# Blockchain and Information Integration: Applications in New Zealand's Prefabrication Supply Chain
## 4 Results and Discussion
### Blockchain in the Prefabrication Supply Chain  
Historically, the construction industry in New Zealand has been primarily based on traditional construction methods [1]. Prefabrication is relatively a newer approach that is becoming more popular, and industry experts are better discovering its benefits. However, the adoption of IT systems is relatively low in the prefabrication sub-sector of New Zealand's construction industry [57]. This is mainly due to the lack of awareness of prefabrication practitioners about the benefits of information technology [37]. Moreover, poor understanding of information integration strategies and lack of technical knowledge or expertise is predominant across supply chain parties [71], inhibiting the effective utilisation of technology, and conceivably, limiting the steps towards supply chain integration. Information integration has a close relationship with blockchain technology as an enabling mechanism for providing a secure information-sharing database. Researchers have demonstrated that blockchain technology is capable of storing a wide variety of data or information such as sustainable building construction/design data, building performance information and equipment records [62]. Similarly, they have confirmed that data/documents in various formats, e.g., images, models, drawings and videos, can be uploaded and saved on blockchain [72; 73]. Thus, the information of all transactions (such as manuals, handbooks, standards, specifications and regulatory compliance certificates) from different stakeholders in supply chains can be recorded and tracked on blockchain [10; 62]. This information integration will bring many benefits to the construction sector, including  
Figure 3: Important attributes of information. reduced fragmentation of supply chain partners, enhanced scalability, reduced time/cost, high transparency, traceability and data security. Blockchain's central novelty lies in its capacity to authorise, distribute and record transactions in unalterable registers. For blockchain to obtain ubiquitous popularity in prefabrication, it should address some of the fundamental challenges in this sub-sector, such as fragmentation, deficient quality products, security of information, bureaucracy, lack of trust leading to disputes and transparency [17]. The fragmentation of prefabrication construction needs enhanced integration in the supply chain for effective performance [24]. From a wider perspective, the structure and governance of supply chains in the construction industry as well as trust, which is the underlying factor for fragmentation [74], is highly affected by integration and innovation across supply chain actors [10]. Blockchain's contributing characteristics, namely, transparency, traceability and security/immutability, have the innovative potential to introduce better integration and make a bridge between traditional and technological practices within the construction industry, allowing the industry to efficiently promote trust and reduce resources and administration costs, durations and disputes. Moreover, from the governmental perspective, blockchain can provide the same services offered by statutory authorities and the corresponding private sectors in a decentralised and automated manner whilst preserving the same validity [75]. Examples of such services in the construction industry are Engineering Plan Approvals (EPAs), resource consents and Construction Compliance Certificates (CCCs), which are all deemed bureaucratic and time-consuming processes in the New Zealand context. Whilst New Zealand's government has strict border control measures and import/export regulations, the number of counterfeit products imported into New Zealand is of major concern.