Blockchain only part of the answer

09-Jul-2018 - Last updated on 09-Jul-2018 at 11:49 GMT

Blockchain will have its place in the food and drink supply chain, but won’t be the answer to all of its problems, an expert in supply chain has claimed.

In this exclusive podcast, recorded at SCALA’s annual supply chain debate at Coombe Abbey in Coventry, SCALA senior consultant and debate chair David Grahamslaw weighed in on the popularity of blockchain.

“I don’t think it’s hyped up more than it should be. I don’t think it’ll be the answer, but I think it’ll be part of the answer to what will be a very complex issue. Blockchain will have its place.

“Blockchain has suddenly become [part] of the agenda. Nobody had heard of blockchain 12 months ago and now there’s even somebody advertising it on prime-time TV – it is almost becoming everyday terminology now.”

Grahamslaw agreed that automation would become key to alleviating some of the stress that the food and drink supply chain could face if the pool of workers were to continue to dry out.

“People have been looking at automation and mechanisation for quite some time now because of the relative shortage of labour,” he added.

SCALA’s annual supply chain debate gathered captains of industry to discuss the issues and challenges facing supply chain businesses.