Executive Summary of DISTRIBUTED LEDGER TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO LOGISTICS SYSTEMS

Sajjad Khaksari
Sep 7, 2018 · 5 min read

Concisely, the following dissertation comprises a strategic analysis for the implementation of Blockchain Technology in transportation and logistics industry. The thesis has an especial interest to investigate the applicability of Distributed Ledger Technologies through the Logistics Systems and Intermodal Freight Transportation as a sustainable mode.

The following dissertation is a global and comprehensive Strategic Analysis concerning the real possibilities and practical applicabilities of the Blockchain technology throughout the current world of transportation and logistics industry

The Front Cover of the Thesis

With another words, the following dissertation is a global and comprehensive Strategic Analysis concerning the real possibilities and practical applicabilities of the Blockchain Technology throughout the current world of transportation and logistics industry. Considering that by the opening scenes of Blockchain’s technological development, it raced to develop its applicability in several industries other than the financial area. In particular, Supply Chain Management (SCM), City Logistics, Cross-modality, Multimodality, Intermodal Freight Transportation, and Internet of Things (IoT) are recognized as fertile territories for some systematic blockchain-based accomplishment due to the diverse parties involved in these multifunctional processes. The constant need of confidence and trust among the participant of regional/national/international supply chain, would support the identification of blockchain technology as a prolific innovation and an industrial empire by its performance in logistics industry.

Supply Chain Management (SCM), City Logistics, Cross-modality, Multimodality, Intermodal Freight Transportation, and Internet of Things (IoT) are recognized as fertile territories for some systematic blockchain-based accomplishment

The following research has begun by the severe academic interest of ICELAB — ICT for City Logistics and Enterprises, to estimate the latent applicability of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies among the logistics and transportation. The entrance of BLOCKCHAIN technology in logistics market does not only boosted the enthusiasm of ICELAB, but it awes the complete ecosystem of many principal logistics companies around the world.

For instance, many sea ports, air ports, dry ports, and intermodal freight terminals are investing on blockchain because of its guarantees of full process perceptibility and real-time traceability. On the other hand, during the relevant research of the following dissertation, the Blockchain technology has acknowledged as a novel technology but not as a primary key for any problems in transportation and logistics industry. Consequently, in the opinion of the author, reading the PART I is an important assignment to capture some comprehensive points of views regarding the ground conditions of the Italian inland transportation. Furthermore, the PART I, particularly tries to discern the Blockchain as an individual but valuable piece of a big puzzle. Having said that, PART II attempts to illustrate the hallmarks, features, applicabilities, and characteristics of some actual blockchain-based applications/platforms.

Moreover, it is essential to remark that the following essay has followed a critical approach regarding the current condition of Italian logistics. It means that the author did not wish to achieve the compliments of readers or any blessings from some Italian logistics God Fathers. Therefore, in units 2 to 6 of PART I, author tried to reflex only some a few (from many) irregularities concerning the violation of safety and performances among the logistics of heavy trucks and intermodal freight movements in Italy.

The safety breaches and all mentioned case studies had observed and reported personally by the author (without mentioning the name of the transportation company but all relevant proofs and precisely detailed and appropriate documentation concerning the claims are available).

In fact, the real world of work (daily work circumstances) of the Italian logistics is sometimes brutal and mortal as well (e.g. the tragic loss of Mauro Cagnoni and Abd El Salam).

However, concerning the research method of the following dissertation, the author attempted to respect all the characteristic of an academic writing and tried to represent the pure and creative words. In case in which, the words or phrases were needed to be reflected as their exact original speak/written, they are highlighted between two “Quotation Marks”. Moreover, in PART III and PART IV, all supporting appendixes and bibliography has been represented. In PART I and PART II, many studies and investigations has been done regarding the desirable design and develop of distributed platforms for anonymized dataset speculation and blockchain-based platforms those are not possessing any centralized trusted (Third Party) in business model of logistics and transportation industry. These platforms are consists of peers and consensus-based blockchain mechanism, and every peer serves as a data broker, data receiver, and a verifier for Blockchain during a logistics data transfer transaction. Hence, the data brokers collect data from the data partners under their permission for data speculation.

Additionally, business applications regarding the blockchain technology are deduced by analyzing some popular applications meanwhile contemporary blockchain market in various disciplines and especially concerning the supply chain and logistics areas. Presumably, three strongest points of this dissertation are: (1) The extensive practical information and critical investigations regarding the reality and requirements of Italian intermodal freight transportation. (2) The comprehensive study of over 34 blockchain-based applications/platforms. (3) The immense bibliography and evidence within the accessible online resources.

After all recent improvements, it seems the employment of the Blockchain technology for the commercial routes in Logistics is just a beginning of a larger expansion. Therefore, the author desires to take part in these intellectual stepping stone towards the productivity and efficiency throughout the entire supply chain of the logistics divisions and transportation modes.

To conclude, the author encourages the Polytechnic of Turin (PoliTO) to establish and perform a proper Blockchain Laboratory for investigating and developing different kind of blockchain-based applications/platforms in many proper ways for some proper use. The blockchain Lab of the TU Delft [blockchain-lab.org] would be an example of this proposal, because students, professors need an adequate space to work and research about blockchain technology. This is an important investment for PoliTo in a period of time in which blockchain is recognized as a disruptive technology and it is going to revolutionize many aspects of modern enterprises.

Also, supporting, offering, organizing, and encouraging more Thesis Proposals about the effective implementation and execution of Blockchain technology is extremely required because as Paulo Freire firmly concluded, “We Make The Road by Walking”.

Kind regards,
Sajjad Khaksari,
July 2018

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