7 Benefits of Blockchain in Ecommerce
Blockchain is a technology that has the potential to revolutionize eCommerce.
Blockchain is a distributed ledger, or database, that allows for transactions to be recorded in a way that's secure, transparent, and permanent. Most people think cryptocurrencies are the only application of blockchain.
While it is true that blockchain is used to record crypto values and transactions, it has uses in several other industries too. Blockchain can be used to create tamper-proof records of transactions and interactions between users, which can be used to create trust between them.
The technology is gaining traction in the eCommerce space because it offers many benefits over other methods of digital transaction processing, including faster processing times and lower costs. Below are seven ways blockchain could transform eCommerce.
Digital Identities
Digital identities are a huge problem, and blockchain is the solution.
Blockchain can help create digital identities for people, products, and places.
These digital identities can be used to verify the identity of a person or product through a system that is based on trust and transparency.
This will make it easier for both consumers and merchants to trust each other since they know that their information is safe from hacking or tampering with by third parties such as hackers or governments.
Faster Payments
One of the benefits of blockchain is that it allows for faster payments. While traditional payment methods can take days or even weeks to process, blockchain can do it in real-time. Payments on the blockchain can be made in seconds, minutes, and even hours!
This means that you can get paid for your goods immediately after selling them. You don't have to wait for your money to clear before getting paid; instead, you can get paid immediately when someone buys an item from you using cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin.
Fewer Costs
When you buy something using a credit card or other payment method, you have to pay the fee associated with it. The same goes for an invoice. When your business has to make payments, they also have to pay fees in order to do so.
However, with blockchain technology, there is no need for any of this. It's possible to send money from one account directly into another without ever having to deal with third parties or intermediaries that charge additional fees on top of them all! That means less money spent overall on transactions and more profit for your company!
Blockchain also allows companies who are using it as a platform for eCommerce businesses like yours because it reduces costs related to customer support by eliminating manual work and reducing errors during processes such as shipping orders or refunds processing time due to these tasks getting automated."
More Efficiency
The technology can also be used to improve efficiency in other areas of eCommerce, such as supply chain management. With blockchain, companies can track their products from the production line all the way to delivery, ensuring that each item is accounted for and that no one receives a faulty product.
Blockchain can also be used for inventory management by creating smart contracts between buyers and sellers (or suppliers). For example, if you order ten widgets from Amazon but only pay for eight of them with your credit card--and then return two of those widgets for a refund--the blockchain will automatically transfer funds back into your account once you've sent back all ten items.
Blockchain can even provide more efficient payment processing services than traditional payment platforms by using cryptocurrency instead of fiat currency (like the dollar). Cryptocurrency transactions take place instantly without any fees attached; this makes them much cheaper than banks or other third parties who charge fees just so they can process transactions on behalf of merchants like you!
Enhanced Security
The technology underlying blockchain is secure, immutable, and transparent. The data recorded on the distributed ledger is unalterable and visible to all participants in the network. This makes it an ideal technology for recording financial transactions, as well as any other type of transaction that requires transparency and security.
By removing centralized companies from eCommerce transactions, you can also significantly reduce your business' risk of cyber-attacks or hacks. In fact, according to IBM Research Report 2019: Blockchain in Ecommerce -- A Trillion Dollar Opportunity 2020-2024, global spending on blockchain in eCommerce will reach $1 trillion by 2024.
Higher Transparency
When it comes to eCommerce, transparency is a must. Ecommerce retailers have a lot of information to share with their customers--who are increasingly educated and well-informed about where their products come from and who's behind them.
Customers want to know about the people behind the products they buy, and blockchain can help you do that by putting your supply chain into the clear for everyone to see. They also want transparency about how their money is spent: if you're using blockchain for payments, then any transactions will be recorded publicly and in real-time.
But what many shoppers really care about is knowing more about the product itself--and when you use blockchain technology as part of your supply chain, you can provide this information in ways that were never possible before.
Better Governance
A blockchain is an excellent way to keep track of the origin of goods, materials, components, and labor in the supply chain. Once a product is created on the chain and recorded in an immutable ledger, it can be traced throughout its life cycle. This means that buyers will know for sure where their products come from and how they were made.
This can lead to improved trust between consumers and brands in eCommerce, which is especially important when selling food products or other items with health concerns attached to them (e.g., if your coffee beans were grown organically).