Testing the adoption of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management among MSMEs in China

Supply chain (SC) digitalization has become a new trend in the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Blockchain technology (BCT) is a cutting-edge innovation that many supply chain management (SCM) professionals have already adopted. Although studies on BCT have yielded some findings, they do not provide sufficient discussion regarding BCT adoption in SCs among MSMEs. Moreover, the determinants and effects of BCT adoption on SCM among MSMEs remain unclear. This study aims to bridge these gaps by helping understand individual BCT adoption in the SC domain in Chinese MSMEs. Using the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, this study examines the effects of BCT, organizational, and environmental contexts on BCT adoption in MSMEs’ SCs. The findings reveal that cost saving, complexity, relative advantage, top management support, SC cooperation, and government support positively affect BCT adoption in SCM. Whereas, compatibility, technological readiness, financial readiness, and competitive pressure had no significant impact on BCT adoption in SCM among MSMEs in China.