TY - JOUR
T1 - Blockchain For Logistics 4.0
T2 - A Systematic Review and Prospects
AU - Harish, Arjun Rachana
AU - Liu, Xinlai
AU - Wang, Xin
AU - Pan, Shenle
AU - Dai, Hong-Ning
AU - Li, Ming
AU - Huang, George Q.
N1 - This paper is partially supported the Department General Research Fund of PolyU, China (No. P0050805), the Intra-Faculty Interdisciplinary Projects of PolyU, China (No. P0052206), the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) of PolyU, China (No. 1-CDJX), the Innovation and Technology Fund (PRP/038/24LI), the RCDTT grant of PolyU, China (No. P0051281) and two grants from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. PolyU/15208824, T32-707/22-N).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2025/6/18
Y1 - 2025/6/18
N2 - Logistics 4.0, with its supporting technologies, is gaining popularity with researchers and practitioners as a way to navigate the dynamic and demanding logistics environment. Blockchain technology is such a topical technology in logistics. The logistics industry benefits from blockchain as it enhances communication and collaboration among stakeholders through applications such as information sharing, goods monitoring and tracing, and executing financing and payments. However, the perceived lack of clarity on the adoption benefits has increased decision-maker’s hesitation to adopt and utilize blockchain technology in the logistics industry. To fully understand blockchain applications in the context of logistics, this paper conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) on blockchain research in logistics. A selection of 113 articles undergoes review based on a two-axis framework. The first axis lists the core blockchain technologies, such as decentralized ledger, consensus mechanism, and smart contract. It comprehensively reviews their interplay with the foundational logistics requirements, such as agility, collaboration, and resilience. The second axis reviews domains such as e-commerce logistics, business logistics, green logistics, and logistics financing, which are key avenues for blockchain applications. The key themes arising from the review are a precursor to deriving avenues for future research. Finally, we present Web 4.0 in logistics, the new wave of generative artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered blockchain innovation that can shape future logistics. More specifically, we explore the role of modern AI agents in driving future research for seamless blockchain integration to logistics, enabling logistics ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and organizational adoption. Besides addressing a gap in existing literature, the concepts discussed in this study allow for a comprehensive understanding of blockchain adoption in logistics, thus encouraging wider practical application of novel technology. From a theoretical lens, this study helps comprehend blockchain technology and its significance to logistics research.
AB - Logistics 4.0, with its supporting technologies, is gaining popularity with researchers and practitioners as a way to navigate the dynamic and demanding logistics environment. Blockchain technology is such a topical technology in logistics. The logistics industry benefits from blockchain as it enhances communication and collaboration among stakeholders through applications such as information sharing, goods monitoring and tracing, and executing financing and payments. However, the perceived lack of clarity on the adoption benefits has increased decision-maker’s hesitation to adopt and utilize blockchain technology in the logistics industry. To fully understand blockchain applications in the context of logistics, this paper conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) on blockchain research in logistics. A selection of 113 articles undergoes review based on a two-axis framework. The first axis lists the core blockchain technologies, such as decentralized ledger, consensus mechanism, and smart contract. It comprehensively reviews their interplay with the foundational logistics requirements, such as agility, collaboration, and resilience. The second axis reviews domains such as e-commerce logistics, business logistics, green logistics, and logistics financing, which are key avenues for blockchain applications. The key themes arising from the review are a precursor to deriving avenues for future research. Finally, we present Web 4.0 in logistics, the new wave of generative artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered blockchain innovation that can shape future logistics. More specifically, we explore the role of modern AI agents in driving future research for seamless blockchain integration to logistics, enabling logistics ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and organizational adoption. Besides addressing a gap in existing literature, the concepts discussed in this study allow for a comprehensive understanding of blockchain adoption in logistics, thus encouraging wider practical application of novel technology. From a theoretical lens, this study helps comprehend blockchain technology and its significance to logistics research.
KW - Logistics 4.0
KW - Blockchain
KW - Decentralized ledger
KW - Smart contract
KW - Systematic Literature Review (SLR)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105008320228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tre.2025.104269
DO - 10.1016/j.tre.2025.104269
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1366-5545
VL - 201
JO - Transportation Research, Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
JF - Transportation Research, Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
M1 - 104269
ER -
