1. Breaking through with Blockchain
Melanie Nuce
15 March 2018

2. Why is blockchain exciting? Data Sharing.
Most of the excitement about blockchain is really just excitement about the possibility of sharing data across company lines
For some entire industries, this is an unfamiliar concept.
For industries where data sharing is familiar and interesting, blockchain presents a sexy way to talk about it…and to raise awareness of the need for data sharing across organizational silos.

3. Relevant parts of a public blockchain
Blockchains are shared databases of records that can never be changed afterwards (immutable)
They commonly use distributed ledger technology
They are decentralized and replicated (not merely distributed)
No one organization controls governance of the data or the process of validation
Validation of the data is commonly resolved through consensus or “proof of work”
They may have stored procedures to enforce validation rules for data and for transactions
These are also known as “smart contracts” and are independently verifiable by any participant
They can support a cryptocurrency
This is the most widely used implementation of a blockchain today
This might be useful if database transactions involve payment, but isn’t as relevant for supply chain applications
They may offer reward systems
Often referred to as “mining”

4. Centralized vs. Distributed vs. Decentralized
One database, one owner
Not resilient to organizational failure
Not resilient to technical failure
One Owner
Distributed
Many database copies, one owner
Resilient to technical failure
Not resilient to organizational failure
Router
Master
Slave
Slave
Decentralized
Many database copies, many owners, no one “master”
Resilient to technical failure
Resilient to organizational failure
Owner 1
Owner 2
Owner 3
Owner 4
Node
Node
Node
Node

5. Enterprise Value of Blockchain
A blockchain is just a unique ledger of transactions…that prevents users from changing data or deleting data
An enterprise blockchain is generally an index that references off-chain data that will be maintained in traditional data stores
Helps keep the size of the ledger reasonable
Enables fast sharing of a common truth about events and contracts
Data that is familiar to supply chain business applications could be shared in an enterprise blockchain ledger
Event data, transactional data, and even master data
Pointers to data (or hashes of that data) may also be shared in an enterprise blockchain ledger
The ledger is also able to prove through pointers and hashes that the off-chain data wasn’t tampered with

6. Blockchains and traditional data stores
Owner 1
Owner 2
Owner 3
Owner 4
Data Store
EPCIS Event Rep.
Node
Node
Node
Node
Data Store
EPCIS
Event Rep.
Enterprise Blockchain ledger
Access and permission control layers
Pointers to off-chain data and hashes of off-chain data
Some relevant pieces of data needed for validation and business processes and smart contracts
Identifiers based on GS1 keys (party, location, things, etc) – likely obfuscated
Data stored in accordance with GS1 standard data structures
Off-chain resources
Access and permission control layers
Event, transaction and master data stored in accordance with GS1 standard data structures (such as EPCIS Event Data Repositories)
Identifiers based on GS1 keys (party, location, things, etc)
Other data resources that may be needed (documents, images, files, etc)

7. Pilots, Pilots, Pilots
Enterprise Blockchain proofs-of concept are quite popular at the moment
Many of them are generating insight into a common set of underlying issues
Basic business processes in pilot organizations will need to be adapted before distributed ledgers will bring the expected value.

8. Where does GS1 fit… and where does “blockchain” fit?
Business Applications
Track & Trace, Anti-counterfeit
Order-to-cash processes
Electronic commerce
Standardized identifiers
Transaction data
Visibility event data
Master Data
Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Teradata, etc.
Amazon, Google, Bluemix, etc.
EDI Networks, VANs, data pools
Blockchain technology
Database or other data sharing technology
Blockchain is here
Blockchain is a shared, secure, distributed ledger;
GS1 facilitates standards for data and some business applications

9. Standards are an important foundation

10. Standards Make Interoperability Possible
Sharing unique identification through a common language of standards creates an ecosystem of platforms, applications, and networks that securely links people, places, and things.
By leveraging unique identification to activate an entire ecosystem of platforms, applications, and networks
By allowing for data exchange, analytics, and ultimately insights that can make my customers’ lives easier, better
By enabling enterprises to move at the speed of the consumer with innovative uses of technology via the Internet of Things (IoT)
By operationalizing the vision of connected people, places, and things

11. Standards Make Transparency and Trust Possible
Delivering trusted product data required for visibility and traceability, providing safer environments for patients and consumers alike.
By standardizing the identification of products, assets, and locations
By facilitating the sharing of that information between trading partners
By increasing visibility, and thereby traceability
By supporting the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act
By supporting Food and Drug Administration Unique Device Identification (FDA UDI) and Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)

12. Blockchain  Digital Transformation