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Improvement of public distribution system efficiency applying blockchain technology during pandemic outbreak (COVID-19)

Anup Kumar (Operations and Analytics, IMT Nagpur, Nagpur, India)

Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management

ISSN: 2042-6747

Article publication date: 24 November 2020

Issue publication date: 4 February 2021

1689

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analytically examine the viability of using blockchain technology (BT) in a public distribution system (PDS) supply chain to overcome issues of shrinkage, misplacement and ghost demand.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a standard news vendor model with two objectives, the first of which includes a reduction of the total cost of stock, while the second includes minimization of the negative impact of human suffering due to the nonavailability of subsidized food supplies to the needy people.

Findings

The authors applied the model to a real-life case to draw meaningful insights. The authors also analyzed the cost/benefit tradeoff of adopting BT in a PDS supply chain. The results show that the adoption of BT in a charitable supply chain can reduce pilferage and ghost demand significantly.

Originality/value

The paper is positioned for utilizing inventory visibility via consistent and tamper-resistant data stream flow capability of BT to enhance the overall efficiency of PDS. Notably, Indian PDS faces three major challenges in terms of its supply chain efficiency.

Keywords

Citation

Kumar, A. (2021), "Improvement of public distribution system efficiency applying blockchain technology during pandemic outbreak (COVID-19)", Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-06-2020-0050

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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