# A Guidance for Blockchain-Based Digital Transition in Supply Chains
## 5 Discussion
### Use Cases from Interviewees: Network and Ripple Effects  
In this section, interviewees' overviews about the differences for both network and ripple effects in blockchain developments are summarized. Considering two examples in logistics, two different cases are provided to explain two different effects (network/ripple) and its impactful processes. The network effect for blockchain can reduce costs and increase security. As the Internet has taught us, when an increasing number of users are using a technology, the network provides a set of additional utilization benefits. Therefore, the more the users in the web, the more the generation of content, information, and power. Accordingly, in the logistics sector, digital representatives for objects--digital twins--are already deployed in certain digital ecosystems, managing events automation and a higher level of transparency for many applications. In this field, blockchain platforms redistribute and combine value in the value chain. Tokenization for objects--a blockchain-based digital representative--corresponds to the lot management concept. If a predefined number of tokens are created in line with lot production, each lot has a clear digital representative and, due to cutting-edge SC platforms, the lot can be tracked and traced during the SC distribution. Thus, if the number of tokens is equal to the number of products, the tokens will be used to combat counterfeiting of products. This application may be deployed for high-value products and assure product identity and originality. Due to the network effect, this kind of application may bring social benefits and behavioral changes correlated with a higher level of trust and higher production transparency. Ripple effect is easier to identify at the first stage of development for blockchain business communities. When a big market player--such as IBM-Maersk's project (tradelens.com)--decides to deploy a new technology, it forces stakeholders involved in the business ecosystem to apply the same technology too. The ripple effect for blockchain businesses started with big companies and consortiums, deploying the initial blockchain tests, and this development appears discontinuously in groups or swarms. Consequently, it may be compared to information flows along a SC. When a big market player deploys a new technology system to manage information, this impact has a ripple effect along the chain of stakeholders involved (manufacturers, insurance companies, institutions and governing bodies, financial societies, and last-mile logistics companies) and they need to align their communication and information platforms within the big player's standards. Which Are the Elements for Designing Blockchain-Based Digital Strategies That Might Foster a Reliable Re-Engineering in SC Operations? According to the literature reviewed and experts' concepts, blockchain is still in its infancy for prompt adoption in SC operations. However, blockchain presents powerful features for addressing the future evolution and digitalization of SCs. The adoption pathway needs to be carefully assessed, and an intense commitment is required to design proper functionalities and exploit blockchain benefits. Therefore, it is fundamental to identify the value creation and capture that blockchain may bring upon existing operations. Blockchain deployment must be supported by digital strategies to identify improvements in trust (for stakeholders) and automation (for operations). In this instance, by addressing the results of expert interviews, traceability, and transparency are key characteristics that should be evaluated for deployment. However, it will be relevant to analyze the processes and data that can be publicly available to stakeholders in the business ecosystem. This increases the level of trust and can support the detection of procedures where tokens and/or smart contracts generate value for critical performance.