Application of blockchain technologies in ensuring data integrity in logistics systems

The article examines the feasibility of using blockchain technologies to ensure data integrity in digital logistics systems. The relevance of the topic stems from the need for data reliability and transparency in the context of increasing complexity of supply chains, where insufficient trust among participants, delays in information exchange, and potential falsifications negatively impact the efficiency of logistics processes. The conceptual foundations of blockchain as a decentralized transaction ledger technology are presented, which ensures immutability, accessibility, and verifiability of data using cryptography and consensus mechanisms. The study particularly focuses on the analysis of a practical case involving the implementation of a blockchain solution for delivery tracking, where each stage of the logistics process is recorded in a secure ledger using smart contracts. A generalized system architecture is proposed, demonstrating how key participants in the supply chain — suppliers, carriers, warehouses, retailers – interact via a blockchain platform. A comparative analysis is conducted with traditional centralized data management systems, as well as with alternative approaches to ensuring data integrity, specifically, through the use of hashing and control mechanisms. Cryptographic tools that form the methodological basis of blockchain technology are also described: hash functions, Merkle trees, and the principles of smart contracts. The study's findings confirm that blockchain technologies can significantly increase the security, transparency, and reliability of logistics data. The conclusions outline the advantages of using blockchain technologies in logistics systems and identify promising areas for further research concerning the scalability and performance of such solutions.