Qualitative study reveals prerequisites for integrating blockchain and identity frameworks into point-of-sale systems, highlighting improved audit integrity and tamper evidence.
Key Points
To determine the technical requirements, standards, and protocols necessary for integrating self-sovereign identity and permissioned blockchain verification into public fee collection point-of-sale systems.
Conducted an exploratory qualitative study using 32 semi-structured interviews with POS operators, revenue accountants, internal auditors, ICT administrators, a regulator, and blockchain experts in Tanzania.
Applied a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis to identify key operational requirements, cryptographic standards, and authentication protocols.
Identified three requirement themes (security and identity management, legal/regulatory compliance, data integrity), two standard themes, and two protocol themes for system integration.
Formulated a conceptual architecture that anchors transaction receipt hashes and Merkle roots to a Hyperledger Besu permissioned blockchain using Quorum Byzantine Fault Tolerance without altering existing POS workflows.