Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review

The emergence of blockchain technology has sparked significant attention from the supply chain management (SCM) and logistics communities. In this paper, we present the results from a thorough bibliometric review that analytically and objectively identifies the intellectual structure of this field,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abderahman Rejeb, Karim Rejeb, Steve Simske, Horst Treiblmaier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-10-01
Series:Logistics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/5/4/72
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849396023176200192
author Abderahman Rejeb
Karim Rejeb
Steve Simske
Horst Treiblmaier
author_facet Abderahman Rejeb
Karim Rejeb
Steve Simske
Horst Treiblmaier
author_sort Abderahman Rejeb
collection DOAJ
description The emergence of blockchain technology has sparked significant attention from the supply chain management (SCM) and logistics communities. In this paper, we present the results from a thorough bibliometric review that analytically and objectively identifies the intellectual structure of this field, the seminal papers, and the most influential scholars. We employ a knowledge domain visualization technique to generate insights that go beyond other review studies on blockchain research within logistics and SCM. The analysis starts with selecting a total of 628 papers from Scopus and the Web of Science that were published during 2016–2020. The bibliometric analysis output demonstrates that the number of blockchain papers has rapidly increased since 2017. The most productive researchers are from the USA, China, and India. The top academic institutions contributing to the literature are also identified. Based on network analyses, we found that the literature concentrates mainly on the conceptualization of blockchain; its potentials for supply chain sustainability; its adoption triggers and barriers; and its role in supporting supply chain agility, trust, protection of intellectual property, and food/perishable supply chains. Besides systematically mapping the literature, we identify several research gaps and propose numerous actionable research directions for the future. This study enriches the extant blockchain literature, provides a timely snapshot of the current state of research, and examines the knowledge structure of blockchain research in logistics and SCM with the help of evidence-based scientometric methods.
format Article
id doaj-art-e3e15d9d7cb44ce49f635fa49df58922
institution Kabale University
issn 2305-6290
language English
publishDate 2021-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Logistics
spelling doaj-art-e3e15d9d7cb44ce49f635fa49df589222025-08-20T03:39:26ZengMDPI AGLogistics2305-62902021-10-01547210.3390/logistics5040072Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric ReviewAbderahman Rejeb0Karim Rejeb1Steve Simske2Horst Treiblmaier3Doctoral School of Regional Sciences and Business Administration‚ Széchenyi István University‚ 9026 Győr, HungaryHigher Institute of Computer Science El Manar, 2, Rue Abou Raïhan El Bayrouni, Ariana 2080, TunisiaSystems Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of International Management, Modul University Vienna, 1190 Vienna, AustriaThe emergence of blockchain technology has sparked significant attention from the supply chain management (SCM) and logistics communities. In this paper, we present the results from a thorough bibliometric review that analytically and objectively identifies the intellectual structure of this field, the seminal papers, and the most influential scholars. We employ a knowledge domain visualization technique to generate insights that go beyond other review studies on blockchain research within logistics and SCM. The analysis starts with selecting a total of 628 papers from Scopus and the Web of Science that were published during 2016–2020. The bibliometric analysis output demonstrates that the number of blockchain papers has rapidly increased since 2017. The most productive researchers are from the USA, China, and India. The top academic institutions contributing to the literature are also identified. Based on network analyses, we found that the literature concentrates mainly on the conceptualization of blockchain; its potentials for supply chain sustainability; its adoption triggers and barriers; and its role in supporting supply chain agility, trust, protection of intellectual property, and food/perishable supply chains. Besides systematically mapping the literature, we identify several research gaps and propose numerous actionable research directions for the future. This study enriches the extant blockchain literature, provides a timely snapshot of the current state of research, and examines the knowledge structure of blockchain research in logistics and SCM with the help of evidence-based scientometric methods.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/5/4/72blockchainsupply chain managementlogisticsbibliometricsnetwork analysis
spellingShingle Abderahman Rejeb
Karim Rejeb
Steve Simske
Horst Treiblmaier
Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review
Logistics
blockchain
supply chain management
logistics
bibliometrics
network analysis
title Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review
title_full Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review
title_fullStr Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review
title_full_unstemmed Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review
title_short Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review
title_sort blockchain technologies in logistics and supply chain management a bibliometric review
topic blockchain
supply chain management
logistics
bibliometrics
network analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/5/4/72
work_keys_str_mv AT abderahmanrejeb blockchaintechnologiesinlogisticsandsupplychainmanagementabibliometricreview
AT karimrejeb blockchaintechnologiesinlogisticsandsupplychainmanagementabibliometricreview
AT stevesimske blockchaintechnologiesinlogisticsandsupplychainmanagementabibliometricreview
AT horsttreiblmaier blockchaintechnologiesinlogisticsandsupplychainmanagementabibliometricreview