Journal of Ubiquitous Systems & Pervasive Networks
Volume 12, No. 2 (2020) pp. 09-15
*
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© 2020 International Association for Sharing Knowledge and Sustainability.
DOI: 10.5383/JUSPN.12.02.002
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Smart Logistics: Blockchain trends and applications
Yassine Issaoui
a
*, Azeddine Khiat
a
, Ayoub Bahnasse
b
, Hassan Ouajji
a
a
Lab SSDIA, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Morocco
b
ENSAM Casablanca, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Morocco
Abstract
The recent increase of new technologies and their involvement into all management processes call into question the
smart logistics current models, in which massive amounts of data is collected and controlled. Smart Logistics is
considered as fundamental pillar of the 4th industrial revolution 'industry 4.0'. This revolution is based on different
concepts including the blockchain technology. Blockchain remains one of the buzzwords in the technological world. So
that all sectors are focus on concrete use cases. However, few actors can boast of having devised revolutionary solutions.
For good reasons, blockchain technology is still very complex to understand. The purpose of this study is to define the
various applications of Blockchain in Smart Logistics, as well as to present concrete examples of these applications. This
work was done by classifying the applications according to four clusters: Information, Transport, Finance, and
Management, in addition to presenting the applications of each cluster.
Keywords: Blockchain, Smart Logistics, Smart Constracts, Smart Supply Chain Management.
1. Introduction
Digitization and the growth of new technologies such as the
"Internet of Things", 3D printing, robotics, predictive analytics
and artificial intelligence, have a significant impact on the
processes all along the supply chain. During this process,
decision-making, at the stages of the manufacturing and
distribution process, can be accomplished using sophisticated
and complex analyzes that decrease the human intervention.
Two simple things prove that using a smart supply chain is a
persistent benefit are: cost and space savings. Actually, the
smart logistics system is a self-organizing and self-optimizing
system, in which, the data from the connected sensors can be
integrated with the data based on user preferences.
In fact, Smart logistics remains a fairly complex concept. It can
be used in geographically dispersed areas, for the acquisition of
raw materials of the highest quality, as well as the lowest cost,
or the marketing of products to reach a large number of
consumers. The industry 4.0 paradigm is characterized by the
use of new technologies such as IoT, 5G, sensors, RFID cards,
smart products, actuators, and intelligent machines.
Consequently, a large amount of data will be generated and
new challenges will emerge. This highlights the issues of
confidence, lack of interoperability, as well as many security
and data reliability issues that form major challenges to face
the implementation of such infrastructures problems, also,
fraud, theft, loss of data, the diversity of marketing policies, the
multitude of expenses of financial transactions and goods.
Although, the transparency of the supply chain, it remains one
of the most important and difficult to reach areas for logistics
and supply chain management [1]. Therefore, a simple, secure,
fast sharing of information or products, and funds was the need
of almost all companies operating in this field.
As an emergent technology, Blockchain begins to appeal to
smart logistics researchers. Thus, blockchain aims to increase
the operational performance while ensuring the reliability and
security of shared information. Blockchain technology first
gained popularity as a management platform for Bitcoin, which
is a digital cryptocurrency. In addition to the digital currency,
blockchain is a new paradigm of computer science and data
flows. For that, it has broad implications for the future
development of supply chain management and logistics [2].
Blockchain technology can ensure data security, reliability,
traceability, and authenticity, which will increase trust between
supply chain actors and end consumer, by providing reliable
information about the shared products through a public
Blockchain.
Blockchain technology could simplify or even automate the
exchange of information and generate greater trust between the
various partners. It is then the whole supply chain which would
gain in speed of execution. companies are slowly starting to
deploy blockchain in their supply chain, although the results
are still rare at the moment. In 2018, several industry alliances
and associations were established to explore the potential for
using this technology across logistics activities.
The main purpose of this paper is to examine the scope of
Blockchain technology in the field of smart logistics. For this,
we segmented our study into four sets. Firstly, Information;
which consists of presenting the application of Blockchain for