Blockchain-based efficient communication for food supply chain industry: Transparency and traceability analysis for sustainable business

In recent years, blockchain (BC) networks have expanded to a broad spectrum of fields. They have garnered significant attention due to their feature of creating secure private and public networks in a decentralized manner. The traditional FSC fails to meet the customer requirements of quality, safety, reliability, transparency, and traceability. This paper proposes a novel 3-stage methodology using principal component analysis (PCA), total iterative structural modeling (TISM), and Matrice d'Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliquee a un Classement (MICMAC) analysis to develop an integrated BC with the food supply chain (FSC). The existing literature was surveyed and industry experts' opinion was gathered and various critical success factors (CSF) were identified which are associated with FSC and BC. The data collected from experts were then evaluated for data consistency and dimension reduction through PCA. The dimensionally reduced data set was analyzed by TISM and MICMAC analysis. TISM and MICMAC analysis categorizes the enabler factors according to their hierarchical level and is used to label or distinguish between dependence and driving power. The integrated methodology found nine CSFs, namely, transparent system, fraud detect, inventory management with tracking, scalability, secure system, cost reduction, safe and quality food, customer satisfaction, and government regulations, which are the main drivers for the FSC business. The paper integrates information technology, Blockchain, with operation management, supply chain. The proposed model overcomes the limitation associated with FSC and will motivate the academia and industry to adopt and achieve efficient and effective goals in this field of FSC.

Automated summary

The paper proposes an integrated methodology using PCA, TISM, and MICMAC analysis to develop a blockchain integrated with the food supply chain (FSC), identifying nine critical success factors such as transparent system, fraud detect, inventory management with tracking, scalability, secure system, cost reduction, safe and quality food, customer satisfaction, and government regulations. This integrated model overcomes limitations associated with FSC and aims to achieve efficient and effective goals in the field of FSC, combining information technology, Blockchain, and supply chain management.