Blockchain applications in the supply chain management in German automotive industry
通过案例研究和深度访谈，探讨区块链技术在德国汽车制造商供应链中的应用潜力与挑战，发现其有助于聚合产品信息、保障交易安全，但面临技术不成熟、缺乏标准等障碍。
The automotive industry appears to be a particularly attractive application case for blockchain technology adoption. Blockchain is one of the innovations that has much potential to change current business processes in German original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and enable new services for their customers. This paper combines collective case study and in-depth interviews to explore the potentials and existing challenges of blockchain technology-based applications at German OEMs. The results suggest that blockchain applications have advantages in aggregating product information, securing transaction information, and establishing a reliable supply chain. Based on the TOE (technology, organisation and environment) model, our case study shows that the biggest obstacles for blockchain technology adoption in the automotive supply chain include: technology immaturity, lack of guidance and industry standards, non-cooperation of chain members, and legislative ambiguity. Based on auto manufacturers investigated, blockchain technology is perceived to have great potentials in reducing process costs, ensure product quality, and enhance the automotive supply chain’s visibility and digitisation.