Blockchain for Business: A Practical Guide for the Next Frontier

✍ Scribed by Yannis Kalfoglou

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 203
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book sets out to explain blockchain for the non-technical expert, to decipher the dense technicalities that dominate the field and to present the opportunities for busy professionals using practical applications and case studies.

Presented in a clear and structured way and with documented real-world cases, the book is a practical reference guide that can be used across different industries. It offers both a constructive and critical review of the pain points blockchain is facing today, illustrates the pitfalls as well as the opportunities for business and describes the steps towards overcoming them. It also aims to provide a unique view of both the intersection and synergy of blockchain with other emerging technologies and the wider digital ecosystem, as we see increasingly that blockchain alone won’t be able to deliver business solutions. Most important, the book identifies trends and a path for the future of blockchain and its impact on society as a whole.

The book is written for business audiences across all sectors. It is not a technical guide to blockchain, but it enables businesspeople to be better informed and prepared to plan ahead and develop strategies using blockchain.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication Page
Contents
List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
What is blockchain
How it emerged
Where is it used
Looking into the future
Summary
References
2 Blockchain Smart Contracts and The Future Promise
Going beyond payments
Smart contracts and the law
A decentralized trust machine
The future promise
References
3 Industry Verticals
A blockchain for every industry
Banking
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Energy
Automotive
Government
Education
Retail
Insurance
Transportation
A set of common functions for every industry
Supply chain management
Identity and records management
Financial transactions simplification
Notes
References
4 Visionary Use Cases
EverID – by Brad Witteman
Current issues with identity
Macro-trends and future demand forecasting
So where does blockchain come in?
Why a move to a decentralized, digital identity ecosystem makes sense?
What is needed to create such an ecosystem?
Where does Everest fit in this, and why is it pioneering in this space?
Who are the potential users/clients of Everest?
What is Everest’s road map?
Concluding remarks
MultiChain – by Dr Gideon Greenspan
Current issues with blockchain platforms
Macro-trends and future demand forecasting
What is needed to create such a platform?
Where does MultiChain fit in this space, and why is it a pioneer?
Who are the potential users/clients of MultiChain?
What is MultiChain’s road map?
Concluding remarks
PatentCoin – by Thom Kidrin
Current issues with patents’ infringements and litigation
Macro-trends and future demand forecasting
Why a move to a tokenized patents ecosystem makes sense?
What is needed to create such an ecosystem?
Where does PatentCoin fit in this, and why is it pioneering in this space?
Concluding remarks
Ocean Protocol – by Dr Trent McConaghy
Current issues with artificial intelligence (AI) applications centralization
Macro-trends and future demand forecasting
Why a move to a blockchain-based decentralized AI protocol makes sense?
What is needed to create such an ecosystem?
Where does Ocean fit in this, and why is it pioneering in this space?
Who are the potential users/clients of Ocean?
Concluding remarks
Dhonor blockchain – by Wassim Merheby
Current issues with organ donations
Macro-trends and future demand forecasting
Why a move to a blockchain-based donors’ organ tracking system makes sense?
What is needed to create such an ecosystem?
Where does Dhonor fit in this, and why is it pioneering in this space?
Who are the potential users/clients of Dhonor?
Concluding remarks
Everledger – by Leanne Kemp
Current issues with supply chain and tracking of cherished goods
Macro-trends and future demand forecasting
Why a move to a blockchain-based supply chain for diamond tracking makes sense?
What is needed to create such a platform?
Where does Everledger fit in this space, and why it is a pioneer?
What is Everledger’s road map?
Concluding remarks
Etherisc – by Dr Stephan Karpischek
Current issues with insurance
Macro-trends and future demand forecasting
Why a move to a decentralized insurance ecosystem makes sense?
What is needed to create such an ecosystem?
Where is Etherisc fit in this, and why it is pioneering in this space?
Who are the potential users/clients of Etherisc?
Concluding remarks
Notes
5 Vulnerabilities and Considerations
Seven vulnerabilities of blockchain
Universal adoption
Standards
Scalability
Regulations and governance
Anonymity and the off-chain world
Switching costs
Technology maturity and compromises
Notes
References
6 A Utopian Digital Future
Scenario: “frictionless mobility”
Narrative
Summary of impact
Opportunities and risks
Scenario: “digital farmer”
Narrative
Summary of impact
Opportunities and risks
Scenario: “smart homes”
Narrative
Summary of impact
Opportunities and risks
Scenario: “intelligent healthcare”
Narrative
Summary of impact
Opportunities and risks
Scenario: “autonomous and automated enterprises”
Narrative
Summary of impact
Opportunities and risks
Scenario: “tokenize the planet”
Narrative
Summary of impact
Opportunities and risks
Toward the utopian future
Notes
References
7 Pathfinders
Thematic areas of interest
Platforms and protocols pathfinders
Applications and dApps
Ecosystems and markets
Tokenization pathfinders
Synergies with other technologies’ pathfinders
Black swan events in blockchain
Summary
Notes
References
8 Concluding Remarks
Positioning blockchain in 2021
Key value contributors
Potential blockers
Road mapping and expectations’ management
Index