A Narrative Review and Gap Analysis of Blockchain for Transparency, Traceability, and Trust in Data-Driven Supply Chains
Mitra Madanchian, Hamed Taherdoost
Abstract
The increasing complexity and digitization of modern supply chains have created an urgent demand for transparent, traceable, and trustworthy systems of data management. Blockchain, with its core features of immutability, decentralization, and smart contracts, has emerged as a promising solution for strengthening data-driven supply chain operations. This paper presents a narrative review synthesizing insights from academic research, industry reports, and regulatory documents to examine blockchain’s role in enhancing transparency, traceability, and trust. References were identified through targeted searches of major databases and gray literature sources, with emphasis on diverse sectors and global perspectives, rather than exhaustive coverage. The review maps how blockchain’s technical capabilities—such as data integrity preservation, access control, automated validation, and provenance tracking—support these outcomes, and assesses the empirical indicators used to evaluate them. A sectoral applicability analysis distinguishes contexts in which blockchain adoption offers clear advantages from those where benefits are limited. The review also identifies critical research gaps, including inconsistent definitions of core concepts, insufficient interoperability standards, overreliance on subjective performance measures, and lack of longitudinal cost–benefit evidence. Finally, it proposes directions for future research, including the development of sector-specific adoption frameworks, integration with complementary technologies, and cross-border regulatory harmonization.