The Use-case of Blockchain Technology in Global Supply Chain Management in the Automotive Industry with the Example of Volkswagen: an Analysis of Opportunities and Barriers

This thesis analyzes the current opportunities and the obstacles of blockchain technology adoption in supply chain management, using Volkswagen as a concrete practical example. In order to be able to draw precise conclusions, the technical fundamentals of the technology are discussed first. Subsequently, the exact application possibilities in supply chain management will be determined. These possible applications are then transferred to the practical example of Volkswagen. This will then provide results on the following main research question: What conclusions regarding the opportunities and barriers of blockchain technology for supply chain management can be drawn in the attempt to develop a practical application model for the Volkswagen supply chain? As a result, the thesis shows that the possibilities of blockchain technology are indeed enormous. For the supply chain, this applies above all to track & trace applications. These are already feasible in a limited format. However, there are still hurdles to overcome for large-scale and far-reaching use. Above all, the scalability of blockchain technology is currently an obstacle, at least if the blockchain is to be decentralized. However, decentralization is a core promise of the blockchain. Consequently, the promise and actual implementation of many real-world projects may run counter to the blockchain's very basic idea of security and decentralization. Further problems arise in the financing of the consensus mechanism and major regulatory hurdles.