Is the Blockchain the Cure for the Omni-Channel Blues? A Provocation
10 Pages Posted: 18 May 2017
Date Written: May 17, 2017
Abstract
A current trend in both retailing and retail financial services aims to match customers to their purchases with the least amount of friction. For depositary institutions this entails enabling customers to deal with their financial affairs, including purchases, through whatever channel the customer chooses (branch, ATM, web, mobile, etc.). For merchants, it entails shipping and delivering the purchase when and how the customer chooses (in store, at a desired location, at a pick-up point, etc.), while settling outstanding financial claims with the different actors involved in the manufacturing, storage, shipping and distribution network. This essay briefly explores the potential use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) to deliver integrated omni-channel solutions.
Keywords: Blockchain, Omni-Channel, Retail Payments, Cashless, Self-Service, Banking
JEL Classification: L8, G21, 03, E58
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation