Sentinel Blockchain Based Supply Chain Management System

Abstract

The global logistics sector is confronted with crucial data reliability challenges wherein traditional centralized systems have a 15-20% manual error rate and are highly susceptible to counterfeiting. In this regard, the current research proposes Sentinel, a decentralized supply chain tracking framework utilizing the Polygon Proof-of-Stake blockchain coupled with smart contracts in Solidity for granting immutability to data governance. It follows a hybrid architecture wherein on-chain cryptographic verification is coupled with MongoDB for high-speed off-chain data retrieval. Extensive performance testing was performed on a simulated supply chain network with 10,000 transaction cycles of creation, transfer, and delivery. It shows that Sentinel has been able to achieve 100% in data integrity, thus rejecting all 500 unauthorized ledger modifications attempted during security stress testing. In terms of efficiency, the proposed framework minimized data retrieval latency to less than 180 ms, which was an improvement of 92% compared to traditional decentralized architectures. Additionally, it minimized the transaction cost to roughly ?0.45/unit, thus offering a cost reduction of about 99.9% compared to traditional Ethereum Layer-1 implementations.

Introduction

The text presents Sentinel, a blockchain-enabled platform designed to improve transparency, security, and accountability in global supply chains. Traditional supply chain systems are centralized, fragmented, and prone to fraud, delays, and disputes. Blockchain technology, introduced by S. Nakamoto and extended by Ethereum with smart contracts, offers tamper-proof, programmable ledgers that automatically enforce agreements and track ownership.

Key technical features of Sentinel include:

• Hybrid architecture: Critical transaction data stored on-chain (Polygon Layer-2) for immutability and security, while bulky metadata is stored off-chain (MongoDB) for high-performance and cost efficiency.

• Smart contracts: Encode business rules for shipment creation, custody transfer, and event updates, ensuring self-execution and immutability.

• Cryptographic identity: QR/NFC codes and blockchain wallets (MetaMask) provide secure product tracking, user authentication, and authorization.

• User dashboards: Role-specific interfaces for Suppliers, Transporters, Warehouse Staff, Retailers, and Customers, enabling real-time monitoring, verification, and interaction.

Roles and workflows:

1. Suppliers create shipments, assign QR/NFC codes, upload metadata, and initiate custody transfers.

2. Transporters authenticate goods, document movement (GPS, environmental data), and update custody records.

3. Warehouse staff verify and inspect shipments, track storage, and facilitate dispatch.

4. Retailers confirm deliveries, display product provenance, and handle returns or disputes.

5. Customers authenticate products via QR/NFC scanning and provide feedback or complaints.

System benefits:

• End-to-end supply chain visibility with real-time tracking.

• Enhanced anti-counterfeiting through cryptographic verification.

• Reduced transaction costs using Polygon Layer-2 instead of Ethereum mainnet.

• Immutable, transparent records with on-chain/off-chain hybrid architecture.

• Scalable and economically viable for high-risk industries like pharmaceuticals and electronics.

Overall, Sentinel integrates blockchain, smart contracts, and hybrid storage to create a robust, real-time, traceable, and secure supply chain ecosystem, addressing inefficiencies and trust issues present in traditional systems.

Conclusion

The process flow analysis of the Sentinel project exhibits a sophisticated system established to meet ongoing issues related to supply chains by creating physical-logistical occurrences that result in an unchangeable record with an on-chain transaction using the Polygon blockchain. This transaction, when completed, establishes a secure cryptographic transaction chain and one source of reliable information for each stakeholder to possess in real time. The technology used includes Shipment smart contracts, interaction via Metamask and a web dashboard to eliminate fraudulent data, eliminate data manipulation, and remove discrepancies based on lack of information. This illustrates the careful consideration given to striking a balance between decentralization, expense, and ease of use. The combination of the Polygon blockchain as the ecosystem to support the technology chosen, the data management plan that supports the tracking of shipments, and the strong signature-based authorization system, form the basis for a solution that is now functionally scalable. In addition, the challenges of onboarding customers and creating a physical-digital connection will be eliminated through the design choices asserted above, as well as the use of process controls. Therefore, the process flow diagrams and analysis presented in this report provide the best representation of a potential Sentinel project, as well as a blueprint for its growth into a more automated, intelligent, interconnected solution.

References

[1] S. Nakamoto, “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” 2008. [Online]. Available: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf [2] Polygon Documentation, [Online]. Available: https://wiki.polygon.technology/docs/home/ [3] IBM Blockchain, “Smart Contracts and Supply Chain Management,” [Online]. Available: https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/supply-chain [4] V. Buterin, “Ethereum Whitepaper,” [Online]. Available: https://ethereum.org/en/whitepaper/ [5] Gartner, “Market Guide for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms,” 2023. [6] D. Yaga, P. Mell, N. Roby, and K. Scarfone, “Blockchain Technology Overview,” 2018. [Online]Available: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2018/nist.ir.8202.pdf [7] A. M. Antonopoulos and G. Wood, “Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and DApps,” 2018.[Online]Available: https://github.com/ethereumbook/ethereumbook [8] The Solidity Team, “Solidity Documentation,” 2024.[Online].Available: https://docs.soliditylang.org/

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Prof. M. S. Burange, Sujal A. Bhugul, Chinmay M. Dipke, Mohammad Alim Md. Mobin, Tushar M. Ahuja, Aman R. Asthana. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.