Smart Contracts for Smart Supply Chains

In some liberal democracies, governments allow people to legally own guns to protect their lives and property. However, gun crime has been increasing in recent years. Taking the United States, for example, a report pointed out that Americans are 10 times more likely to be shot than citizens of other countries. Murder using guns in the United States is 25 times more than that in the other 22 high-income countries. Most of these guns came from other cities. These illegally circulating guns are directly linked to deadly street violence. This means that effective firearm management can reduce deadly violence. In the past few years, Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology was often used to track the supply chain. However, in the traditional supply chain, only the participants of the supply chain can query information. Furthermore, only the participants can verify the correctness of the data. This result causes information to be not transparent. On the other hand, blockchain technology, with a unique combination of features such as distributed notes, decentralized structure, consensus algorithm, storage mechanism, asymmetric encryption, and smart contract, ensures network visibility, transparency, and security. Therefore, we combine blockchain and RFID technology to propose a traceable firearm management system based on blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The proposed method achieves several goals. First of all, the characteristic data through the blockchain can be publicly verified and the information will not be modified. The traceability of the data and the application of RFID can effectively manage the production chain. In addition, we used Burrows–Abadi–Needham logic (BAN logic) logic to prove mutual authentication, and the nonrepudiation and integrity method can also be achieved in our proposed scheme.

The object of this paper is blockchain technology in the tracking system of grain supply chains. The current study considers the task of determining the impact of blockchain technology introduction on the tracking system of grain supply chains. The key problems in the system of grain supply chains have been identified and the tasks to solve them have been proposed. The characteristics of key technologies in the implementation of blockchain in the system of grain supply chains have been defined, such as smart contracts, the Internet of Things (IoT), interplanetary file system (IPFS), contactless tags (RFID), Ethereum platform (identified as the best for supply chain tracking). The influence of factors on the introduction of blockchain technologies into the grain supply chain tracking system was determined using a SWOT analysis. Strengths include transparency, increased trust, automation of processes and protection against falsification. Weaknesses include high implementation costs, difficulty scaling, and the need for staff training. Opportunities that open up through the use of blockchain include attracting new partners, increasing competitiveness, and developing new markets. Threats include legal difficulties, technical failures, high energy costs, and resistance from market participants. An assessment of the investment attractiveness of introducing blockchain technology into the grain supply chain tracking system was carried out by calculating such indicators as economic effect; net present value (NPV) of implementing blockchain technologies; payback period of investments. According to the results of analysis, the following data were obtained: NPV (150439 a.u.)>0, the payback period of investments is 2.8 years, which is acceptable for large agricultural holdings. Prospects for development have been determined, in particular, the unification of agricultural holdings for the joint implementation of blockchain technologies in the tracking system of grain supply chains, which would be a strategically beneficial solution for all participants in the supply chain

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of sensors that helps collect data 24/7 without human intervention. However, the network may suffer from problems such as the low battery, heterogeneity, and connectivity issues due to the lack of standards. Even though these problems can cause several performance hiccups, security issues need immediate attention because hackers access vital personal and financial information and then misuse it. These security issues can allow hackers to hijack IoT devices and then use them to establish a Botnet to launch a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. Blockchain technology can provide security to IoT devices by providing secure authentication using public keys. Similarly, Smart Contracts (SCs) can improve the performance of the IoT–blockchain network through automation. However, surveyed work shows that the blockchain and SCs do not provide foolproof security; sometimes, attackers defeat these security mechanisms and initiate DDoS attacks. Thus, developers and security software engineers must be aware of different techniques to detect DDoS attacks. In this survey paper, we highlight different techniques to detect DDoS attacks. The novelty of our work is to classify the DDoS detection techniques according to blockchain technology. As a result, researchers can enhance their systems by using blockchain-based support for detecting threats. In addition, we provide general information about the studied systems and their workings. However, we cannot neglect the recent surveys. To that end, we compare the state-of-the-art DDoS surveys based on their data collection techniques and the discussed DDoS attacks on the IoT subsystems. The study of different IoT subsystems tells us that DDoS attacks also impact other computing systems, such as SCs, networking devices, and power grids. Hence, our work briefly describes DDoS attacks and their impacts on the above subsystems and IoT. For instance, due to DDoS attacks, the targeted computing systems suffer delays which cause tremendous financial and utility losses to the subscribers. Hence, we discuss the impacts of DDoS attacks in the context of associated systems. Finally, we discuss Machine-Learning algorithms, performance metrics, and the underlying technology of IoT systems so that the readers can grasp the detection techniques and the attack vectors. Moreover, associated systems such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) are a source of good security enhancement for IoT Networks. Thus, we include a detailed discussion of future development encompassing all major IoT subsystems.

A blockchain maturity model in agricultural supply chain

Blockchain technology and smart contracts are emerging as transformative tools for enhancing transparency and efficiency in supply chain management and vendor relations. Traditional supply chains often face challenges such as inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and susceptibility to fraud (Kouhizadeh & Sarkis, 2018). Blockchain, a decentralized ledger technology, coupled with smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code, offers promising solutions to these challenges (Wang, Han, & Beynon-Davies, 2019). This paper explores the application of blockchain and smart contracts in these domains, examining their potential to provide immutable records, streamline processes, and mitigate risks (Casado-Vara et al., 2018). Through a comprehensive analysis of current literature and case studies, we identify key benefits including improved transparency, enhanced efficiency, and better risk management (Christidis & Devetsikiotis, 2016; Tian, 2016). Our findings suggest that blockchain and smart contracts can significantly improve supply chain transparency and vendor management, though their implementation requires careful consideration of technical, regulatory, and organizational factors (Saberi et al., 2019). Notable case studies, such as Walmart’s blockchain pilot for food safety and De Beers' diamond tracking initiative, illustrate the practical benefits and challenges of adopting these technologies in real-world scenarios (Casino, Dasaklis, & Patsakis, 2019; Kshetri, 2018). Despite the promising outlook, further research is needed to address scalability, interoperability, and regulatory compliance issues to fully realize the potential of blockchain and smart contracts in supply chain management (Hughes et al., 2019).

Today, smart supply chains are one of the main and growing applications of evolving technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain, which bring many benefits. IoT and blockchain security is a subset of cybersecurity that protects against IoT-related threats. Therefore, the simultaneous combination of these technologies and the creation of a supply chain based on the artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) and blockchain, in addition to increasing the performance of activities in supply chain processes, can also bring many security challenges to this smart supply chain. Because the data collected by IoT devices and stored in the blockchain-based systems that manage them are much more sensitive than traditional network security strategies.Due to the importance of this issue, in this study, an attempt has been made to analyse these security indicators in the AIoT and blockchain-based intelligent supply chain using a combined decision-making method in a fuzzy neutrosophic environment. Understanding these security measures will definitely help to implement more secure and powerful smart supply chains. The results showed that customer privacy criteria have the highest priority. The following priorities are authentication, Security challenges based on infrastructure, and network integrity.

Currently, being considered is the pandemic of sustainability concerns along with the issues related to transparency and efficiency in the global food supply chain. In addition, blockchain technology is a transformational solution that facilitates stakeholders to build trust, operational efficiency and traceability. From management perspective, this research also examined the part that blockchain plays in the food supply chain including its possible effect or impact on sustainability, ethical sourcing, transparency as well as efficiency in food retail chain. This study’s methodology is quantitative research approach. The method in the study was a purposive sampling while survey questionnaires were used. A total of 280 participants have participated in the study. In this research, it was explored key blockchain applications as such as traceability systems, decentralized ledgers and smart contracts. Besides, blockchain improved the rate at which the supply chain worked through removing the inefficiencies, automating transactions and enhancing the workflow efficiency. It also reinforced trust by proper and clear product traceability and compliance with the regulatory standards and ethical sourcing. The results, however, suggest that blockchain technology holds the ability to undermine the handling of the supply chain where efficiencies in resource management and sustainable practices, fair trade, and convenient coordination are facilitated. Apart from the above, blockchain technology offers a solid suitable platform for boosting sustainability in operational efficiencies and streaming the food supply chain to the farthest point. But the adoption of this unnatural process continued and ultimately shaped the future of resilient and transparent food systems. Keywords: Supply Chain Efficiency, Ethical Sourcing, Smart Contracts, Traceability, Transparency, Food Supply Chain and Blockchain.

Can We Connect? Benefits and Barriers to Adoption of Transformative Technology in Global Supply Chains

The inception of blockchain techniques has been revolutionizing various domains, e.g., Internet of Things, supply chain and healthcare. Ethereum smart contracts emerge as the promising blockchain application, which could enable distrustful parties to participate in the automatic and trustful transactions. Given the increasing importance of Ethereum smart contracts, understanding them becomes imperative. However, prior work only studied smart contracts with general high-level patterns, and one critical question has not been answered yet: how do smart contracts behave individually? In this paper, we present a behavior-aware profiling of individual smart contract from a multi-party perspective, which improves the visibility of the smart contract ecosystem. We conduct a detailed study of the behavior of individual smart contract on two real-world datasets, and our profiling reveals interesting and surprising observations. For example, a few contract completion chains have more than 50 contracts and all of them belong to the Finance category. We also discuss the implications that lead to recommendations to improve the security and performance of the smart contract ecosystem. Overall, our work effectively complements previous work towards generating a comprehensive understanding of smart contracts.

The Internet of Things (IOT) is integrated with supply chain management process to track the product. To track the product smart tags is used. The smart tags like QR code and NFC is used. But with the technology enhancement the block chain is introduced into the supply chain management process. The block chain is the great revolution that data in the centralized form is transformed in to a decentralized manner. The distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is one of the method used in ethereum block chain. The main advantage of using DLT is, it offers decentralized, privacy-preserving and verifiable process in the smart tags. In existing system only single server was used to maintain all the process like supplier, manufacturer and distributor. In this application we are using different server which was more secure than existing system. The proposed solution in this paper is it checks the product evidence during the entire lifecycle of the product by using the smart contract. The data can be immutable by using smart contract with ethereum block chain. The duplication is manipulated by the block chainserver.

The growing demand for sustainable solutions has intensified interest in approaches that enable the transition from linear to circular economic models. In this context, this study proposes the development of a conceptual framework that integrates blockchain technology to support the implementation of circular practices. The circular economy aims to reduce waste and maximize the retention of resource value throughout its life cycle. However, its operationalization faces challenges such as a lack of traceability, limited trust among supply chain actors, and insufficient transparency in shared information. Blockchain technology, which enables secure, decentralized, and immutable recording and sharing of data, is a promising alternative to overcome these barriers. Through a systematic literature review, the objective is to propose a conceptual framework that explains how blockchain functionalities can support the execution of circular practices across different stages of the supply chain. The framework is grounded in three theoretical lenses: The Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Institutional Theory, and Transaction Cost and Network Effect Theory. It is structured around three main constructs: blockchain (with key functionalities such as traceability, smart contracts, and tokenization), circular economy practices (based on the hierarchy of the 10rs), and a circular supply chain (focusing on integration, reverse logistics, and sustainability certification). The methodology involved a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines, resulting in the analysis of 67 peer‐reviewed articles. The findings provide theoretical and practical insights into how blockchain can enable traceability, transparency, automation, and cost reduction in circular supply chains, thereby accelerating the adoption of sustainable and efficient business models.

The world today has realized the vast technological evolution that has greatly shaped the production and management functions of business enterprises. Traditional contracts can take weeks or even months to initiate, and there have been numerous instances of breaches and lack of trust for contracts in both the private and public sector. A smart contract can be defined as a self-executing contract that utilizes blockchain technology to digitally enforce, verify, or facilitate the performance or negotiation of a contract. Owing to the security and decentralized system exhibited by blockchain technology, smart contracts can foster transaction credibility between contracting parties without the necessity of third parties as exhibited in traditional contracts. Any business organization that aims at achieving greater heights in management and production dimensions must consider utilizing robust technologies that are aimed at bolstering its competitive edge. Owing to the newness of smart contracts, characterized by very few studies on the same, this research reviews how smart contracts through blockchain technology can be implemented in an organization to enhance performance and outlines the applications, benefits, and limitations associated with such contracts. Keywords: Blockchain technology; smart contracts; smart contract applications; smart contract benefits; smart contract implementation; cryptography; cryptocurrency DOI : 10.7176/JIEA/9-5-07 Publication date :September 30 th 2019

The rapid advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping industries by enabling seamless communication between devices, real-time data collection, and automation. Given the surge in IoT applications, challenges related to security, scalability, and interoperability have become increasingly critical. This study presents a state-of-the-art software engineering framework designed to address these limitations through the integration of blockchain technology and smart contracts. By leveraging the decentralized, immutable, and transparent nature of blockchain, the proposed framework enhances trust and security within IoT environments. Smart contracts, as secure, self-executing code, facilitate autonomous interactions between IoT devices without relying on centralized control. Additionally, the framework introduces novel strategies for optimizing resource management and data handling efficiency while improving system scalability across distributed networks. The synergistic use of blockchain and smart contracts not only resolves key IoT challenges but also contributes to the development of robust, efficient, and scalable IoT ecosystems. The framework is applicable across diverse domains, including healthcare, smart cities, supply chain management, and industrial automation, fostering innovative, self-governing IoT systems throughout their operational lifecycle.

The blockchain typically described as a decentralized system in which transactional or ancient statistics are recorded, stored, and maintained throughout a peer-to-peer community of personal computers referred to as nodes. Counterfeit drugs are one consequence of such limitations within existing supply chains, which not only has serious adverse impact on human health but also causes severe economic loss to the healthcare industry. Blockchain technology has gained tremendous attention, with an escalating hobby in a plethora of several applications like safe and relaxed healthcare records management. Similarly, blockchain is reforming the traditional healthcare practices to an extra reliable means, in phrases of powerful progno- sis and treatment through safe and cosy facts sharing using SHA Hash Generation Algorithm. Within the future, blockchain will be an era that can probably assist in personalized, authentic, and at ease healthcare by means of merging the entire actual-time scientific information of a patient’s fitness and offering it in an up to date cosy healthcare setup. In this paper, we evaluation each the present and modern day trends inside the subject of healthcare with the aid of imposing blockchain as a model. We also talk the packages of blockchain, at the side of the demanding situations confronted and destiny views. The proposed system executed blockchain implementation in distributed computing surroundings and it gives the automated restoration of invalid chain by using Consensus and Mining Algorithm. In this system, we present a Custom blockchain- based approach leveraging smart contracts and decentralized off-chain storage for efficient product traceability in the healthcare supply chain. The smart contract guarantees data provenance, eliminates the need for intermediaries and provides a secure, immutable history of transactions to all stakeholders. We present the system architecture and detailed algorithms that govern the working principles of our proposed solution. We perform testing and validation, and present cost and security analysis of the system to evaluate its effectiveness to enhance trace- ability within pharmaceutical supply chains. Keywords— Blockchain Technology, Decentralization / Decentralized System, Distributed Com- puting, Peer-to- Peer Network, Healthcare, Supply chains, etc.

The integration of smart technologies into supply chain management has emerged as a critical strategy for enhancing sustainability and productivity in manufacturing operations. This study examines how digital tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain contribute to creating smart supply chains that simultaneously optimize environmental outcomes and operational efficiency. Through a systematic review of recent empirical studies and industry reports, the research identifies key technology enablers, associated benefits, and challenges in implementation. Findings suggest that smart supply chains foster improved resource utilization, real-time transparency, and proactive risk management, driving both ecological and economic value. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for organizations aiming to adopt smart supply chain frameworks to support sustainable manufacturing.