Exploring the Challenges and Impacts of Blockchain Technology in Malaysian Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Blockchain technology has gained increasing attention in supply chain management (SCM) due to its potential to enhance transparency, traceability, and trust among stakeholders. This study explores the challenges and impacts of blockchain implementation within Malaysian supply chains, addressing the limited understanding of its practical adoption. Despite global recognition of blockchain’s benefits, its uptake in Malaysia remains low, primarily due to technical, financial, and managerial barriers. A significant issue identifies is the needs of skilled professionals capable of handling blockchain systems effectively, as highlighted by the National Blockchain Roadmap 2021 – 2025 (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, 2022), which reported that 56% of organizations cite inadequate in-house capabilities as a key constraint. To achieve the research objectives, (1) identifying challenges and (2) examining impacts of blockchain in supply chain management, an exploratory qualitative design was adopted using semi-structured online interviews with three industry practitioners. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to uncover themes and codes. The findings revealed that while blockchain enhances operational efficiency, data integrity, and collaboration, its implementation is hindered by limited expertise, financial costs, and lack of management support. The study contributes insights for industry practitioners and policymakers seeking to promote effective blockchain adoption and strengthened Malaysia’s digital transformation agenda.