Unlocking Blockchain Potential Through Oracles: Empirical Evidence on Supply Chain Challenges and Performance

This study investigates the positive impacts of blockchain on supply chain challenges as well as its impact on business performance. Moreover, it studies the influence of different types of blockchain oracles, including software, hardware, inbound, outbound, and human oracles, on the relationships between the blockchain, supply chain challenges, and business performance. To achieve the research goals, the study uses survey data and analyzes them through a partial least squares-path modeling methodology. The results show that, while there is no significant direct impact of blockchain on business performance, an indirect and significant influence exists by exploiting the benefits that blockchain has on supply chain challenges. Finally, the findings suggest that the blockchain’s effects can be amplified when it is supported by inbound, hardware, and software oracles; instead, both human and outbound oracles do not render the blockchain technology more effective.