Distributed Ledger Technologies Applied to Logistics Systems

Concisely, the following dissertation comprises a strategic analysis for the implementation of Blockchain Technology in transportation and logistics industry. The thesis has an especial interest to investigate the applicability of Distributed Ledger Technologies through the Logistics Systems and Intermodal Freight Transportation as a sustainable mode. With another word, the following dissertation is a global and comprehensive Strategic Analysis concerning the real possibilities and practical applicabilities of the Blockchain technology throughout the current world of transportation and logistics industry. Considering that by the opening scenes of Blockchain’s technological development, it raced to develop its applicability in several industries other than the financial area. In particular, Supply Chain Management (SCM), City Logistics, Cross-modality, Multimodality, Intermodal Freight Transportation, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are recognized as fertile territories for some systematic blockchain-based accomplishment due to the diverse parties involved in these multifunctional processes. The constant need of confidence and trust among the participant of regional/national/international supply chain would support the identification of blockchain technology as a prolific innovation and an industrial empire by its performance in the logistics industry. The following research has begun by the severe academic interest of ICELAB - ICT for City Logistics and Enterprises, to estimate the latent applicability of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies among the logistics and transportation. The entrance of BLOCKCHAIN technology in logistics market does not only boosted the enthusiasm of ICELAB, but it awes the complete ecosystem of many principal logistics companies around the world. For instance, many seaports, airports, dry ports, and intermodal freight terminals are investing in blockchain because of its guarantees of full process perceptibility and real-time traceability. Consequently, in the opinion of the author, reading the PART I is an important assignment to capture some comprehensive points of views regarding the ground conditions of the Italian inland transportation. Furthermore, the PART I, particularly tries to discern the Blockchain as an individual but valuable piece of a big puzzle. PART II attempts to illustrate the hallmarks, features, applicabilities, and characteristics of some actual blockchain-based applications/platforms. To conclude, the author encourages the Polytechnic of Turin (PoliTO) to establish and perform a proper Blockchain Laboratory for investigating and developing some different kinds of blockchain-based applications/platforms in many proper ways for some proper use. The blockchain Lab of the TU Delft [blockchain-lab.org] would be an example of this proposal, because students, professors need an adequate space to work and research about blockchain technology.