Student to use blockchain to create supply-chain checking app
Traditionally, consumers seek cheaper products at higher value, but now people are more aware of social and moral considerations. Concerns like child labour, sustainability and animal welfare mean the consumer’s need for transparency has increased, and so University of Canterbury (UC) PhD student Pouyan Jahanbin is developing a tool to give people real-time information on products at the point of sale.
University of Canterbury (UC) PhD student Pouyan Jahanbin is using blockchain technologies to develop a tool that will give people real-time information on products at the point of sale.
Pouyan says using blockchain technologies will improve trust and transparency of information and make verifying and sharing it easy.
“With blockchain, data is traceable. The mechanism it uses is very secure, ensuring the data is genuine. Smart contracts are used to verify that the terms of agreement of every transaction are met further ensuring information integrity,” he says.
“We expect this type of real-time information will encourage consumers to make more conscious decisions around the products they buy at the point of purchase.”
Working with AgResearch | Āta Mātai, Mātai Whetū, Pouyan has been gaining an understanding of how participants in the supply chain want to interact with consumers. He is currently exploring consumer requirements, expectations and priorities through a questionnaire and will use this data to inform a prototype to discuss with experts and evaluate for efficiency.