How do businesses benefit from using Blockchain?
The distinct features of blockchain help with a variety of business problems. Blockchain increases trust, security, transparency, and the traceability of data shared across a business network. Here are 10 important benefits of blockchain
Trust
Blockchain fosters trust between entities where trust is either absent or unproven
One of the most frequently mentioned advantages of blockchain is the facilitation of trust
Its worth can be seen in early blockchain use cases, which facilitated transactions between entities that did not have direct relationships but needed to share data or payments
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, in general, are iconic examples of how blockchain enables trust between strangers
2. Decentralized structure
Blockchain truly demonstrates its worth when there is no central actor to facilitate trust, according to Daniel Field, head of the blockchain at UST, a global provider of digital technology and services
As a result, in addition to enabling trust when participants lack trust because they are unfamiliar with one another, blockchain enables data sharing within an ecosystem of businesses where no single entity is solely in charge
A good example is the supply chain: Multiple businesses, ranging from suppliers and transportation companies to producers, distributors, and retailers, want or require information from others in the supply chain
But no one is in charge of facilitating that information sharing
Blockchain, due to its decentralized nature, solves this quandary
3. Improved security and privacy
Another significant advantage of this emerging technology is the security of blockchain-enabled systems
The increased security provided by blockchain stems from how the technology works: With end-to-end encryption, blockchain creates an immutable record of transactions that prevents fraud and unauthorized activity
Furthermore, data on the blockchain is distributed across a network of computers, making hacking nearly impossible
By anonymizing data and requiring permissions to limit access, blockchain can address privacy concerns better than traditional computer systems
4. Reduced costs
The nature of blockchain can also help organizations save money
It improves transaction processing efficiency and it also reduces manual tasks like data aggregation and editing, as well as reporting and auditing processes
Experts emphasized the savings that financial institutions see when using blockchain, explaining that the ability of blockchain to streamline clearing and settlement translates directly into process cost savings
In general, blockchain helps businesses save money by eliminating the middlemen who have traditionally provided the processing that blockchain can do
5. Speed
Blockchain can handle transactions much faster than traditional methods because it eliminates intermediaries and replaces remaining manual processes in transactions
In some cases, blockchain transactions can be completed in seconds or less
However, times can vary; how quickly a blockchain-based system can process transactions is determined by a number of factors, including the size of each data block and network traffic
Nonetheless, experts have concluded that in terms of speed, blockchain typically outperforms other processes and technologies
6. Immutability
Immutability simply means that transactions cannot be changed or deleted once they have been recorded on the blockchain
All transactions on the blockchain are time-stamped and date stamped, creating a permanent record
As a result, blockchain can be used to track information over time, allowing for a secure and reliable audit of data
7. Individual control of data
According to experts, blockchain enables unprecedented levels of individual control over one’s own digital data
“In a world where data is a very valuable commodity, the technology inherently protects your data while giving you control,” said Michela Menting, research director at ABI Research
Individuals and organizations can choose which parts of their digital data to share, with whom, and for how long, with limits imposed by blockchain-enabled smart contracts
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DISCLOSURE:
None of these articles constitutes financial advice. Articles are highly summarised to make it easy for the reader and save your time, so please DYOR further before putting your hard-earned money into any product mentioned.
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