Blockchain Technology, Supply Chain Information, and Strategic Product Deletion Management

Products and associated materials are important supply chain flows. Product management greatly influences supply chain performance. Supply chain information is also critical for sound product management. Product deletion, rationalization, or discontinuation research is an important dimension often overlooked in product management. It is a critical issue for many managerial reasons, many espoused in this article. Product deletion is typically a multi-staged process including recognition, analysis and revitalization, evaluation and decision formation, and implementation. Each stage requires complicated information and data support from supply chain activities. Failure in information generating, understanding, and accuracy can prove risky for rational product deletion. Blockchain technology may help address information challenges. Blockchain technology provides traceability, transparency, security, accuracy, and smart execution, which can all contribute to the product deletion and rationalization decision. Application recommendations and managerial insights into product deletion decision making processes with blockchain technology are provided.