IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlogis/v5y2021i4p72-d651171.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review

Author

Listed:
  • Abderahman Rejeb

    (Doctoral School of Regional Sciences and Business Administration‚ Széchenyi István University‚ 9026 Győr, Hungary)

  • Karim Rejeb

    (Higher Institute of Computer Science El Manar, 2, Rue Abou Raïhan El Bayrouni, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Steve Simske

    (Systems Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • Horst Treiblmaier

    (Department of International Management, Modul University Vienna, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

The emergence of blockchain technology has sparked significant attention from the supply chain management (SCM) and logistics communities. In this paper, we present the results from a thorough bibliometric review that analytically and objectively identifies the intellectual structure of this field, the seminal papers, and the most influential scholars. We employ a knowledge domain visualization technique to generate insights that go beyond other review studies on blockchain research within logistics and SCM. The analysis starts with selecting a total of 628 papers from Scopus and the Web of Science that were published during 2016–2020. The bibliometric analysis output demonstrates that the number of blockchain papers has rapidly increased since 2017. The most productive researchers are from the USA, China, and India. The top academic institutions contributing to the literature are also identified. Based on network analyses, we found that the literature concentrates mainly on the conceptualization of blockchain; its potentials for supply chain sustainability; its adoption triggers and barriers; and its role in supporting supply chain agility, trust, protection of intellectual property, and food/perishable supply chains. Besides systematically mapping the literature, we identify several research gaps and propose numerous actionable research directions for the future. This study enriches the extant blockchain literature, provides a timely snapshot of the current state of research, and examines the knowledge structure of blockchain research in logistics and SCM with the help of evidence-based scientometric methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Abderahman Rejeb & Karim Rejeb & Steve Simske & Horst Treiblmaier, 2021. "Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-28, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:5:y:2021:i:4:p:72-:d:651171
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/5/4/72/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/5/4/72/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Taehyun Ko & Jaeram Lee & Doojin Ryu, 2018. "Blockchain Technology and Manufacturing Industry: Real-Time Transparency and Cost Savings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Sachin Kamble & Angappa Gunasekaran & Himanshu Arha, 2019. "Understanding the Blockchain technology adoption in supply chains-Indian context," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(7), pages 2009-2033, April.
    3. Sara Saberi & Mahtab Kouhizadeh & Joseph Sarkis & Lejia Shen, 2019. "Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(7), pages 2117-2135, April.
    4. Darcy W.E. Allen & Chris Berg & Sinclair Davidson & Mikayla Novak & Jason Potts, 2019. "International policy coordination for blockchain supply chains," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(3), pages 367-380, September.
    5. Ashutosh Sheel & Vishnu Nath, 2020. "Antecedents of blockchain technology adoption intentions in the supply chain," International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 21(4), pages 564-584.
    6. Fosso Wamba, Samuel & Queiroz, Maciel M. & Trinchera, Laura, 2020. "Dynamics between blockchain adoption determinants and supply chain performance: An empirical investigation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    7. Abderahman Rejeb & John G. Keogh & Horst Treiblmaier, 2019. "Leveraging the Internet of Things and Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-22, July.
    8. Hughes, Alex & Park, Andrew & Kietzmann, Jan & Archer-Brown, Chris, 2019. "Beyond Bitcoin: What blockchain and distributed ledger technologies mean for firms," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 62(3), pages 273-281.
    9. Choi, Tsan-Ming & Feng, Lipan & Li, Rong, 2020. "Information disclosure structure in supply chains with rental service platforms in the blockchain technology era," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    10. Chang, Shuchih Ernest & Chen, Yi-Chian & Lu, Ming-Fang, 2019. "Supply chain re-engineering using blockchain technology: A case of smart contract based tracking process," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1-11.
    11. Henry Small, 1973. "Co‐citation in the scientific literature: A new measure of the relationship between two documents," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 24(4), pages 265-269, July.
    12. Jungwon Yoon & Han Woo Park, 2020. "Pattern and trend of scientific knowledge production in North Korea by a semantic network analysis of papers in journal titled technological innovation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 124(2), pages 1421-1438, August.
    13. Wang, Yingli & Singgih, Meita & Wang, Jingyao & Rit, Mihaela, 2019. "Making sense of blockchain technology: How will it transform supply chains?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 221-236.
    14. Giulio Caldarelli & Cecilia Rossignoli & Alessandro Zardini, 2020. "Overcoming the Blockchain Oracle Problem in the Traceability of Non-Fungible Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, March.
    15. Jamilya Nurgazina & Udsanee Pakdeetrakulwong & Thomas Moser & Gerald Reiner, 2021. "Distributed Ledger Technology Applications in Food Supply Chains: A Review of Challenges and Future Research Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, April.
    16. Mario Dobrovnik & David M. Herold & Elmar Fürst & Sebastian Kummer, 2018. "Blockchain for and in Logistics: What to Adopt and Where to Start," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-14, September.
    17. Gallear, David & Ghobadian, Abby & Chen, Weifeng, 2012. "Corporate responsibility, supply chain partnership and performance: An empirical examination," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(1), pages 83-91.
    18. Abderahman Rejeb & John G. Keogh & Suhaiza Zailani & Horst Treiblmaier & Karim Rejeb, 2020. "Blockchain Technology in the Food Industry: A Review of Potentials, Challenges and Future Research Directions," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-26, October.
    19. Kouhizadeh, Mahtab & Saberi, Sara & Sarkis, Joseph, 2021. "Blockchain technology and the sustainable supply chain: Theoretically exploring adoption barriers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    20. Vineet Paliwal & Shalini Chandra & Suneel Sharma, 2020. "Blockchain Technology for Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Systematic Literature Review and a Classification Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-39, September.
    21. Kshetri, Nir, 2017. "Blockchain's roles in strengthening cybersecurity and protecting privacy," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1027-1038.
    22. Gabriella M. Hastig & ManMohan S. Sodhi, 2020. "Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability: Business Requirements and Critical Success Factors," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(4), pages 935-954, April.
    23. Ashutosh Sheel & Vishnu Nath, 2019. "Effect of blockchain technology adoption on supply chain adaptability, agility, alignment and performance," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 42(12), pages 1353-1374, August.
    24. Tandon, Anushree & Kaur, Puneet & Mäntymäki, Matti & Dhir, Amandeep, 2021. "Blockchain applications in management: A bibliometric analysis and literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    25. Önder, Irem & Treiblmaier, Horst, 2018. "Blockchain and tourism: Three research propositions," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 180-182.
    26. Angappa Gunasekaran & Yahaya Y. Yusuf & Ezekiel O. Adeleye & Thanos Papadopoulos & Dharma Kovvuri & Dan’Asabe G. Geyi, 2019. "Agile manufacturing: an evolutionary review of practices," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(15-16), pages 5154-5174, August.
    27. Sebastian Kummer & David M. Herold & Mario Dobrovnik & Jasmin Mikl & Nicole Schäfer, 2020. "A Systematic Review of Blockchain Literature in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Identifying Research Questions and Future Directions," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-15, March.
    28. Golan, Elise H. & Krissoff, Barry & Kuchler, Fred & Calvin, Linda & Nelson, Kenneth E. & Price, Gregory K., 2004. "Traceability In The U.S. Food Supply: Economic Theory And Industry Studies," Agricultural Economic Reports 33939, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    29. Kristoffer Francisco & David Swanson, 2018. "The Supply Chain Has No Clothes: Technology Adoption of Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-13, January.
    30. Mahtab Kouhizadeh & Joseph Sarkis, 2018. "Blockchain Practices, Potentials, and Perspectives in Greening Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-16, October.
    31. Yanling Chang & Eleftherios Iakovou & Weidong Shi, 2020. "Blockchain in global supply chains and cross border trade: a critical synthesis of the state-of-the-art, challenges and opportunities," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(7), pages 2082-2099, April.
    32. Dmitry Ivanov & Alexandre Dolgui & Boris Sokolov, 2019. "The impact of digital technology and Industry 4.0 on the ripple effect and supply chain risk analytics," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(3), pages 829-846, February.
    33. Zhi Li & Hanyang Guo & Ali Vatankhah Barenji & W. M. Wang & Yijiang Guan & George Q. Huang, 2020. "A sustainable production capability evaluation mechanism based on blockchain, LSTM, analytic hierarchy process for supply chain network," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(24), pages 7399-7419, December.
    34. Lineia Jollembeck Lopes & Silvio R. I. Pires, 2020. "Green supply chain management in the automotive industry: A study in Brazil," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2755-2769, September.
    35. Mehrdokht Pournader & Yangyan Shi & Stefan Seuring & S.C. Lenny Koh, 2020. "Blockchain applications in supply chains, transport and logistics: a systematic review of the literature," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(7), pages 2063-2081, April.
    36. Lai-Wan Wong & Garry Wei-Han Tan & Voon-Hsien Lee & Keng-Boon Ooi & Amrik Sohal, 2020. "Unearthing the determinants of Blockchain adoption in supply chain management," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(7), pages 2100-2123, April.
    37. Nabeil Maflahi & Mike Thelwall, 2016. "When are readership counts as useful as citation counts? Scopus versus Mendeley for LIS journals," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 67(1), pages 191-199, January.
    38. Choi, Tsan-Ming & Guo, Shu & Luo, Suyuan, 2020. "When blockchain meets social-media: Will the result benefit social media analytics for supply chain operations management?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    39. Kshetri, Nir, 2018. "1 Blockchain’s roles in meeting key supply chain management objectives," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 80-89.
    40. Richard A. Bettis & Vijay Mahajan, 1985. "Risk/Return Performance of Diversified Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(7), pages 785-799, July.
    41. Chunguang Bai & Joseph Sarkis, 2020. "A supply chain transparency and sustainability technology appraisal model for blockchain technology," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(7), pages 2142-2162, April.
    42. Horst Treiblmaier, 2019. "Combining Blockchain Technology and the Physical Internet to Achieve Triple Bottom Line Sustainability: A Comprehensive Research Agenda for Modern Logistics and Supply Chain Management," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-13, February.
    43. V. K. Manupati & Tobias Schoenherr & M. Ramkumar & Stephan M. Wagner & Sai Krishna Pabba & R. Inder Raj Singh, 2020. "A blockchain-based approach for a multi-echelon sustainable supply chain," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(7), pages 2222-2241, April.
    44. Ahluwalia, Saurabh & Mahto, Raj V. & Guerrero, Maribel, 2020. "Blockchain technology and startup financing: A transaction cost economics perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    45. Henry M. Kim & Marek Laskowski, 2018. "Toward an ontology‐driven blockchain design for supply‐chain provenance," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(1), pages 18-27, January.
    46. Joon-Seok Kim & Nina Shin, 2019. "The Impact of Blockchain Technology Application on Supply Chain Partnership and Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-17, November.
    47. Fahimnia, Behnam & Sarkis, Joseph & Davarzani, Hoda, 2015. "Green supply chain management: A review and bibliometric analysis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 101-114.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Büşra Ayan & Elif Güner & Semen Son-Turan, 2022. "Blockchain Technology and Sustainability in Supply Chains and a Closer Look at Different Industries: A Mixed Method Approach," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-39, December.
    2. Aichih (Jasmine) Chang & Nesreen El-Rayes & Jim Shi, 2022. "Blockchain Technology for Supply Chain Management: A Comprehensive Review," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Shuchi Pahuja & Anita Agrawal, 2023. "Board Attributes and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Perspectives," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 16(1), pages 108-138, June.
    4. Zhu, Qingyun & Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "Blockchain technology and supply chains: The paradox of the atheoretical research discourse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    5. Abderahman Rejeb & Andrea Appolloni, 2022. "The Nexus of Industry 4.0 and Circular Procurement: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-21, November.
    6. Josepha Witt & Mareike Schoop, 2023. "Blockchain technology in e-business value chains," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-17, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dutta, Pankaj & Choi, Tsan-Ming & Somani, Surabhi & Butala, Richa, 2020. "Blockchain technology in supply chain operations: Applications, challenges and research opportunities," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    2. Jacob Lohmer & Elias Ribeiro da Silva & Rainer Lasch, 2022. "Blockchain Technology in Operations & Supply Chain Management: A Content Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-88, May.
    3. Kirti Nayal & Rakesh D. Raut & Balkrishna E. Narkhede & Pragati Priyadarshinee & Gajanan B. Panchal & Vidyadhar V. Gedam, 2023. "Antecedents for blockchain technology-enabled sustainable agriculture supply chain," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 327(1), pages 293-337, August.
    4. Choi, Tsan-Ming & Siqin, Tana, 2022. "Blockchain in logistics and production from Blockchain 1.0 to Blockchain 5.0: An intra-inter-organizational framework," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    5. Ulpan Tokkozhina & Ana Lucia Martins & Joao C. Ferreira, 2023. "Uncovering dimensions of the impact of blockchain technology in supply chain management," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 99-125, March.
    6. Vincenzo Varriale & Antonello Cammarano & Francesca Michelino & Mauro Caputo, 2020. "The Unknown Potential of Blockchain for Sustainable Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Qingyu Zhang & Salman Khan & Safeer Ullah Khan & Ikram Ullah Khan, 2023. "Understanding Blockchain Technology Adoption in Operation and Supply Chain Management of Pakistan: Extending UTAUT Model With Technology Readiness, Technology Affinity and Trust," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
    8. Amin Vafadarnikjoo & Hadi Badri Ahmadi & James J. H. Liou & Tiago Botelho & Konstantinos Chalvatzis, 2023. "Analyzing blockchain adoption barriers in manufacturing supply chains by the neutrosophic analytic hierarchy process," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 327(1), pages 129-156, August.
    9. Vineet Paliwal & Shalini Chandra & Suneel Sharma, 2020. "Blockchain Technology for Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Systematic Literature Review and a Classification Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-39, September.
    10. Vincenzo Varriale & Antonello Cammarano & Francesca Michelino & Mauro Caputo, 2021. "Sustainable Supply Chains with Blockchain, IoT and RFID: A Simulation on Order Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-23, June.
    11. Arim Park & Huan Li, 2021. "The Effect of Blockchain Technology on Supply Chain Sustainability Performances," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    12. Manu Sharma & Sudhanshu Joshi & Sunil Luthra & Anil Kumar, 2022. "Managing disruptions and risks amidst COVID-19 outbreaks: role of blockchain technology in developing resilient food supply chains," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 268-281, June.
    13. Yadav, Amit Kumar & Shweta, & Kumar, Dinesh, 2023. "Blockchain technology and vaccine supply chain: Exploration and analysis of the adoption barriers in the Indian context," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    14. Latan, Hengky & Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Ana Beatriz & Sarkis, Joseph & Chiappetta Jabbour, Charbel Jose & Ali, Murad, 2024. "The nexus of supply chain performance and blockchain technology in the digitalization era: Insights from a fast-growing economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    15. Abderahman Rejeb & John G. Keogh & Suhaiza Zailani & Horst Treiblmaier & Karim Rejeb, 2020. "Blockchain Technology in the Food Industry: A Review of Potentials, Challenges and Future Research Directions," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-26, October.
    16. Bai, Chunguang & Zhu, Qingyun & Sarkis, Joseph, 2021. "Joint blockchain service vendor-platform selection using social network relationships: A multi-provider multi-user decision perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    17. Muhammad Nazam & Muhammad Hashim & Florian Marcel Nută & Liming Yao & Muhammad Azam Zia & Muhammad Yousaf Malik & Muhammad Usman & Levente Dimen, 2022. "Devising a Mechanism for Analyzing the Barriers of Blockchain Adoption in the Textile Supply Chain: A Sustainable Business Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-31, December.
    18. Ashish Dwivedi & Dindayal Agrawal & Sanjoy Kumar Paul & Saurabh Pratap, 2023. "Modeling the blockchain readiness challenges for product recovery system," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 327(1), pages 493-537, August.
    19. Zhu, Qingyun & Bai, Chunguang & Sarkis, Joseph, 2022. "Blockchain technology and supply chains: The paradox of the atheoretical research discourse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    20. Antonello Cammarano & Vincenzo Varriale & Francesca Michelino & Mauro Caputo, 2023. "Blockchain as enabling factor for implementing RFID and IoT technologies in VMI: a simulation on the Parmigiano Reggiano supply chain," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 726-754, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:5:y:2021:i:4:p:72-:d:651171. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.