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Inclusive Deployment of Blockchain for Supply Chains: Part 2 – Trustworthy verification of digital identities
Preface
Supply chains are becoming increasingly digital. A central requirement of these digital business
networks is the ability to effectively make use of partners in a trustworthy way. As such, organizations
need a comprehensive system for the verification and management of digital business identities that is
both dynamic and trustworthy.
Despite recent improvements in digital identity verification systems, they need further development
to support the supply chains of the future. New demands on the digital identities of legal entities and
possibilities for supply-chain organizations will likely be ushered in by the Fourth Industrial Revolution –
with shifts enabled by the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and, in particular, distributed
ledger technology. The pace of development is faster than ever before, and decision-makers need to
re-evaluate the systems they have in place to manage digital identities.
This paper advances two topics identified by the World Economic Forum:
1. This is the second white paper in a series and part of a broader project focused on the co-creation
of new tools and frameworks to shape the deployment of distributed ledger technology in supply
chains towards interoperability, integrity and inclusivity. The World Economic Forum’s Centre for
the Fourth Industrial Revolution is working with a multistakeholder group to produce a project that
includes:
– A series of white papers published in 2019. Collectively and individually, these papers will offer
insights into and explorations of specific considerations for decision-makers in harnessing
blockchain technology effectively.
– A concise, easy-to-use toolkit to be released at the end of 2019 covering important topics for
supply-chain decision-makers to consider for responsible blockchain deployment.
2. It contributes to the ongoing development of understanding about and the deployment of “good
digital identities” for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
As digital business interactions flow across borders in international supply chains, there will be many
cases in which parties do not know each other before they conduct business together. It is our hope
that the following overview of the opportunities, risks and some suggested next steps will stimulate
stakeholders to embark on a new and exciting action agenda to build digital identity systems that are
prepared for future supply chains.
Derek
O’Halloran,
Head, Future of
Digital Economy
and Society,
Member of
the Executive
Committee
Manju George,
Head of Platform
Services and
Public-Private
Cooperation
Nadia Hewett,
Project Lead,
Blockchain and
Distributed Ledger
Technology
