Blockchain technology, among the top five strategic priorities for organizations, says Deloitte

Blockchain solutions are among the top five strategic priorities that organizations are looking to adopt and it gains ground in industries such as fintech and technology, media, telecom, the public sector, science or health, according to the latest edition of the 2019 Deloitte Global Blockchain study. More than 50 percent of the surveyed respondents consider blockchain an essential strategic direction, up by 10 percent compared to 2018. Moreover, four in ten respondents plan to invest in 2019 over five million dollars to develop solutions based on this technology, as shown in the Deloitte Global Blockchain 2019 study.

However, the study also depicts a high degree of caution from many companies, but the results underlines a more mature approach. Companies are no longer enthusiastic about the novelty element and instead they have many practical questions. Even if 53 percent of respondents say blockchain is a priority in their company, only 23 percent of them have taken steps towards implementing such solutions. In addition, 43 percent of respondents believe that technology generates exaggerated enthusiasm.

The study shows a wider spectrum of benefits for blockchain technology users compared to 2018 results. Overall, respondents’ perceptions are changing, as shown by the 12 percent increase in those who want to replace current planning systems with blockchain and pursue several specific benefits, such as increasing security and reducing risks (23 percent of respondents), developing new business models and value chains (23 percent) and speeding up processes in the production or in the delivery phase (17 percent).

“We are witnessing a change – slow, but relevant, however – of the business environment’s attitude towards blockchain. Organizations are shifting from being cautious and moderately interested in such solutions towards being open and even prepared to roll them out. They are less concerned with functionality issues and are looking for answers on how to applying this technology in their companies,” explains Dinu Bumbacea, Consulting Partner-in-charge, Deloitte Romania.

Deloitte conducted the 2019 Global Blockchain survey earlier this year on a sample of almost 1,400 respondents from 12 countries around the world. In Europe, the survey included approximately 400 respondents from Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Luxembourg.