How blockchain can help businesses get ahead of their competition

Blockchain enables all participants in the supply chain to see, in real-time, where a product is located on the global map as it moves from one supplier to another, who holds custody at any given point and for how long—platforms like BitTrader leverage top-notch trading tools and analysis to provide better insights into bitcoin trading to beginners. With blockchain technology driving changes within these industries, competition will be fierce to stay at the forefront of this technology and leverage this newfound efficiency for all members of their supply chain.

 Blockchain, with its ability to connect disparate players on different continents, could be vital in helping businesses get ahead of their competition and seize a competitive edge. In addition, businesses that embrace the potential of blockchain could create huge efficiencies across their supply chain.  

Companies can find the right supply chain partner based on the technology they are using to streamline the process or choose their channel partner by analyzing each option’s cost structure and risk. The supply chain is complex for every company, as every industry segment has its operating factors across each step.

 The industry segments range from manufacturers in manufacturing industries to retailers in retail industries (e.g., food & groceries, consumer goods and electronics) to wholesalers (e.g. general merchandise, home and garden, health & beauty), logistics providers (e.g., freight forwarders, air and ocean carriers), third-party logistics service providers, and more. 

Within each segment are entities that are both suppliers and distributors of products throughout the supply chain ecosystem. For example, in a food industry supply chain, an entity could be a producer, shipper or distributor because, depending on the product, there is often one or more points during its lifecycle where it changes hands from one company to another for a variety of reasons (e.g., farming produce to selling in grocery stores). 

Business benefits of blockchain:

1. No transaction delays:

When there is a need to communicate with different parts of the supply chain, companies are often forced to choose with who they will interact and when. Blockchain-based systems let companies choose which member of the supply chain they want to communicate with, when and how. It eliminates guesswork and costly communication between enterprises.

2. More efficient inventory management:

Today, manufacturers must manage their inventories externally (via third-party distributors or retailers) and internally (in their own facilities). The reason for this double-book is that most carriers keep track of their inventories and take orders from multiple parties. As a result, there needs to be more visibility into order flow and inventory levels in either scenario (i.e. carriers keep track of their inventory but share it with only one entity on a transaction-by-transaction basis). Blockchain-based supply chain solutions remove double bookkeeping by allowing each element in the supply chain to be a source of truth for inventory.

4. Enhanced visibility into product and labour costs:

Businesses auditing their supply chains face a challenge in determining the amount of stock they have, what is happening with that stock at any given time, and where it has moved in the past. For example, retailers need to know how much milk they have and what is on order. Likewise, manufacturers need to know how much they still have on hand and if their distributors need to fill an order as promised. All of this must be audited and monitored, which is costly and time-consuming. Blockchain enables businesses to monitor their stock transparently and at a low cost.

5. Better end-to-end traceability:

Businesses that want to enhance the traceability of a product can use blockchain systems to provide transparency in the supply chain by using sophisticated label technology et al.; This is a win for consumers (who are increasingly looking for more information about the products they buy) as well as businesses that have struggled with brand damage after well-publicized food recalls. It provides unparalleled transparency at every step of the supply chain process, enabling businesses to operate efficiently and ethically while building up consumer trust.

6. Reduces overhead costs of third parties:

Today, intermediaries tend to be overpriced because they provide a service. However, with blockchain technology, these middlemen can be cut out of the picture as it is an open ledger that each party maintains access to.

In conclusion, the benefits of using blockchain in business include better end-to-end traceability, reduced overhead costs of third parties, enhanced visibility of products and many more. In the future, it is nearly impossible to imagine running a business without the help of blockchain, as this technology will act as a wizard tool for small-scale and large-scale businesses.