保供應鏈的透明性極其重要。

目前區塊鏈在供應鏈中的應用實例

區塊鏈無須通過傳統的銀行系統，即可在世界任何地方進行資金轉移，這對全球化的供應鏈來說非常便利。澳大利亞汽車制造商湯姆卡恰恰借此優勢，用比特幣向其供應商付款。

在食品行業，追蹤每一產品的來源并且留下可靠記錄是至關重要的。因此，沃爾瑪使用區塊鏈技術跟蹤其從中國采購的豬肉，區塊鏈記錄了每塊肉的產地、加工方式、儲藏方式以及保質期。聯合利華、雀巢、泰森食品和都樂食品也運用區塊鏈技術進行食品溯源。

全球最大采礦企業必和必拓已經宣布，將運用區塊鏈技術，與經銷商一起，更加密切地跟蹤并記錄整個采礦過程中的數據。這樣不僅可以提高內部效率，而且可以改進公司與其合作伙伴的溝通效果。

區塊鏈公開透明，能夠讓客戶獲知，他們正支持在環境管理和可持續制造方面與自己擁有相同價值理念的公司，這一點至關重要。這也是“溯源”計劃提供區塊鏈透明度記錄的目的所在。

鉆石巨擘戴比爾斯運用區塊鏈技術，對鉆石進行全程追蹤——從開采開始，直至賣到顧客手中。這樣可以確保公司不會出現“沖突鉆石”或“血腥鉆石”，也能確保消費者買到正品。

云物流等供應鏈初創公司發現了這一商機。他們意識到對于大型供應鏈產業而言，將區塊鏈應用于供應鏈可以提高效率、降低成本。一旦人們認識到運用區塊鏈改變供應鏈和物流業的潛力和需求，肯定還會有更多人參與其中。? ? ? ? ? □

（譯者單位：中央民族大學）