Blockchain technology selection for e-commerce supply chains: A case study using Spherical Fuzzy AHP and SAW

Abstract

Technological advancements have significantly shaped consumer behaviors, particularly in the growing preference for online shopping over traditional retail channels. As a result, disruptions in e-commerce supply chains now directly and critically impact customer satisfaction, making the efficiency and resilience of these chains increasingly important. Blockchain technology (BT), renowned for its security, speed, accessibility, and transparency, has the potential to enhance supply chain operations. This study focuses on selecting the most suitable BT for an e-commerce company based in Istanbul. To achieve this objective, the Spherical Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (SF-AHP) was employed to determine the weights of evaluation criteria, while the Spherical Fuzzy Simple Additive Weighting (SF-SAW) method was utilized to rank the BT alternatives. Findings indicate that ‘Security’ holds the highest priority among the evaluation criteria, with ‘Smart Contracts’ emerging as the most preferred blockchain technology alternative. This study is among the first to implement a combined Spherical Fuzzy AHP–SAW approach for blockchain technology selection within the context of e-commerce supply chains, underscoring its originality and contribution to the existing literature. The results are anticipated to offer valuable insights and serve as a practical reference for both industry practitioners and researchers in the field of e-commerce.