Five retailers and brands making good use of blockchain technology
These companies are making great strides in the blockchain space.
1. JD.com
UK startup Everledger has partnered with Chinese retailer JD.com, and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), on an online diamond purchases project.
Through blockchain interoperability technology, the Everledger platform syncs GIA diamond grading information to the JD Blockchain Anti-counterfeiting and Tracing Platform, and provides customers with independently verified diamond certificates and origin information through the JD.com app, as well as on the retailer's mobile and desktop websites.
2. Walmart
Blockchain-powered gamified shopping loyalty platform StormX is now letting its users earn cashback in cryptocurrencies when shopping at Walmart.
They can earn up to 4% crypto back on purchases from the US retail giant, with Diamond members eligible to receive up to 14% on most purchases.
3. Nestlé
Nestlé is expanding its IBM Food Trust blockchain technology platform to the Zoégas coffee brand.
Zoégas fans can now trace select coffee editions back to different origins in Brazil, Rwanda and Colombia.
Consumers will also be able to access information including time and location of harvest, roasting period, transaction certificate for the specific shipments, farmers, via scanning a QR code on the packaging.
4. Alibaba Group
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba leads the way when it comes to global blockchain patent applications, with 1,457 in the first half of 2020.
This is close to its applications for the whole of 2019, which stood at 1,505.
5. Starbucks
Starbucks now allows its customers to trace the origins of its coffee using Microsoft's blockchain solution.
Those buying coffee at Starbucks stores across the US will be able to use a code on the bags to find out where their beans came from, where they were roasted and even get brewing tips from baristas.