Supply Chain Information Management Report for ABC Organization

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the supply chain challenges faced by ABC, a major fertilizer supplier. The report begins with an introduction to ABC's supply chain issues, including long delivery times, inefficient infrastructure, and outdated information systems. A detailed problem analysis is conducted, utilizing supply chain management concepts. The core of the report focuses on the potential of Blockchain technology as a solution, examining how it can address issues such as slow payments, cumbersome contracts, and difficulties in product tracking. The report also addresses the limitations of Blockchain, such as the need for IT system upgrades. The report concludes with recommendations for ABC, emphasizing the need for Blockchain adoption and information system upgrades. The analysis is supported by references to academic journal articles.

SUPLY CHAIN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
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Introduction
The organization in question is facing various challenges regarding supply chain. Supply
chain has become cumbersome in many industries. Payments between suppliers and
manufacturers or between clients and vendors take days to be completed. Agreements for
contracts demands the attention of bankers and lawyers each of which results to delay and
additional costs. It has become difficult to track products. According to the fact sheet, ABC
organization is a major supplier of fertilizer in the agricultural sector in Australia. The
organization has been operating for more than 80 years. Since then, its supply chain has been
ABC’s supply chain has been facing various issues.
ABC Supply Chain Problem Analysis
In analysis of the problems associated with ABC supply chain, ABC is a big organization
with multitudinous customers at its service. At the same time, the distribution sector is not
effective; there is long delivery time; last mile delivery is a common issue within the
organization. This problem occur due to inefficiency of infrastructures which can support quick
and cost effective delivery1. However, most consumers always require fast deliver and at the
same time, they are not willing to pay high prices. It therefore follow that the organization must
look for a way through which it can do fast delivery at an affordable cost.
Additionally, the current supply chain at ABC involves very tedious processes such as the
information system currently linked with monthly reports. The out dated hardware and
communication infrastructure, rescheduled deliveries among others. These issues can negatively
affect the organization, hence they need urgent attention. ABC can solve these issues in various
ways. Blockchain technology is the current innovation which can help the organization to
1 Jabbari, Arman, and Philip Kaminsky. "Blockchain and Supply Chain Management." (2018).

manage most of the problems effectively. However, the issue concerning obsolete information
system may not be addressed by the technology; it requires upgrade of the information system.
The problem concerning monthly report and widespread spreadsheet can be solved well by
blochchain technology. The following section shows solutions to the problems.
Solution to the problems
In the problem faced by ABC concerning long time delivery, adopting blockchain
technology can be the best solution. The smooth flow of physical products at a lower cost is the
requirement by the organization, the blockchain allow frictionless and error free logistics2. It at
the same time reduces cost and enhances transparency. With all these features, blockchain is
convincing that it is the best solution to the currently faced problem in the organization.
For the issues regarding record keeping and wide spreadsheets, blockchain technology
should be the best solution. Since blockchain is a distributed database where records of digital
data can be held in a way that make them tamper free, it can be utilized by ABC for data
storage3. It allow its users to add or inspect data but they cannot delete or change it in any way.
Additionally, this technology is capable of managing any form of tracking process, agreement, or
even exchange to mention a few4.
At a glance, we have analyzed ABC’s value chain in this article, we have also suggested
solutions to the problem. Blockchain has been proven to be the most effective solution for the
problems. However, the solution can only be achieved if and only if ABC IT team take notice of
the current blockchain technology trends and upgrade their information system.
2 Shrier, David, Weige Wu, and Alex Pentland. "Blockchain & infrastructure (identity, data
security)." Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Connection Science 1, no. 3 (2016).
3 Pilkington, Marc. "11 Blockchain technology: principles and applications." Research handbook on digital
transformations225 (2016).
4 Wampler, Jason, and Garrett Payer. Blockchain for High Performance Data Integrity and Provenance. No. DOE-
INCA-17238. Innovative Networking and Communications Associates, Inc., Accident, MD, 2018.

Bibliography

Jabbari, Arman, and Philip Kaminsky. "Blockchain and Supply Chain Management." (2018).
Pilkington, Marc. "11 Blockchain technology: principles and applications." Research handbook
on digital transformations225 (2016).
Shrier, David, Weige Wu, and Alex Pentland. "Blockchain & infrastructure (identity, data
security)." Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Connection Science 1, no. 3 (2016).
Wampler, Jason, and Garrett Payer. Blockchain for High Performance Data Integrity and
Provenance. No. DOE-INCA-17238. Innovative Networking and Communications
Associates, Inc., Accident, MD, 2018.