Untangling the role of blockchain technology in shaping supply chain concentration from the contingency and configuration perspectives

Jinxin ZHANG; Xiaoyan GUO; Zhenyu FAN; Linguo CHEN; Sen LIU; Xuejian YANG

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-33335-6

Untangling the role of blockchain technology in shaping supply chain concentration from the contingency and configuration perspectives

Jinxin ZHANG
, Xiaoyan GUO
, Zhenyu FAN
, Linguo CHEN
, Sen LIU^*
, Xuejian YANG

^*Corresponding author for this work

FACULTY OF BUSINESS

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

This study presents an empirical exploration of the relationship between blockchain technology (BT) and supply chain concentration (SCC) from contingency and configuration perspectives by using a panel dataset of 147 Chinese enterprises that applied blockchain technology from 2019 to 2023. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) results indicate that BT is essential for the two dimensions of SCC: supplier concentration (SC) and customer concentration (CC). Additionally, we find that R&D investment, listed years, and industry type strengthen the BT-SCC relationship. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) further reveals that none of the aforementioned variables independently lead to a high level of SCC; rather, SCC requires a combination of these variables alongside BT adoption. These findings highlight alternative pathways through which different enterprises can achieve high levels of SCC by utilizing BT, a topic that has not been explored in prior research.

Original language	English
Journal	Scientific Reports
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33335-6
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 23 Dec 2025

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https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-33335-6

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title = "Untangling the role of blockchain technology in shaping supply chain concentration from the contingency and configuration perspectives",

abstract = "This study presents an empirical exploration of the relationship between blockchain technology (BT) and supply chain concentration (SCC) from contingency and configuration perspectives by using a panel dataset of 147 Chinese enterprises that applied blockchain technology from 2019 to 2023. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) results indicate that BT is essential for the two dimensions of SCC: supplier concentration (SC) and customer concentration (CC). Additionally, we find that R\&D investment, listed years, and industry type strengthen the BT-SCC relationship. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) further reveals that none of the aforementioned variables independently lead to a high level of SCC; rather, SCC requires a combination of these variables alongside BT adoption. These findings highlight alternative pathways through which different enterprises can achieve high levels of SCC by utilizing BT, a topic that has not been explored in prior research.",

author = "Jinxin ZHANG and Xiaoyan GUO and Zhenyu FAN and Linguo CHEN and Sen LIU and Xuejian YANG",

year = "2025",

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T1 - Untangling the role of blockchain technology in shaping supply chain concentration from the contingency and configuration perspectives

AU - ZHANG, Jinxin

AU - GUO, Xiaoyan

AU - FAN, Zhenyu

AU - CHEN, Linguo

AU - LIU, Sen

AU - YANG, Xuejian

PY - 2025/12/23

Y1 - 2025/12/23

N2 - This study presents an empirical exploration of the relationship between blockchain technology (BT) and supply chain concentration (SCC) from contingency and configuration perspectives by using a panel dataset of 147 Chinese enterprises that applied blockchain technology from 2019 to 2023. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) results indicate that BT is essential for the two dimensions of SCC: supplier concentration (SC) and customer concentration (CC). Additionally, we find that R&D investment, listed years, and industry type strengthen the BT-SCC relationship. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) further reveals that none of the aforementioned variables independently lead to a high level of SCC; rather, SCC requires a combination of these variables alongside BT adoption. These findings highlight alternative pathways through which different enterprises can achieve high levels of SCC by utilizing BT, a topic that has not been explored in prior research.

AB - This study presents an empirical exploration of the relationship between blockchain technology (BT) and supply chain concentration (SCC) from contingency and configuration perspectives by using a panel dataset of 147 Chinese enterprises that applied blockchain technology from 2019 to 2023. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) results indicate that BT is essential for the two dimensions of SCC: supplier concentration (SC) and customer concentration (CC). Additionally, we find that R&D investment, listed years, and industry type strengthen the BT-SCC relationship. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) further reveals that none of the aforementioned variables independently lead to a high level of SCC; rather, SCC requires a combination of these variables alongside BT adoption. These findings highlight alternative pathways through which different enterprises can achieve high levels of SCC by utilizing BT, a topic that has not been explored in prior research.

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-025-33335-6

DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-33335-6

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

C2 - 41436552

SN - 2045-2322

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

ER -

Untangling the role of blockchain technology in shaping supply chain concentration from the contingency and configuration perspectives

Abstract

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