INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

NIRMA UNIVERSITY

MBA(FT) 2022-2024

DIGITAL CONSULTING ASSIGNMENT

SUBMITTED TO: PROF BALAKRISHNAN UNNY

SUBMITTED BY: GROUP 13 (SECTION B)

Names Roll Nos.

Pankhuri Sinha 221225
Aishwarya Dashora 221304
Krati Gupta 221326
Dhwani Joshi 221514
Industry Background – Supply Chain Industry

The intricate web of interdependent functions that constitutes the multifaceted supply
chain network, namely its integrated orchestration of production, sourcing, delivery, and storage
of goods and services throughout the complex coordination of these interconnected activities,
fulfills a vital role. It is essential to modern business since it links merchants, end users, logistics
companies, manufacturers, and suppliers. The industry operates internationally, with several
stakeholders and multifarious touchpoints, and is distinguished by its complexity and
globalization. Goods follow a complicated route, frequently going through several stops along
the way to their destination. Efficiency and competition must be carefully considered because of
this complexity. Seeking perpetual progress, enterprises consistently experiment with novel
logistics, economizing wherever slack saps productivity to strengthen positioning amidst fierce
markets.

Although the industry confronts considerable difficulties, safeguarding the ongoing

accessibility of the worldwide provision network stays preeminent among the numerous
obstructions that necessitate resolution. While monitoring the movement of goods, resources, or
components from inception to arrival poses difficulties, overcoming obstacles to track flow from
origin to destination is paramount. The prompt detection of inefficiencies and the clearing of
possible bottlenecks are hampered by this lack of transparency. In addition, it gives rise to
worries about safety and fake items. Counterfeit products can enter the market and endanger
businesses and consumers in the absence of well-defined traceability procedures. It is become
more and harder to ensure that products are legitimate and of high quality, particularly in delicate
industries like food and medicine.

These difficulties with transparency have wide-ranging effects. Due to inefficient

resource and time allocation brought on by a lack of awareness, there are delays and higher
operating expenses. Inadequate tracking systems make counterfeiting more likely, which has an
impact on customers as well as enterprises. Problems with quality control exacerbate the
situation and jeopardize product integrity and safety, particularly in vital industries.

Addressing these issues is of utmost importance if progress is to be made. Using cutting-

edge technologies like Web3 and blockchain in the supply chain sector is a viable approach. A
transparent and safe system for tracking goods and materials is made possible by these
technologies. Real-time tracking and verification throughout the supply chain is made possible
by their decentralized and immutable ledgers, which guarantee data integrity. This increased
openness fosters confidence, reduces the possibility of counterfeiting, and greatly raises industry
operating effectiveness and safety standards.
Real-Life Examples

Blockchain and Web3 technologies have been applied in the real world by a number of
well-known organizations in the supply chain sector, bringing about revolutionary improvements
and improving several facets of the logistical process.

Walmart has pioneered the utilization of blockchain innovation to intently follow

nourishment things through their inventory network, putting them at the cutting edge regarding
following gracefully through the graceful chain. The retail behemoth hopes to reduce the danger
of foodborne illnesses and guarantee the authenticity of its food goods by implementing a
blockchain-based system. Precise tracking of food's journey from the farm to the shop shelves is
made possible by technology, which guarantees responsibility and transparency at every stage.
This improves customer confidence in the quality and authenticity of the products they buy while
also improving food safety.

Blockchain-based supply chain management solutions are increasingly being designed

and applied in conjunction with cutting-edge technological pioneers like IBM, as a growing
number of organizations engaged in collaborative efforts aim to harness this novel approach's
transformative potential for the benefit of all stakeholders involved. One such innovative tool,
IBM Food Trust, was created to help food firms track food goods all the way from farm to table.
It creates an unchangeable trail of every product's journey by incorporating blockchain, allowing
users to confirm the provenance, caliber, and legitimacy of the food they handle. This invention
ultimately improves the safety and quality of the food supply chain by fostering confidence
among stakeholders and enhancing transparency.

Leading multinational logistics and shipping company Maersk has also adopted
blockchain technology to improve its efficiency. Maersk has greatly increased the effectiveness
and transparency of its shipping procedures by incorporating blockchain technology into its
logistical structure. With the use of technology, the various supply chain phases may be
transparently and securely documented, cutting down on paperwork, cutting down on delays, and
increasing overall operating efficiency. This use of blockchain in logistics demonstrates how
technology may transform established procedures, resulting in lower costs and increased
operational efficiency.

These illustrations highlight the real advantages and adaptability of Web3 and blockchain
technology in transforming the supply chain sector. These applications, which range from
guaranteeing food safety to improving transparency and optimizing logistics, show how these
technologies are transforming conventional methods and providing greater effectiveness,
security, and dependability in contemporary supply chain management.
Use case: Blockchain Implementation in Food Product Tracking by Walmart

Objective:
Walmart's main goal in using blockchain technology to track food products via the supply
chain is to create a reliable system that lowers the risk of foodborne illnesses while guaranteeing
product authenticity. Walmart wants to use blockchain technology to establish an unchangeable,
transparent product information ledger that reaches from the product's place of origin to the point
of sale, giving stakeholders and customers reliable, validated information about every food item.

Actors:
 Supplier: Provides the food products to Walmart.
 Walmart: Implements the blockchain-based tracking system.
 Consumer: Purchases and consumes food products.

Steps:

 Supplier Records Product on Blockchain: - After supplying Walmart with food

products, suppliers enter all relevant product details into the blockchain. All crucial
details involving the merchandise kind, batch numbers, manufacturing and expiry dates,
provenance (like unique farms or manufacturing amenities), and any acceptable
certifications (e.g., natural, non-GMO, and so forth.) are enclosed within the knowledge,
making certain all pertinent particulars are reported. Because every entry is time-stamped
and unchangeable, a trustworthy history of the product's journey is guaranteed.
 Getting Verification by Walmart: - After getting the products, Walmart compares the
data entered by the suppliers on the blockchain with the actual products to ensure their
authenticity. Any inconsistencies or problems found throughout this verification
procedure trigger the required inquiries or remedial measures.
 Surveillance Along the Supply Chain: - Walmart uses blockchain technology to keep a
continuous ledger of the product's journey through the supply chain. Updates are done at
critical points, including as distribution, transit, and warehouse storage. Each update
chronicles the hands through which the product passed, when and where it journeyed, and
any surrounding conditions that could conceivably influence its safety or caliber.
 Retail Sales and Consumer Verification: - At the moment of sale, customers have
access to the blockchain-based data associated with every food item. Walmart could
potentially provide customers with access to such details regarding a product's
provenance in a variety of methods, such as incorporating a scannable QR code directly
onto packaging or developing a mobile application enabling the scanning of items to
view the full supply chain history. This gives customers the ability to confirm the
legitimacy of the goods and make wise choices before making a purchase.
Advantages:

 Assured Authenticity: A safe and unchanging record of the food product's data is
ensured by the usage of blockchain. Customers can rely on the information to be
accurate, which lowers the possibility of tainted or fake goods entering the supply chain.
 Sanitation Quality: Walmart can reduce the risk of foodborne diseases by quickly
identifying and isolating possibly contaminated products through the use of blockchain-
based tracking. The method facilitates prompt traceability in the event of a food safety
hazard, hence enabling more focused and effective recalls.
 Openness: Blockchain technology promotes an accountable and transparent system.
Customers can obtain thorough and precise product information, which strengthens their
faith in Walmart's dedication to offering genuine and safe food goods. Additionally, by
encouraging responsibility at every level of the supply chain, this transparency
encourages suppliers and transporters to operate responsibly.

Walmart's use of blockchain technology in the food supply chain is an example of how
cutting-edge technology may be used to boost consumer confidence, assure product authenticity,
and improve food safety in the retail industry.

UML Diagram: Tracking Food Products Using Blockchain

Entities Involved:

 Supplier: - Stores product details on the blockchain. This important information

regarding the food products provides details such as the type of item, its place of origin
and manufacturing date as well as applicable certifications or other notable attributes.
Upon entering the supply chain, information about the products is then recorded within
the decentralized blockchain registry.
 Walmart: - After receiving the goods from the suppliers, it compares the products'
legitimacy with the blockchain data that has been recorded. This entails a thorough
verification that the product's data corresponds with the blockchain records. After then,
Walmart is in charge of following the goods as they move through the supply chain.
 Consumer: - Engages with the blockchain-based platform when deciding whether to
buy or eat food items. Before finalizing the transaction, the consumer routinely examines
details within the blockchain—often via an app or QR scan—to authenticate legitimacy
of origin as well as other pertinent product attributes being acquired.

Flow of Information:

 Supplier to Blockchain: - Suppliers enter the product's initial details onto the
blockchain ledger, creating an unchangeable and transparent record of the product's
attributes, provenance, and other pertinent information.
  Walmart Verification and Tracking: - Following receipt of the goods, Walmart verifies
their legitimacy and accuracy by consulting the blockchain records that the seller has
supplied. Walmart then keeps track of the verified products at different points in the
supply chain, updating the blockchain ledger with the latest information.
 Consumer Verification: - Before deciding to buy or use the products, consumers
communicate with the blockchain system. They review the product's journey and details
by accessing the blockchain information, probably via an application or a scannable code.
As a result, customers are better equipped to make judgments based on the blockchain's
verified information.

Overarching Goal - The UML diagram shows how Walmart is using blockchain technology
to build a reliable, open, and safe system for tracking food items through the supply chain. The
system seeks to provide accurate, traceable, and transparent data throughout the product's
journey to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses and verify product authenticity by facilitating
the smooth flow of verified information from suppliers to consumers. By giving all parties
involved access to dependable, up-to-date information about the food goods, promotes
accountability and trust throughout the supply chain.

Blockchain Supply chain Walmart Stakeholders and

customers
Blockchain Technology Reliable system Product information Validated information
Food products Risk of foodborne The product’s place of Food item
diseases origin
Track Product Authenticity The point of sale Track food products

Candidate Class Accept/Reject Reason of Rejection

Blockchain Reject Irrelevant to the system
Blockchain Technology Accept
Food products Reject Irrelevant to the system
Track Reject Irrelevant to the system
Supply chain Reject Irrelevant to the system
Reliable system Reject Irrelevant to the system
Risk of foodborne diseases Reject Irrelevant to the system
Product Authenticity Accept
Walmart Accept
Product information Accept
The product’s place of origin Accept
The point of sale Accept
Stakeholders and customers Reject Irrelevant to the system
Validated information Accept
Food item Reject Irrelevant to the system
Track food products Accept
Use Case: IBM's Implementation of Web 3 in the Supply Chain

Objective:

To provide improved transparency, traceability, and authenticity of food items from their origin
to customers' hands by integrating Web 3 technologies into IBM's Food Trust platform and
creating an end-to-end, transparent, and trustworthy supply chain ecosystem.

Actors:

 Supplier/Farmer: Produces and supplies food products.

 IBM: Integrates and utilizes Web 3 in their Food Trust platform.
 Logistics/Distributor: Manages transportation and distribution.
 Retailer: Sells products to consumers.
 Consumer: Purchases and uses the products. give more details

Steps:

1.) Product Data is recorded by the supplier on IBM's Food Trust: Suppliers that produce
food, such as farmers, use IBM's Food Trust platform to capture detailed information about their
products. This data might consist of: Information concerning the items' origins, such as the name
of the farm or area in question.

Date of Harvest and Techniques: Details on the items' harvesting date and method, which
guarantees their freshness and quality.

Storage Conditions: Information on the items' temperature, humidity, and handling practices
during storage.

Providers upload this data, which is tamper-proof and unchangeable, onto the Food Trust
network, which is built on blockchain technology

2.) Verification and Migration to IBM's Infrastructure: IBM, as the technology supplier, is
essential to verifying the information that vendors record. This validation procedure might
consist of:

Data Verification: IBM's technology verifies the completeness and correctness of the data that
providers have submitted.

Integration with Supply Chain Management: Following validation, the data is incorporated
into the supply chain management system, granting access to all pertinent network participants.

This data is stored and secured via IBM's Food Trust platform, which takes advantage of its
decentralized architecture.
3.) Tracking in Real-Time Across the Supply Chain: With IBM's Food Trust technology,
items can be tracked in real-time at every point in the supply chain, guaranteeing their
authenticity and transparency. This is accomplished by:

IoT Integration: Products that are in transit may have their temperature, location, and other
pertinent factors monitored by IoT (Internet of Things) sensors.

Blockchain Ledger: All information is stored on the blockchain, resulting in an unchangeable,

safe record of the movement of products.

Supply chain participants can keep an eye on the whereabouts and condition of goods at all times
thanks to this real-time tracking, which lowers the possibility of theft, deterioration, or
manipulation.

4.) Verification of consumers and retail sales: Retailers access and validate product details on
IBM's Food Trust platform to guarantee authenticity and correctness prior to selling items to
customers. Verification might entail:

Scanning QR Codes: Information held on the blockchain may be accessed by retailers and
customers via QR codes found on product packaging.

Reading Smart Labels: Real-time information may be obtained from smart labels using NFC or
RFID technology to confirm the legitimacy of a product.

To ensure they make knowledgeable purchases, consumers may also scan items to verify
expiration dates, allergy information, and other pertinent facts.

5.) Data Input and Feedback Loop: A feedback loop in which customers actively contribute
enriches the ecosystem. This might entail:

Product Reviews: Customers can rate and evaluate items, which has an impact on the standing
and reliability of manufacturers and merchandise.

Updates on Expiration Dates: Customers can change product expiration dates on the
blockchain to the benefit of other users if they discover a problem.

The supply chain ecosystem gains a sense of belonging and trust as a result of this feedback loop.
Advantages:

 Transparency and Trust: Web 3 technology assures that all stakeholders, from
suppliers to customers, have access to true and unmodified product information through a
decentralised, tamper-proof ledger. The supply chain gains confidence as a result of this
openness.
 Security and Authenticity: Web 3's transparency improves data security and lowers the
possibility that fake goods will infiltrate the supply chain. Customers can have faith in the
genuineness of the goods they buy.
 Operational Efficiency: Products that are easily accessed and real-time tracking make
operations more efficient. This improves the efficiency and economy of the supply chain
by cutting down on delays and facilitating quick dispute resolution.

UML Diagram: IBM's Web 3 Implementation in Supply Chain

Actors in the Use case:

 Supplier/Farmer: Enters product details on IBM's Food Trust platform, such as origin,
harvest date, and quality assurance.
 IBM: Assures transparency and traceability by validating, integrating, and managing data
on the Food Trust platform.
 Distributor: Manages logistics and distribution by using data from product tracking.
 Customer: Gains access to product information and offers comments, fostering a
collaborative environment.

Flow of Information:

 Supplier Enters Product Information into IBM's Food Trust Platform: The supplier
enters product information into the Food Trust platform, guaranteeing that precise data is
safely preserved.
 IBM Data Integration and Validation: IBM ensures the correctness and validity of the
recorded data on the Food Trust platform by integrating and validating it.
 Product Tracking: Product tracking and transparency are made possible by the platform,
which provides end-to-end supply chain visibility through real-time tracking and
transparency.
 Product Tracking for Distribution: Distributors effectively oversee distribution
procedures by utilizing product tracking information.
 Customer Feedback and Engagement: Customers may see product details and offer
comments, which helps to ensure that data is transparent and accurate.

Overarching Goal- The sequential data flow between IBM's Food Trust platform and supply
chain participants is depicted in this UML diagram. Accuracy and dependability are ensured by
the Web 3 implementation's decentralized, transparent, and secure management of product
information. It makes it possible for everyone to access real-time, reliable data, creating an
ecosystem of the supply chain that is reliable and efficient from the provider to the customer.

IBM Supply Chain Web 3 Tamper proof

Consumers Product IoT Network
Retailers Feedback Technology Real-time
Supplier Blockchain Fake goods Transparency
Trust

Candidate class Accept/Reject Reason of Rejection

IBM Accept
Consumers Accept
Retailers Accept
Supplier Accept
Supply Chain Accept
Product Accept
Feedback Accept
Blockchain Accept
Web 3 Accept
IoT Accept
Technology Accept
Fake goods Reject Irrelevant to the system
Tamper proof Accept
Network Accept
Real-time Accept
Transparency Reject Repetitive
Trust Accept