Blockchain-enabled secured supply chain for smart cities: A systematic review on architecture, technology, and service management

Supply chain management (SCM) involves multiple stakeholders, making it challenging to maintain accurate records and trust among participants. The blockchain and SCM research community has explored technological advancements in multiple directions to strengthen SCM security and enhance the authenticity of its users. Existing surveys have examined technological advancements, architectural components, and their integration in specific areas. This research provides a comprehensive study of blockchain technology(BCT), its architectural components, blockchain-enabled SCM(BeSCM), and the methodologies and service management approaches used in building efficient Blockchain-enabled Supply Chain Management. Additionally, the study explores the integration of BCT with AI and smart city initiatives. Moreover, this article addresses key challenges like transparency, process streamlining, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of articles from top journals across various sectors utilizing SCM, analyzing the challenges and the proposed technological solutions. The findings show that adopting blockchain and AI technologies improves supply chain visibility, builds trust, and reduces costs. Blockchain enhances security and trust in transactions, while AI aids in predictive analytics, inventory optimization, and waste reduction. However, challenges such as high initial investment and a lack of skilled experts remain. The research suggests that digital transformation in SCM can boost efficiency and customer satisfaction, with a proposed blockchain-enabled SCM architecture for smart cities to further enhance these benefits.