The famous American company Walmart, which manages the world’s largest network of wholesale and retail trade, filed a patent application for a “smart” blockchain-a system for tracking the delivery of goods.
So, in the application filed with the U.S. patent and trademark office (USPTO), it is reported that the so-called “smart packaging” will contain a device that records into the blockchain all the information about the cargo, including the contents of the package, its environmental conditions, location and so on.
In addition, it is assumed that the system can work in conjunction with another technology that develops Walmart: last year the company introduced the development of the control system of cargo delivery drones — unmanned flying machines, also based on blockchain technology.
In a new patent application Walmart notes that online shopping has created retailers certain difficulties in the organization of supplies and demanded from them an innovative approach to solving this problem. The company emphasizes that the importance of this issue is for perishable products that require special temperature conditions.
“Consumers making purchases online, often want to buy goods, requiring compliance with certain conditions, and in the future want to make sure that the packaging in which the goods were delivered, really reliable,” the document says.
In the application it is noted that the blockchain component is encrypted in the device and will have a “key addresses throughout the chain of custody”, including the hashing with private keys to the addresses of the seller, the courier and the buyer.
Note, Walmart is committed to using the blockchain technology in many areas of business. So, last year she joined Nestle, Kroger and other companies operating in the food industry, to ensure that in partnership with IBM to create an effective system of traceability of products based on the blockchain.
Recall that in December last year with IBM on joint work on blockchain-project ‘ optimisation of international trade, said Japanese transport company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
