The transportation industry is undergoing a tremendous transformation, driven mainly by technological advances. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, businesses are looking for more efficient ways to move goods and people around the globe. Enter blockchain – an innovative distributed ledger technology that promises to revolutionize the way we think about transportation operations.
We can use blockchain technology to create secure, immutable data records that you can share among multiple parties in real time. The blockchain has the potential to reduce paperwork, automate processes, strengthen security, and cut costs associated with tracking shipments and payments. Furthermore, blockchain-based solutions can improve visibility across supply chains and enable better collaboration between transportation companies and their customers.
Industry issues fuelling blockchain adoption
Blockchain technology is revolutionizing the shipping and commercial transportation industries as it seeks to provide document and transaction transparency in supply chains. With its inherent security features, blockchain offers an unmatched level of security compared to traditional IT-based logistics systems. As a result, the blockchain promises to make freight transport more efficient, agile, and innovative.
Freight tracking companies worldwide are researching ways blockchain can be used in their respective sectors as the technology develops further and becomes a viable platform for the trucking industry. As a result, many potentials stand to be unlocked to help us achieve greater efficiency than ever seen on our roads and highways.
Payment disputes and delays
Disputes and delays are common issues for truckers and carriers. The slow pace of traditional paper-based systems can lead to delays, as well as disputes when it comes to payments from clients. Blockchain-enabled applications can automate the process of recording, tracking, and verifying each transaction, allowing information to be quickly shared among different parties and ensuring that concerned parties make payments on time. As a result, the technology has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of time and money spent on resolving disputes, as well as improve customer satisfaction.
Costly administration and processing fees
The transport industry relies heavily on paper transactions, leading to high processing and administration costs. A study by IBM and Maersk tracking a shipping container of flowers from Mombasa to Rotterdam is a shocking reminder of how inefficient this system is. The process involved over 200 communication between 30 organizations, highlighting the complexity and high cost of paper-based transactions. Digital transformation could bring immense benefits in terms of finances and operational efficiency.
Data transparency
Another issue that the transportation industry faces today is data transparency. Blockchain technology provides a secure way for truckers to access real-time data about their shipments, such as location and status updates.
The blockchain makes it easier for drivers to track shipments and keep customers informed of their progress.
Opportunities blockchain brings to the transport industry
Logistics companies face tremendous pressure to keep up with the changing consumer needs, which is why technologies like blockchain are so appealing. Blockchain in transportation is an emerging technology that could revolutionize how goods are shipped by drastically reducing shipping costs and eliminating various inefficiencies.
Blockchain has the potential to solve decades-old industry issues, such as long dispute resolution times, low administrative efficiency rates, and poor and insecure tracking of orders. However, as customer expectations continue to increase, businesses must stay ahead of the curve by incorporating new technologies and adapting their services as needed.
Improve delivery process
Blockchain presents numerous advantages for supply chains, primarily cost, speed, and convenience. Through its decentralized operation, blockchain streamlines communication between partners and allows greater traceability of goods. As a result, trading partners can access monetary resources directly without incurring extra costs they formerly allocated to intermediaries.
Blockchain technology enables peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, including international payments and settlements with digital currency, faster than traditional financial services.
Transparency in the supply chain
Blockchain technology is an increasingly popular solution for tracking and facilitating the exchange of goods in supply chain management. By utilizing hash functions, a type of cryptographic fingerprint, users can add data to a private or public blockchain after successful contract settlements and product exchanges. Accompanying this data are authorship details, time stamps, and other relevant information while allowing anyone with access to the blockchain an opportunity to track its progress.
Through the implementation of blockchain-based solutions across supply chains, customers get unprecedented transparency, giving them insights into product movement and transactions in a safe and secure environment.
Automation through smart contracts
Smart contracts are digital, self-executing documents stored and replicated on the blockchain. Developers code them with all pertinent information for a financial transaction that users can trigger.
Smart contracts can enable transport companies to receive payment almost instantaneously as soon as they verify that they own goods or services. In addition, they eliminate the need for manual manipulation of money, ensuring accurate and fast transactions.
Tracking systems
RFID tag-based tracking systems have been around for quite some time, but recent advances in blockchain technology make these solutions even more effective. By combining RFID tags with sensors, companies can ensure optimal product quality throughout their supply chains and keep a comprehensive, auditable provenance record.
By monitoring each step of the delivery process with such systems, companies are less likely to experience fraud than ever before – this is particularly useful within the freight industry, where all parties must maintain authentication and integrity at all times.
Real-time monitoring
IoT devices have transformed the logistics industry, enabling businesses to reduce costs while optimizing routes and vessel capacity monitoring. By streaming data to the blockchain, analysts can combine IoT information with relevant external data, such as traffic or weather reports to create more intelligent algorithms that determine appropriate delivery paths. The transparency offered by IoT also facilitates accurate capacity forecasting: thanks to blockchain, participants can monitor changing transport availability in near-real-time, allowing them to adjust plans accordingly and achieve greater efficiency in transporting goods and services.
Real-world use cases of blockchain technology in the transport sector
The introduction of blockchain technology in the transportation industry is already beginning to deliver tangible results. Here are real-world use cases of how it is transforming the industry:
How FedEx uses the blockchain
With an expansive global infrastructure and many years of experience in the shipping industry, it’s not surprising that FedEx would become an essential player in advocating for using blockchain technology. As a result of their interest, the company has integrated a blockchain-based chain of custody feature which provides much higher levels of trackability and trust. Furthermore, FedEx has continued to push for greater adoption by joining BiTA, an organization devoted to standardizing the use of blockchain in transport applications. In addition, their pilot program lays out just how users should store data on-chain so customers can maintain even greater confidence in their process.
How Ford motor company uses the blockchain
Ford is pioneering blockchain technology in the automotive industry to ensure that cobalt, an essential ingredient for electric car batteries, is ethically sourced. By keeping a ledger of when cobalt is mined and tracking its whereabouts afterward, Ford can control its supply chain and ensure they minimize environmental destruction from mining.
Other automotive giants such as Volvo, Porsche, and MOBI (a non-profit mobility alliance) have since joined Ford in developing blockchain-based supply chain standards to promote ethical practices across the industry further. Ford’s efforts prove that the industry can achieve sustainable sourcing through innovative technologies like blockchain.
How Walmart is using the blockchain
Walmart has consistently shown itself to be among the leaders in supply chain management, so it is no surprise that they are interested in blockchain technologies. By leveraging Hyperledger Fabric, Walmart has created a more transparent and reliable food traceability system, from tracking mangoes in the U.S. to following an E. coli outbreak among leafy greens. In Canada, Walmart looks to solve data discrepancies between invoicing and payments thanks to the help of blockchain technology. They have also developed an automated system for managing accounts payable for third-party freight suppliers, streamlining what had previously been a complex transportation process.
How Slync.io is using the blockchain
Slync.io is revolutionizing the shipping industry by providing a comprehensive platform that uses blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to give retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers up-to-the-minute information on every aspect of their global shipments. Shipment activities can be tracked in real-time, revealing potential problems before they become disasters. Additionally, shippers can deploy automated workflows with increased accuracy and efficiency, reducing costs and minimizing time delays. With Slync.io’s powerful combination of blockchain and AI, it is easier for businesses to maintain control of their supply chain operations.
How Blockfreight is using the blockchain
Blockfreight utilizes innovative blockchain-based technologies to revolutionize traditional shipping by reducing wasteful and inefficient payments. The company’s software platform uses a decentralized blockchain that streamlines payment processing and creates an encrypted platform for communication between buyers and sellers. By leveraging the current digital infrastructure of the blockchain, Blockfreight not only helps those involved in supply chain transactions save time and optimize their operations but also provides an added layer of security in value exchanges across multiple parties.
Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA)
The Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) is a unique initiative to advocate using ledger technology in transportation operations. Forefronts in the logistics industry, such as UPS, FedEx, Uber Freight, Union Pacific Railroad, and project44, have joined forces to communicate ideas and discover the full potential of blockchain for efficient transportation systems. BiTA works with these companies to discuss common approaches for implementing this technology and educate professionals on how blockchain implementation can revolutionize current models. This alliance is a significant milestone for the industry toward understanding how the transportation industry can use this innovative technology to benefit transportation operations.
Conclusion
The potential of blockchain technologies is undeniable. It has already created an opportunity for companies to form collaborations and alliances to explore new ways of streamlining operations while creating more secure, transparent supply chains.
The blockchain has utility in various industries with tremendous success, and its continued development opens up many doors for innovative solutions. At the same time, businesses need to understand that blockchain technology is still relatively new and requires due diligence before being implemented in any capacity. Nevertheless, as more big-name players join the fray, we will likely see a surge of developments that will significantly benefit supply chain processes.
