Blockchain and Big Data Analytics for Supply Chain Transparency, Sustainability, and End-to-End Traceability in Global Trade Systems

Global supply chains face persistent challenges of transparency, trust, and traceability due to fragmented systems, fraud risks, and regulatory complexities. This chapter explores the integration of blockchain and big data analytics as a transformative solution to these issues. Blockchain ensures immutability, decentralization, and secure transaction records, while big data provides predictive insights, real-time decision-making, and optimization. Their synergy enhances procurement, logistics, and manufacturing by improving authenticity, efficiency, and sustainability. Case studies, including IBM Food Trust and Maersk TradeLens, demonstrate practical benefits in fraud prevention, carbon tracking, and supply chain resilience. Despite barriers such as interoperability, energy costs, and adoption resistance, future directions highlight AI-driven smart contracts, IoT, digital twins, and circular economy models. Overall, blockchain big data integration emerges as a robust pathway to build transparent, adaptive, and sustainable global supply chains.