# Blockchain-Based Information Management for Supply Chain Data-Platforms
## 5 Discussion
### Drive the Blockchain Adoption in SCM  
This section is aimed to respond to the presented RQ: _how can the information flow structure affect and pilot a suitable blockchain adoption in SCM?_  
As shown in Figure 2, the connection between two major processes identified highlights a segment in which blockchain may fit into SCM. This segment may help to reduce complexities and drive blockchain adoption in future technologies' deployments.  
This macro representation may support the analysis of the internal resources, links, and stakeholders involved that compose the business ecosystem. By downscaling the segment, the appropriate level of details may be found for those digital implementations in which blockchain may mitigate SC risks and enhance the added value in operations.  
As an example, following the literature reviewed, for the SC micro risk factors identified by [PERSON] et al. (2019), 15 out of 110 risk factors can be mitigated by a blockchain solution (13% circa) in which information management, smart contracts, dispute resolutions, and real-time data-sharing would play a relevant role. Additionally, in detailing the enhancements of SCM in the segment, it would be relevant to assess partners' cooperation, competitive advantages, SC information flow, and partnership governance ([PERSON] et al., 2020).  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c l} \hline \hline \# & **Statements** \\ \hline
1 & Hybrid solutions are needed between permissioned and permissionless blockchains. \\
2 & Information management is one of the drivers for blockchain in SCs. \\
3 & Blockchain-enabled autonomous audits and lean administrative procedures for financial statements. \\
4 & An appropriate technology mix can enable and leverage future blockchain implementations. \\
5 & Blockchain enhances trust in (digital) ecosystem-building for SC stakeholders. \\
6 & Blockchain fits in the supplier relationship management process. \\
7 & Blockchain-based SC data-platforms are lean data-driven solutions and become even more revolutionary for future \\  & Industrial IoT systems. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 3: Precautions for applying blockchain to SCM.  
Figure 2: The eight macro business processes: integrating and managing business processes across the SC (adapted from ([PERSON] et al., 2020)).  
At this stage, it is essential to keep focus of the two major processes identified. In fact, those processes are purposed with managing the information flow for supplier relationship management and the financial aspects related to it.  
Moreover, considering further digital deployments and industrial improvements that may bring added values in operations, distributed data-platforms will perform innovative roles in SCM. Therefore, data are replicated as many times as the nodes of the network warrant. Thus, it is fundamental to identify those key-data to be shared in the distributed ledger and provide an infrastructure capable of obtaining the best value from a consensus protocol deployment. Once the ecosystem identifies the data to be shared, a blockchain platform can make it available for each stakeholder involved, improving security and reducing time for the information management process. At this layer, the information flow can be set internally to reduce complexities and delays, aligning it to internal software that organizations use to manage day-to-day business activities (ERP, for instance) [15].  
To the best of our knowledge and after the presented study, we believe that these results may guide practitioners in identifying an effective information flow structure to deploy blockchain in SCM. However, we recognized some limitations of this research study and further direction is needed to consolidate these results for a broader adoption.