Interside: Blockchain Interoperability Architecture for Supply Chain Tracking

Modern supply chains rely on permissioned blockchain networks that frequently operate as isolated entities, resulting in fragmented data, limited visibility, and inconsistent governance. This research addresses these challenges by proposing “Interside,” an interoperability framework designed explicitly for multi-network supply chain ecosystems. Using a design science research methodology, the study includes requirement analysis, framework development, prototype implementation, and a preliminary evaluation. The architecture features a main-chain/side-chain model that preserves network autonomy while enabling secure, auditable cross-chain communication and selective data sharing via a dedicated side-chain tracking ledger. A prototype was built with Hyperledger Fabric and Weaver components, and the framework was evaluated through a conceptual comparison with direct and hub-based approaches. Results show that Interside improves decentralization, governance autonomy, and auditability compared with existing models, with minor trade-offs in prototype performance. This work introduces a novel architectural blueprint for permissioned blockchain interoperability in supply chain environments and outlines practical directions for future large-scale performance benchmarking.