On May 25, the Il Cameron Hotel Complex in Odesa hosted a conference titled “Supply Chain 2.0: Blockchain and Smart Contracts in Commodity Trade and Logistics.” The event was organized by Alexander Varvarenko, owner and CEO of the shipping company VARAMAR and founder of the first global online shipping platform, ShipNEXT.
Speakers from across Europe and Ukraine gathered to share their experience and discuss how they are building strategies around new technologies – and how those technologies are transforming their businesses. Participants represented a wide range of industries and professional backgrounds. Anyone interested in the topic could attend, learn, and perhaps later bring these innovations into their own companies.
The purpose of the conference was to present Blockchain and Smart Contracts from a practical perspective and to highlight how these tools could solve complex challenges, raise business efficiency to a new level, and, most importantly, save both capital and valuable administrative time.
For many, terms like Supply Chain, Blockchain, or Smart Contracts still sound abstract. In simple terms, however, Blockchain is a vast database that operates without centralized control. While some business owners are still hesitant about adopting it, many global corporations are already investing heavily in new technologies to streamline operations. Managing thousands of assets (trucks, vessels, terminals, clients) has become nearly impossible without digital transformation.
Importantly, Blockchain is not limited to transportation. It is being used in commerce, medicine, gaming, and many other industries. In fact, many people are already part of this transformation without realizing it. Take European airports, for example: by simply scanning a passport, a passenger’s identity is instantly verified through blockchain-based systems. In Singapore, some airport terminals already operate with minimal human involvement.
What drives Blockchain forward is critical mass – when large companies unite for a shared purpose. Security and transparency improve dramatically through cooperation and data-sharing.
However, for Blockchain to function properly, several aspects must be examined, understood, and implemented:
– Managing returns and transportation.
– Smart Contracts and tracing. A decentralized ledger verifies that each contract is fulfilled.
– Inventory management. Algorithms connect all parties, managing assets, stock, and payments efficiently.
– Supplier monitoring and KYC (Know Your Client). Understanding your partners is essential, as missing or inaccurate information can seriously harm a business.
– Transparency. True transparency must be viewed from multiple perspectives. Data once thought impossible to share may already be publicly accessible. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for transparent products, and that’s the margin everyone is chasing.
Some businesses may struggle with these changes, but many more are eager to embrace the future – to invest, innovate, simplify processes, and strengthen their competitiveness.
In the supply chain, transparency is not only about pricing – it’s about the movement of assets. A company that uses Smart Contracts across its logistics network achieves full visibility of its supply flow.
Ultimately, Blockchain creates an environment of traceable, verifiable information, building efficiency on Smart Contracts and ensuring inevitable transparency. In other words, without real-time traceability, there can be no truly efficient operating model. These opportunities are like a breath of fresh air, helping businesses work smarter and faster in the near future.
In the maritime field, Garry Stevens, Associate Director of The London P&I Club, explained that the Club’s primary mission is to protect its members. The International Group of 13 P&I clubs operates as a unified network with shared rules and mutual reinsurance. According to Stevens, while the Group sees great potential in blockchain technology, none of the current systems have yet been formally approved. The risks are still being studied.
Meanwhile, Vitaliy Kovernik, Chief Innovation Officer at BKW Group, and Alexander Khyzhnyak, Head of the Digital AgriBusiness Division at Kernel, discussed the key factors driving this transformation – the technological and human dimensions. As they noted, Ukraine continues to face major transportation challenges, making innovation even more urgent.
The conference was not only informative but also provided a valuable platform for CEOs, traders, and guests to exchange views, debate new ideas, and explore how these technologies might shape the future of business. We are grateful for the invitation to this thought-provoking event, where participants from every sector left with fresh insights – and that, after all, is what progress is about.
