Untangling the role of blockchain technology in shaping supply chain concentration from the contingency and configuration perspectives

This study presents an empirical exploration of the relationship between blockchain technology (BT) and supply chain concentration (SCC) from contingency and configuration perspectives by using a panel dataset of 147 Chinese enterprises that applied blockchain technology from 2019 to 2023. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) results indicate that BT is essential for the two dimensions of SCC: supplier concentration (SC) and customer concentration (CC). Additionally, we find that R&D investment, listed years, and industry type strengthen the BT-SCC relationship. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) further reveals that none of the aforementioned variables independently lead to a high level of SCC; rather, SCC requires a combination of these variables alongside BT adoption. These findings highlight alternative pathways through which different enterprises can achieve high levels of SCC by utilizing BT, a topic that has not been explored in prior research.