German Chemical Company Pilots Supply Chain Blockchain

German chemical giant BASF has revealed it is investigating blockchain's potential in tracking supply chains.

The company quietly announcedhttps://www.basf.com/documents/corp/en/news-and-media/news-releases/2017/07/P277e_Startup%20Autobahn.pdf this week that it has been working with blockchain startup Quantoz and IoT startup Ahrma to trial a platform that uses blockchain technology to track the shipment of goods. The project is part of the Startup Autobahn initiative, an automotive industry-focused accelerator that includes support from automaker Daimler, which is itself experimenting with blockchain.

Presented during the accelerator's exposition day on July 25, the project is aimed to provide information about the position and movement of goods within the supply chain. The idea is that the system could be used to track, say, car parts that go missing, with information about those shipments shared between all points along the manufacturing pipeline.

It's the first known instance in which the chemical giant has explored the use of blockchain, which the firm said arose from a broader process of looking at new technologies for potential applications.

"We believe that big ideas start small. That’s why we work with young entrepreneurs who have the potential to change the future of mobility and production," Jürgen Becky, SVP of performance materials at BASF, said in a statement.

Chemical drums image via Shutterstock