# NISTIR 8401: Blockchain for Supply Chain: A Survey of Use Cases and Technical Elements Content type: Research Paper Summary: NISTIR 8401 serves as an authoritative survey on the integration of blockchain technology within global supply chain management. The report examines how DLT can enhance transparency, traceability, and efficiency in complex logistical networks. It categorizes use cases into critical areas such as asset provenance, document verification, and multi-party coordination, evaluating both the potential benefits and the technical constraints. The authors provide a balanced analysis, contrasting public pe Key concepts: Dylan Yaga, Mellisa Freeman, Nik Roby, Karen Scarfone, supply chain, enterprise, traceability, survey, nist
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NISTIR 8401: Blockchain for Supply Chain: A Survey of Use Cases and Technical Elements

Dylan Yaga, Mellisa Freeman, Nik Roby, Karen Scarfone

Technical ReportJanuary 2022

Abstract

NISTIR 8401 serves as an authoritative survey on the integration of blockchain technology within global supply chain management. The report examines how DLT can enhance transparency, traceability, and efficiency in complex logistical networks. It categorizes use cases into critical areas such as asset provenance, document verification, and multi-party coordination, evaluating both the potential benefits and the technical constraints. The authors provide a balanced analysis, contrasting public permissionless blockchains with private permissioned ledgers, and highlighting trade-offs regarding decentralization, throughput, and privacy. NISTIR 8401 also delves into the technical requirements for interoperability, identity management, and data integration with legacy systems like ERP platforms. This document is particularly valuable for enterprise architects and policy advisors because it emphasizes the need for evaluating whether a blockchain is the correct technological solution for a specific problem, rather than adopting it solely for its novelty. By identifying key technical elements such as consensus mechanisms, smart contract functionality, and oracle integration, the report acts as a practical manual for assessing feasibility, designing pilots, and managing risks within supply chain digital transformation projects.

Key Findings

  • 1Analyzes the viability of blockchain for improving supply chain traceability and transparency.
  • 2Highlights the necessity of balancing decentralization with enterprise performance requirements.
  • 3Identifies the critical role of data integration between DLT and legacy enterprise systems.
  • 4Categorizes use cases by their suitability for permissioned versus permissionless frameworks.

Topics

supply chainenterprisetraceabilitysurveynist
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Citation

Dylan Yaga, Mellisa Freeman, Nik Roby, Karen Scarfone (2022). NISTIR 8401: Blockchain for Supply Chain: A Survey of Use Cases and Technical Elements. Technical Report. https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2022/NIST.IR.8401.pdf

BibTeX

@misc{nistir84012022,
  title = {NISTIR 8401: Blockchain for Supply Chain: A Survey of Use Cases and Technical Elements},
  author = {Dylan Yaga and Mellisa Freeman and Nik Roby and Karen Scarfone},
  year = {2022},
  howpublished = {\url{https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2022/NIST.IR.8401.pdf}},
}

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