Blockchain and Risk in Supply Chain Management

Due to their decentralised structures and diverse networks, supply chains are prone to suffer from disruptive events, which are usually covered by supply chain risk management. The Blockchain technology (BT), by its very nature, presents opportunities in helping the members in such supply chains to enhance security and visibility. BT is defined as a database that registers digital assets in a secure, transparent, and immutable manner. Organisations and supply chains have already tested tens of BT applications. However, to the best of our knowledge, the literature is still nascent as to how BT moderates risk in supply chains. To bridge this gap, we (i) review the literature on supply chain management risk; and (ii) run multiple case studies to explain how BT reduces certain risks in supply chains. The conclusions presented exemplify how some risks may be best circumscribed in the usual operations of supply chains. The paper may serve both practitioners and academics.