Blockchain is quickly becoming the technology on which to stabilise many areas of our mechanised lives.
The adoption in the corporate and layman world has been quite startling, considering the backlash received by the crypto currencies in the mainstream media - all of which are built on this exact phenomenon.
The benefits of Blockchain, in my humble opinion, far outweigh the current perceived risks.
The reason I can honestly say that is because I hang out in places where they are researching, developing and testing many new technologies that are all building on what we're learning about Blockchain & related technology's vulnerabilities today. It's a never ending research, testing and development industry which means it's growing. They're working very hard to ensure Your protection on every level at ever point.
The technology world never sleeps and neither do your products when being shipped or distributed from a distance. The Supply Chain industry hinges on it's carefully laid out plan functioning 'just-so'.
Due to human error, tons of paper work and way too much time wasted in waiting or incorrect shipments, the Floral industry for example loses $$$ every year. Along with as much in wasted fresh product being lost due to supply chain cracks.
This cost is not just to the grower, delivery company, or store owner but to the entire ecosystem. The frustrations, stresses and distress that are emitted through broken systems creates strain on the most unthinkable parts of the ecosystem.
Flowers and Bees are long known to need one another.
[Social Impact - We'll leave that one there... ]
Supply Chain: Who benefits the most?
The growers in the current supply chain system of Flowers from pod to purchaser are losing. Their families are losing, their community is losing. Florachain sets out to change that.
With Supply Chain management experience first hand in the industry, both Brian Kanda and Alex Frost founders of Florachain, their ideas seem to have sprung from their frustrations, seem to have come up with a solution. They've gone as far as creating an equitable and streamlined system for every part of the Floral supply chain to ensure that the Blockchain it's built on is a solid entity of fairness throughout.
About BonnieatPi :
I'm addicted to new technology. I devour it all day. This leads me to digesting some amazing new things happening that mainstream folk don't get to hear about. Many of the projects are very advanced in their applications beyond the grasp of most of us. Me included. My interest lies in Social Impact.
In other words : what is this going to do to help & heal the planet, people, plants... ?
My questions go deeper still as I am convinced that technology, used correctly with a conscience, will change the way in which the majority of the people on the planet live. And can do so very quickly. With the right attitude.
My belief is always that I am not alone. That leads me to meet many people who think like me, have amazing knowledge, experience and skills that are synchronized with mine to form quality, conscious and caring partnerships, collaborations and mutual supports.
#FloraChain CEO and Co-Founder Brian Kanda and I conversed on a post on Linkedin which led to a conversation, Skype video and, after a few months of learning to know one another's drive and understanding of our sectors, are now a working partnership where we delve deeply into how Florachain works - in public - so that the system they are working on is the one that will work for the majority of the people involved in the Floral Supply chain.
That's not to say we're ripping them to shreds. What I will be doing is asking the questions I've already asked, have been answered and satisfied my #Pi reasoning. I chose to work with Brian and Alex (and the rest of the FloraChain team) because of their dedication to ensuring that the right people benefit.
Supply Chain on the Blockchain:
Problems within the Floral industry as identified through experience by FloraChain Founders (co-workers, team and along the supply chain):
"
Propagation : no universal database of IDs for floral varieties developed by breeders
Farmers: exact source of flowers is often unknown or unclear
Importer/Wholesaler: multiple marketplaces yet no universal method to exchange product information for buyers and sellers
Sipping / Logistics: no universal tracking method to identity the shipment and/or grower boxes.
Inter-Florist Trade: no agreed upon standard for flower order payments and country specific payments between floral retailers across the world
" florachain.io
The system, like most, is flawed. Still, working on a paper system for accountability makes errors more common than not. Creating a lot of vulnerability to loss throughout the supply chain.
The Floral industry supply chain has been as effective as it could be, within the constraints in place.
Now that Blockchain is able to plug the identified holes in the current system and FloraChain have found the answers to stabilising an industry, which is not only relied upon by us humans due to our fetish for floral festivities, the bees need them too. I'm certain not all flowers are grown indoors?
As insignificant as the floral industry may seem, it has effects on economies globally. Ecuador, Netherlands, Colombia,
Malaysian and Kenya are the main suppliers with global distribution. Their economies benefit to
Value of the global floral trade industry : $104,825,000,000
There are inter-country floral and smaller global distributions all of which will benefit from the increase in ease of distribution of their precious petals.
A few stats which will interest the ICO / ITO / STO Investors looking for the final reason:
Annual U.S. spending on floral products : $26,600,000,000
Total value of cut flower sales : $7,500,000,000
Percent of flowers sold in the U.S. that are imported from other countries : 80 %
I mention STO as the intention is to drive Florachain to STO as the United States of America is clearly a large investor in internationally grown flowers.
The countries mentioned above could all do with a fairer distribution of the funds as well as improved certainties on orders.
I have no doubt the American floral purchasers will appreciate a lower price and longer lasting display.
Flower Growers in US by State:
California : 76 %
Washington : 6 %
New Jersey : 4 %
Oregon : 4 %
Hawaii : 2 %
North Carolina : 2 %
Florida : 1 %
Stats: Source: (Statistics Brain, 2017) Collated by our amazing Researcher at FloraChain
So FloraChain seem to have hit on something quite significant in fixing the problems in a valuable industry.
"That which begins with growing in the ground is the industry which shall be crowned."
The intrinsic value of FloraChain is it's scalability to move the technology it's creating into other industries which suffer equal frustrations.
If you have questions on the social impact or any other queries regarding FloraChain please feel free to comment below or contact the team directly through the website. Please mention #Pi when connecting.