As you find out more about blockchain, you may discover ways it’s already impacting the diamond industry. Certain applications of blockchain may seem obvious to you as solutions for addressing current challenges. However, if you’re uncertain of whether blockchain has a place in the diamond industry or your business, ask yourself the following questions:
Does my business network need to manage contractual relationships?
Do we need to track transactions that involve more than two parties?
Is the current system overly complex or costly, possibly due to the need for intermediaries or a central point of control?
Can the network benefit from increased trust, transparency and accountability in record-keeping?
Would my business benefit from transaction resolution in minutes rather than days or weeks?
Is the current system prone to errors due to manual processes or duplication of effort?
Is the current transaction system vulnerable to fraud, cyberattack and human error?
If the answer to any or all of these is yes, blockchain can provide solutions. The next question is what steps you need to take to implement it.
Identifying speed bumps
Start by examining your current business processes for inefficiencies, particularly steps that are prone to delays, frustration, errors, and duplication of effort. (You may already have some idea based on your answers to the questions above.) More generally, you can ask yourself: “What challenges do I currently face in my security system or business transaction networks?”
Next, consider specific attributes of blockchain that can address those challenges. For example, if a lack of trust is causing friction, blockchain’s shared ledger can provide increased visibility of transaction and asset histories, which can improve trust. If business agreements or rules cause delays, you may benefit from smart contracts — agreements or sets of rules governing business transactions, stored on the blockchain and executed automatically as part of the transaction process.
Where to implement it
When choosing where to apply blockchain in your business, make sure it’s a good fit for what you’re trying to accomplish — an area where it adds real value, as opposed to something you could achieve just as well using a traditional database. The use you choose should pass the following four acid tests:
Consensus: Is it beneficial to have the option of network-wide agreement on the validity of each transaction?
Provenance: Is maintenance of a complete audit trail important?
Immutability: Is it important that the train of transactions be tamper-evident?
Finality: Is there a need for an agreed “system of record” across the business network?
Choosing a provider and platform
Once you’ve determined the where and how of integrating blockchain, you’ll need to decide which provider and platform best fit your industry and business needs. Here are some things to consider:
Do you require a permissioned network (i.e., one in which it’s possible to restrict users’ participation on an individual basis)?
Do you need to know the identities in your business network — for example, to adhere to regulations such as anti-money laundering (AML) or Know Your Customer (KYC)?
Do you have frequent exchanges with others that could be automated and pre-programmed, freeing up valuable time and resources?
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - December 2018. To subscribe click here.