Integrating Blockchain and Internet of Things for Supply Chain Traceability: Toward a Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Traceability has become a central requirement in modern supply chains as organizations seek to guarantee product quality, safety, transparency, and compliance across increasingly complex global networks. Traditional traceability tools such as barcodes, RFID, magnetic markers, and data loggers have improved product identification and monitoring, yet they still face limitations related to data reliability, security, and interoperability.

This article adopts a narrative conceptual literature review approach to analyze the role of blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) in enhancing supply chain traceability. By synthesizing existing academic contributions and practical applications, the study examines how these technologies address the limitations of traditional traceability systems.

Blockchain provides an immutable and decentralized infrastructure for recording transactions, ensuring transparency and trust among supply chain stakeholders. Meanwhile, IoT enables real-time monitoring through interconnected sensors that collect critical data such as location, temperature, and handling conditions.

The analysis highlights the complementarities between blockchain and IoT and discusses how their integration can improve transparency, operational efficiency, and product security across sectors such as agri-food, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. The study contributes to the literature by providing a conceptual synthesis of the mechanisms through which these technologies support end-to-end traceability in modern supply chains.

Classification JEL: M15

Paper type: Theoretical Research