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I appreciate the response, but it's still entirely unclear how blockchain would help here. In a supply chain, why would blockchain be better than a centralized

I appreciate the response, but it's still entirely unclear how blockchain would help here. In a supply chain, why would blockchain be better than a centralized process? It seems to be trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

lifeisstillgood 6y ago
It's a fine question - I guess politics mostly 1. If the central database is proprietary then it is enforced (usually by a major retailer ie Walmart drives all sorts of RFID supply chain requirements for its suppliers. If blockchains come in this is likely how) 1.a. But which other retailer will sign up to walmart's versions ? So it is hard for all suppliers to sign up to the same standards 2. Open standards make it easier for anyone to write apps to join the chain. 3. it's not at all clear how this is better I will admit beyond "decentralised" and "open". But those are excellent places to start.
hnick 6y ago
Tampering. Bribes, hacking, idiocy, whatever. A proper blockchain is tamper resistant, so everyone trusts it.
- martin_a 6y ago
  I will bribe people to put wrong information on the blockchain then.
  - lifeisstillgood 6y ago
    :-) Thank you
  - hnick 6y ago
    I understand your point, nothing is perfect, but surely a public easily-audited blockchain does more to deter corruption and, if it occurs, find the perpetrators? As compared to a traditional system which is basically a log file that anyone with access (such as a rogue IT admin) can change? You can sign entries but unless you have each subsequent entry build on what came before like in a blockchain, entries can be removed entirely and no one will know. There is a reason companies like DHL are interested in such things. https://www.dhl.com/au-en/home/insights-and-innovation/insights/blockchain.html https://www.dhl.com/au-en/home/insights-and-innovation/insig... Example: Our product is sourced from a company and this providence is on the blockchain. It comes to light they employ slave labour and we'd rather cover it up. How do we alter these original transactions without the evidence being in plain sight?

lifeisstillgood 6y ago

It's a fine question - I guess politics mostly 1. If the central database is proprietary then it is enforced (usually by a major retailer ie Walmart drives all sorts of RFID supply chain requirements for its suppliers. If blockchains come in this is likely how) 1.a. But which other retailer will sign up to walmart's versions ? So it is hard for all suppliers to sign up to the same standards 2. Open standards make it easier for anyone to write apps to join the chain. 3. it's not at all clear how this is better I will admit beyond "decentralised" and "open". But those are excellent places to start.

hnick 6y ago

Tampering. Bribes, hacking, idiocy, whatever. A proper blockchain is tamper resistant, so everyone trusts it.

martin_a 6y ago
I will bribe people to put wrong information on the blockchain then.
- lifeisstillgood 6y ago
  :-) Thank you
- hnick 6y ago
  I understand your point, nothing is perfect, but surely a public easily-audited blockchain does more to deter corruption and, if it occurs, find the perpetrators? As compared to a traditional system which is basically a log file that anyone with access (such as a rogue IT admin) can change? You can sign entries but unless you have each subsequent entry build on what came before like in a blockchain, entries can be removed entirely and no one will know. There is a reason companies like DHL are interested in such things. https://www.dhl.com/au-en/home/insights-and-innovation/insights/blockchain.html https://www.dhl.com/au-en/home/insights-and-innovation/insig... Example: Our product is sourced from a company and this providence is on the blockchain. It comes to light they employ slave labour and we'd rather cover it up. How do we alter these original transactions without the evidence being in plain sight?