Tamper-Proof Blockchain-Based Contracts for the Carriage of Goods by Road

Abstract

We propose an architecture for a decentralized electronic consignment note (eCMR) management system leveraging blockchain technology. We used Design Science Research (DSR) to guide our work in cooperation with a leading logistics and transportation management solution provider. We started with a multi-vocal analysis of the literature on eCMR, regulations, and technical documentation. Then, we held several rounds of discussions with the road carriage business stakeholders to establish the core software requirements and architecture. Finally, we have implemented and tested a proof-of-concept. The resulting artifact enables logistics stakeholders to track consignment notes of interest in real-time, relying on a tamper-proof database with complete eCMR lifecycle traceability. The proposed architecture and proof-of-concept can guide the design of future decentralized eCMR services, helping to implement reliable and transparent logistics processes.