"Two perspectives" is a new format from WEKA BUSINESS MEDIEN: Here, topics that concern the industry across sectors are commented on alternately by the editors-in-chief of the media brands. This time: Martin Schrüfer, Editor-in-Chief of materialfluss and LT-manager, and Andrea Gillhuber, Editor-in-Chief of SCOPE.

Martin Schrüfer, Editor-in-Chief materialfluss

Martin Schrüfer, Editor-in-Chief materialfluss © Martin Schrüfer

Sooner or later, blockchain will also shape the world of logistics, but will not fundamentally change it for the time being. It is about more than the seamless chain of a transaction. It will be a long time before blockchain makes intermediaries superfluous.

That would be the goal: goods that move independently from A to B, are paid for securely and transported in a traceable manner - without the need for Amazon, freight forwarder Müller and parcel service Meier etc. But it would be short-sighted not to try out blockchain ideas here.

The top priority in logistics, alongside the question of technology security against hacker attacks, is the creation of standards. Logistics is global and takes place on a larger scale. There are gaps between countries and between modes of transport. In other words: incompatibilities that existed before blockchain and are difficult to resolve. Anyone who has ever witnessed the handling of a freight train or seen a cargo plane unable to take off because the folder with the freight documents (papers!) is still lying around somewhere knows how much the idea and reality can differ.

So until blockchain everywhere is ready, everyone involved - especially in politics - is advised not to lose sight of very mundane things, because if the truck with the desired package is stuck in a traffic jam in front of a wrecked bridge or the courier driver can't get into the city center, blockchain is of no use. Then logistics is once again what it primarily is and will always remain: the flow of materials and the transportation of goods from A to B. Physical, but sometimes anything but a commodity or even trivial!

Andrea Gillhuber, Editor-in-Chief SCOPE

Andrea Gillhuber, Editor-in-Chief SCOPE © Andrea Gillhuber

The revolutionary nature of blockchain technology is already apparent from numerous expert assessments. The significance of blockchain is already being compared to the internet and its introduction. However, we are still in the phase of discovering the potential fields of application. And indeed, there are some interesting aspects that make this technology very interesting for the industry.

The decentralized nature of the technology means that data in the blockchain cannot be changed unnoticed. Manipulation is virtually impossible. This is particularly beneficial for industries that are subject to documentation requirements: products and their manufacturing process can be clearly tracked throughout their entire life cycle. This not only applies to the individual production steps, but also includes proof of origin for conflict materials such as tungsten or tantalum. Raw materials and products are therefore clearly and comprehensibly traceable.

Smart contracts can be used to make agreements in the Industrial Internet of Things or Industry 4.0 and ensure compliance in both directions.

In networked production, autonomously operating machines could automatically manage their material and workpiece requirements, place standard orders and invoice them immediately. The same applies to services: A machine recognizes its maintenance requirements, orders the technician and invoices the service provided via an electronic wallet.

As you can see, the fields of application and benefits are many and varied. But the blockchain has one weak point: access! Although the data, contracts and transactions within the blockchain are protected against manipulation, once incorrect data finds its way into the blockchain, it can no longer be corrected. Certification and verification bodies are therefore of crucial importance!