Four out of five executives surveyed by PwC report blockchain initiatives underway

Thursday 27 September 2018 13:16
- China to overtake US as leading blockchain developer within three to five years

- Trust, regulatory uncertainty identified as biggest barriers to business adoption

84% of executives surveyed by PwC, report blockchain initiatives underway – 15% fully live.

The new research from PwC – Blockchain is here. What's your next move? – surveyed 600 executives in 15 countries and territories, on their development of blockchain and views on its potential.

As blockchain rewires business and commerce, the research provides one of the clearest signals yet of organisations' fear of being left behind as blockchain developments accelerate globally opening up opportunities including reduced cost, greater speed and more transparency and traceability.

A quarter of executives report a blockchain implementation pilot in progress (10%) or fully live (15%). Almost a third (32%) have projects in development and a fifth (20%) are in research mode.

The US (29%), China (18%), Australia (7%) are perceived as the most advanced currently in developing blockchain projects. However within three to five years, respondents believe China will have overtaken the US (30%), shifting the early centre of influence and activity from the US and Europe.

The survey reflects the early dominance of financial services developments in blockchain with 46% identifying it as the leading sector currently and 41% in near term (3-5 years). Sectors identified by respondents with emerging potential within 3-5 years include energy and utilities (14%), healthcare (14%) and industrial manufacturing (12%).

"What business executives tell us is that no-one wants to be left behind by blockchain, even if at this early stage of its development, concerns on trust and regulation remain," comments Steve Davies, Blockchain Leader, PwC.

"A well – designed blockchain doesn't just cut out intermediaries, it reduces costs, increases speed, reach, transparency and traceability for many business processes. The business case can be compelling, if organisations understand what their end game is in using the technology, and match that to their design."

Blockchain's biggest benefits will be developed and delivered through shared industry wide platforms. But the study notes that this won't happen without industry specific companies – including competitors – agreeing common standards and operating together.

Despite the technology's potential, respondents identified trust as one of the biggest blockers to blockchain's adoption. 45% identified it as blocker to blockchain adoption: 48% believe its regulatory uncertainty. Concern about trust amongst users is highest in Singapore (37%); UAE (34%) and Hong Kong (35%), reflecting in part the dominance of financial services in blockchain development. Concern about regulatory uncertainty was highest in Germany (38%); Australia (37%) and the UK (32%).

"Blockchain by its very definition should engender trust. But in reality, companies confront trust issue at nearly every turn. Failing to state a clear business case from the outset leads to projects stalling," continues Steve Davies, PwC. "Businesses needs to put more effort into building into their design how they can tackle trust and regulatory concerns."

"Creating and implementing blockchain to realise its potential is not an IT project. It's a transformation of business models, roles, and processes. It needs a clear business case, an ecosystem to support it; with rules, standards and flexibility to deal with regulatory change built in."

One in three of those respondents who reported little or no involvement with blockchain cited the reason for a lack of progress as cost (31%), uncertainty over where to start (24%) and governance issues (14%).

The study identifies four key areas for focus in the development of internal or industry wide blockchain platforms:

1. Make the business case: organisations can start small, but need to set out clearly the purpose of the initiative so other participants can identify and align around it.

2. Build an ecosystem: Participants should come together from different companies in an industry to work on a common set of rules to govern blockchains. Of the 15% of survey respondents who already have live applications, 88% were either leaders or active members of a blockchain consortium.

3. Design deliberately around what users can see and do: Partners need rules and standards for access permissions. Involving risk professionals including legal, compliance, cybersecurity – from the start will ensure blockchain frameworks that regulators and users can trust.

4. Navigate regulatory uncertainty: The study warns that blockchain developers should watch but not wait as regulatory requirements will evolve over the coming years. It's vital to engage with regulators to help shape how the environment evolves.

Vilaiporn Taweelappontong, Consulting Lead Partner for PwC Thailand, adds that Thailand has made significant progress in the blockchain space, both in the public and private sectors. Although adoption still at an early stage of development and is largely limited to the financial industry, it's in line with global trends.

"Going forward, blockchain technology won't be limited to the financial sector, but will expand into other industries. Therefore, it's vital for both enterprises and regulators to work together very early on in adopting this technology to make it sustainable in the long term.

"What's equally important is creating an ecosystem conducive for collaborative learning and building awareness and understanding of emerging technologies. This would help regulators to construct a clear regulatory environment for business to operate. It would also help entrepreneurs to gain a competitive advantage on new opportunities that may come with these technological changes."

Download the study here: pwc.com/blockchainsurvey