The blockchain is actually a subcategory of the bigger distributed ledger technology (DLT) family. DLTs are decentralised, trust-less systems designed for value transfer applied in the field of cryptocurrencies and the fintech sector in general.

However, blockchain is now getting wider recognition and continues to gain wider adoption in other fields or sectors, including art, food, fashion and luxury goods.

But what exactly does a blockchain do? How is it different from other technologies?

Here, we discuss the basics of blockchain technology, its features and five ways it can be harnessed to transform traditional business.

 

Features of Blockchain Technology

 

Just like a spreadsheet, a blockchain stores transactions that occur within a system sequentially and chronologically. These transactions involve asset transfers from one account to another in the form of cryptocurrencies.

In a blockchain, every single operation that takes place is recorded. Once this is done, the system makes it almost impossible to alter what’s on record. Because of this, it’s easy to see any changes or movements in the blockchain by looking at the ledger.

What makes blockchain technology distinct from the usual databases used in conventional applications is that a file is organised into interlinked or connected blocks. Each block represents a set of transactions linked to the previous block by a unique system-generated number.

The following points illustrate how blockchain technology works:

 
  • Each blockchain comprises users or nodes (this term usually refers to each user’s device, i.e., a computer, laptop or server) that initiate transactions by signing with a private key. This private key functions like a password and gives its owner access to their assets and functionalities supported by the blockchain.
  • The private key generates a unique digital signature that no one can alter. In case someone attempts to tamper with the transaction information, the digital signature would change. Since the nodes won’t be able to verify the digital signature, unauthorised changes will be rejected or dismissed.
  • Transactions are relayed or broadcast to the verifying nodes, and verifications are done using a consensus algorithm. Examples of consensus algorithms include proof of work (PoW), proof of stake (PoS) and proof of burn (PoB).
  • Once the nodes verify a transaction (i.e., declare it as authentic), it gets recorded in the ledger. The transaction record includes a timestamp and unique ID designed to prevent it from alterations.
  • The transaction information is then stored in a block – much like the way data is stored in a file. When a block’s storage capacity reaches its maximum, it is chained or linked to the previously filled block, and so on.
 

These blocks are added chronologically to the network’s linear chain of data blocks, which make up the blockchain.

 

How Blockchain Can Transform Businesses

The unique features of blockchain technology can potentially change industries and how businesses are run in the following ways:

 

1. Streamlines business processes and builds trust

Trust and reliability are sticky concepts in business transactions – which is why written contracts, conditions and guarantees are put in place. But with blockchain, the level of trust between parties is elevated and companies can do away with the complexities of business agreements. The blockchain is virtually tamper-proof, and validation or verification checks are built into the system.

 

2. Improves security

Blockchain technology is more secure than conventional record-keeping systems, as transactions undergo verification and must be approved before they are recorded in a block. Once approved, the transaction gets encrypted and linked to the previous transaction. These processes and features make it extremely difficult for hackers to access and tamper with transaction data.

 

3. Enhances traceability

Companies that supply products traded through complex supply chains can find it difficult to trace each item back to its origin. But when goods exchanges are recorded on a blockchain, there is an audit trail that shows exactly where an asset comes from and every single step in its journey – something that’s very useful in verifying product authenticity and fraud prevention.

 

4. Enables more efficient and faster transactions

Traditional bureaucratic paper-heavy processes are both time-consuming and susceptible to human error. With blockchain, processes and transactions can be accomplished quickly and more efficiently through the use of a single systematic digital ledger shared among users or participants.

 

5. Reduces costs and documentation work

Blockchain technology reduces or eliminates the need for third parties or middlemen in business dealings. Instead, business owners rely on the data encrypted on the blockchain. This also reduces the amount of documentation work needed to complete a trade or transaction since users have access to a single, immutable version.

Blockchain technology has proven its staying power, and with more innovation and better features, it’s poised to continue transforming the way we conduct business.

But, like all cutting edge innovations, it requires the right I.T infrastructure. If you're ready to bring your IT set-up into the future, talk to us about leasing today.