Evaluating the barriers of blockchain adoption in the Australian logistics industry

Blockchain technology is widely concerned with the potential to revolutionize the logistics industry by sharing tamper proof information in a decentralized manner, facilitating building trust among parties. However, the adoption rate in the Australia logistics industry has lagged behind other industries. To address this issue, this study utilizes a fuzzy DEMATEL method to investigate the barriers of blockchain technology adoption in the logistics industry. Thirteen key barriers are identified and categorized based on the technology- organization- environment (TOE) framework. By comparing the individual fuzzy DEMATEL results based on interviews with experts for the Australian logistics industry, the cost of investment and integrating difficulties among logistics network partners are identified as the most prominent barriers, while the cost of investment, incapability of human resources, and lack of management support are the key cause barriers. Also, the top-ranked barriers mainly belong to the organizational contexts under the TOE framework. The paper provides a critical theory foundation for successful implementation of blockchain in the logistics industry. Besides, it can provide practical insights for practitioners to balance their resources in addressing the barriers in BCT application.