SAP pushes blockchain

The goal of this initiative is to integrate the digital transaction register into solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturing, and the digital supply chain using the SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain Service.

Participating companies come from different countries and different industries such as consumer goods, telecommunications, retail, logistics, agriculture, high-tech, aerospace and defense, equipment and machinery, energy and utilities, and public administration.

SAP will also join the Alastria Consortium and the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA) to expand blockchain adoption for customers in different industries and countries.

By joining the Alastria Consortium, which brings together banks, telecom providers, energy companies, universities, smart city organizations and developers, the Walldorf-based software company will be able to expand not only its blockchain network but also its partner network in Europe.

As a member of BiTA, a forum for developing common standards for blockchain applications in the trucking industry, SAP can extend its reach into freight and transportation management.

SAP wants to work with customers and partners to create use cases for blockchain that can be standardized and broadly deployed to enable widespread use - in the digital supply chain and in SAP Leonardo IoT solutions such as:

SAP Asset Intelligence Network...

...can be a cloud business network as a global equipment registry, providing original equipment manufacturers with a digitization platform where they could share asset information with operators and with service providers. They would thus be able to optimize their service and use the equipment productively for longer.

The use of blockchain technology is expected to increase trust between the business partners involved in asset management processes, for example, audits, asset tracking and provenance.

SAP Distributed Manufacturing...

...is a network-based application designed to provide a private, secure platform for manufacturing orders so that customers can benefit from custom manufacturing and collaborative manufacturing by working with suppliers (for example, 3D printing vendors, material suppliers, original equipment manufacturers, and technical certification companies). Blockchain can help optimize collaborative manufacturing processes.

SAP Transportation Management...

...is an application that can be used to manage all aspects of the transportation process. The software is also expected to support a blockchain scenario for international trade in the future. Sellers, buyers, banks and authorities could use it to share, check and approve documents electronically.

The status tracking process and bill of lading handover could then also be done electronically. A secure process is planned for container release to reduce cargo theft and fraud.

SAP Global Track and Trace...

...is a cloud-based offering for unified, end-to-end tracking and monitoring of assets and business processes with comprehensive reporting capabilities along supply chain networks.

Blockchain technology can help make sensitive tracking information immutable and tamper-proof. Information can be traced back to the author and forms the basis for fully automated payment and settlement processes.

SAP Advanced Track and Trace for Pharmaceuticals...

...helps pharmaceutical companies comply with regulations to protect against drug counterfeiting. In addition, the solution can facilitate collaboration with supply chain partners in conjunction with SAP Information Collaboration Hub for Life Sciences.

Combined with these offerings, blockchain technology has the potential to meet customer return verification requirements in accordance with U.S. legislation.

"Our customers and partners want to work with us and rely on blockchain as a decentralized transaction repository to improve collaboration and transparency"

says Tanja Rückert, President IoT & Digital Supply Chain at SAP.

"We want to develop joint innovations with world-leading companies."