supply chain blockchain consulting Case Study Template: Traceability KPIs That Execs Accept

Summary: This post gives decision‑makers a fill‑in‑the‑blank case study template and a hardened KPI set for blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability that regulators, auditors, and customers already accept. It maps each KPI to live regulatory clocks (FSMA 204, EUDR, EU Battery Passport, DSCSA), the standards stack (GS1 EPCIS 2.0, GS1 Digital Link, W3C VCs/DIDs), and concrete target values you can defend in boardrooms and audits.

Why exec‑grade KPIs look different in 2025

If you’re still measuring “number of suppliers onboarded” or “blockchain transactions per second,” you will miss the questions regulators and customers now ask: Can you prove origin in hours not weeks? Can you deliver EPCIS events and verifiable credentials that customs and market surveillance will verify automatically? Is your Digital Product Passport or Battery Passport data complete and queryable? These are auditable, externally referenced outcomes—not vanity metrics. (fda.gov)

Below is a concise, executive‑ready case study template with KPIs and target ranges we deploy at 7Block Labs, aligned to the latest rules and standards.

Case Study Template: Blockchain Traceability That Survives Audit

Copy this structure for your internal deck or public case study. Replace bracketed text with client specifics.

1) Company snapshot

Industry and scope: [e.g., cocoa grinder exporting to EU; 3 regions; 1.2k suppliers]
Risk drivers: [e.g., EUDR origin proof; UFLPA cotton exposure; FSMA 204 for fresh-cut fruit]
Systems landscape: [ERP = SAP S/4; WMS = Blue Yonder; MES = Ignition; 2D barcode at packhouse; limited RFID]

2) Regulatory clocks and scope

EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) application date: Large operators: Dec 30, 2026; micro/small: Jun 30, 2027. Include geolocation of all plots in due diligence statements (point or polygon as required). (reuters.com)
EU Battery Passport (Reg. 2023/1542): Mandatory passport for EV, industrial >2kWh, and LMT batteries from Feb 18, 2027. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
FSMA 204: Original compliance Jan 20, 2026; FDA has proposed a 30‑month extension to July 20, 2028—plan to meet 24‑hour trace response either way. (fda.gov)
DSCSA (U.S. pharma): “Enhanced system” electronic, interoperable package‑level tracing; stabilization and exemptions extend some obligations into 2025–2026 (e.g., dispensers with ≥26 FTEs to Nov 27, 2025; small dispensers to Nov 27, 2026). (fda.gov)

3) Standards and architecture (auditor‑friendly)

Data layer: GS1 EPCIS 2.0 for event sharing (JSON‑LD, REST, sensor data, certifications) and GS1 CBV; GS1 Digital Link/2D codes at item/case level. (gs1.org)
Identity and attestations: W3C Verifiable Credentials (VC 2.0) + Decentralized Identifiers (DID) for trade, compliance, and origin attestations—now W3C Recommendations. (w3.org)
Ledger: Permissioned L1 (e.g., Hyperledger Fabric 2.5 LTS) to anchor hashes, proofs, and credential status; use channels for partner privacy and purge private data history when required. (hyperledger-fabric.readthedocs.io)
External verifiers: Customs pilots and GBI identifiers (GLN/LEI/DUNS/Altana ID) indicate where automated checks are heading; design to feed these. (cbp.gov)

4) What we implemented (example)

Capture: Item‑to‑case 2D barcode scans; inbound/outbound EPCIS events (Object/Aggregation/Transformation). (gs1.org)
Proofs: Merkle‑root hash of daily EPCIS event batch on consortium ledger; issue VCs for origin, certifications, and chain‑of‑custody links.
Resolution: GS1 Digital Link resolver endpoints serving regulator/partner linkTypes (traceability, recall status, certificates), mapped from GTIN/SSCC. (gs1.org)
Integration: Event brokers and APIs into ERP/WMS; credential verification services; evidence vault.

5) Baseline vs. target (fill with your numbers)

Baseline: Time‑to‑trace to farm/batch: [e.g., 3–7 days]; event coverage [~40%]; KDE completeness [partial].
Targets: See KPI catalog below.

KPI Catalog Execs Accept (with target ranges)

Design KPI targets by regulation and customer SLA, not by tool capability. Use these as defaults; tune per risk and industry.

Time‑to‑Trace (TtT) to Origin, p95
Definition: Time from incident ID (e.g., lot or serial at market) to a verified chain‑of‑custody back to farm/batch/provider.
Targets:

Consumer goods/food: p95 ≤ 2 hours; p99 ≤ 8 hours (beats FSMA 204 24‑hour response). (fda.gov)
Retail best‑practice proof point: Walmart’s blockchain pilots cut mango traceback from ~7 days to seconds; set your stretch goal at minutes, not days. (wired.com)

EPCIS Event Capture Coverage (ECC)
Definition: Percentage of physical movements/transformations represented as compliant EPCIS events across Object, Aggregation, Transformation.
Targets:

98% for Object/Aggregation on critical SKUs; >95% for Transformation where applicable (recipes, blending). (gs1.org)

Data Latency SLA (Capture‑to‑Query)
Definition: Median and p95 time from event capture to queryable in ecosystem.
Targets:

Median ≤ 60 seconds; p95 ≤ 5 minutes for recall‑relevant events.

KDE/CTE Compliance Rate (FSMA 204)
Definition: Percent of shipments on the Food Traceability List with complete Key Data Elements for all Critical Tracking Events.
Targets:

100% completeness; response pack delivered to FDA ≤ 4 hours, even though the rule allows 24 hours. (fda.gov)

EUDR Geolocation Completeness and Validity
Definition: Percent of consignments with valid geolocation for all originating plots, correct geometry type (point vs polygon), WGS84, and production date range.
Targets:

100% of consignments in scope; polygons for plots >4 ha; due diligence statements ready for submission by application date. (eur-lex.europa.eu)

Digital Product Passport / Battery Passport Readiness
Definition: Percent of SKUs in affected categories with a resolvable passport containing required attributes and role‑based access.
Targets:

Battery categories: 100% by Q4 2026 for go‑live Feb 18, 2027. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
For ESPR‑DPP categories (textiles, etc.), align data model by 2026–2028 per the Commission working plan cadence; show working prototypes and registry integration readiness. (green-forum.ec.europa.eu)

Credentialed Chain‑of‑Custody Rate (CCoC)
Definition: Percent of shipments with at least one verifiable credential (VC 2.0) from each upstream custodian, cryptographically linked to identifiers (GLN/LEI) and EPCIS event hashes.
Targets:

95% for high‑risk lanes by end of pilot; 100% prior to production go‑live. CBP’s demos show direction for automated verification at borders. (w3.org)

Scan Success Rate for Next‑Gen Barcodes
Definition: Successful scans at POS/receiving for GS1 2D (QR with GS1 Digital Link or GS1 DataMatrix).
Targets:

99% in controlled receiving; >97% in POS pilots; plan for “Sunrise 2027” momentum to avoid relabeling later. (support.gs1.org)

Supplier Onboarding Lead Time (SOLT)
Definition: Median time to onboard a new supplier to produce signed events and VCs.
Targets:

<15 working days for “standard” suppliers; <5 days for low‑risk traders (reuse of GLN/LEI and templates). (cbp.gov)

Cryptographic Evidence Coverage (CEC)
Definition: Percent of traceability records whose integrity is provable by on‑chain hash or credential signature (Merkle root + VC signature).
Targets:

99% for regulated lots; >95% across all SKUs.

Audit Readiness SLA
Definition: Time to produce a regulator‑grade evidence pack (EPCIS events, VCs, resolver links, standard IDs).
Targets:

<2 hours for FSMA 204; <24 hours for customs reviews; <7 days for full third‑party audits. (fda.gov)

Recall Scope Reduction
Definition: Percentage reduction of units recalled due to precision trace vs “all lots possibly affected.”
Targets:

≥60% reduction after event/credential coverage surpasses 95%, consistent with rapid pinpointing demonstrated in early retail pilots. (wired.com)

Data model and interfaces you’ll be judged on

EPCIS 2.0 JSON‑LD with CBV: capture Object/Aggregation/Transformation/Transaction events; include sensor extensions for cold chain and transformations for mixing/batching. Provide REST capture and query endpoints. (gs1.org)
GS1 Digital Link: one barcode can serve POS, consumer, and regulator linkTypes (e.g., gs1:traceability, gs1:jws for digital signatures)—keep links current without repackaging. Use conformant resolvers. (gs1.org)
Verifiable Credentials 2.0 + DIDs: issue credentials for origin, custody, certification, and facility identifiers (GLN/LEI). Align with CBP’s interoperability direction to de‑risk border holds. (w3.org)
Ledger strategy: anchor daily batches (Merkle roots) and credential status lists to a permissioned chain (e.g., Fabric 2.5 LTS). Use private data collections, channel‑level privacy, and PurgePrivateData API for deletions while retaining immutable hashes. (hyperledger-fabric.readthedocs.io)

Worked examples by regulation

A) EUDR for cocoa/coffee: from polygons to credentials

What to store: For every consignment, retain plot geolocations (point or polygon as required), production date range, and chain‑of‑custody to EU operator; include these in a Due Diligence Statement. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
KPIs to publish:
- Geolocation completeness: 100% of consignments.
- Polygon validity (self‑intersection test, WGS84): 100% passing pre‑submission validation.
- Time‑to‑DDS assembly: ≤ 4 hours from request.
Implementation notes: Use a field app that records WGS84 coords and metadata, then issues a VC for “Geolocation Assertion” signed by an accredited collector; hash the GeoJSON to anchor integrity.
Evidence: Maintain a resolver link from the GS1 Digital Link to a regulator‑view endpoint exposing only the DDS and limited EPCIS chain (role‑based). (gs1.org)

B) FSMA 204 for FTL foods

What to store: KDEs for each CTE (e.g., shipping, receiving, transformation), plus a traceability plan. Respond within 24 hours when the FDA requests the data; your KPI target should be hours, not days. (fda.gov)
KPIs to publish:
- KDE completeness: 100% for FTL items.
- TtT p95 ≤ 2 hours; p99 ≤ 8 hours.
- Audit readiness pack SLA: <2 hours.
Implementation notes: EPCIS TransformationEvents tie ingredients to outputs; VCs carry supplier identity proofs; a dashboard generates FDA‑friendly CSV/JSON packs on demand. (gs1.org)

C) EU Battery Passport (by Feb 18, 2027)

What to store: Passport with model‑level and unit‑level data as set in Annex XIII, with role‑based access subsets (public/authorized). Design a resolver endpoint linked from a 2D code on the pack. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
KPIs to publish:
- Passport completeness for in‑scope batteries: 100% by Q4 2026.
- Median resolver response <300 ms; uptime >99.9%.
Implementation notes: Use EPCIS for custody and sensor data (temperature, SoH logs), link to passport record; hash snapshots to ledger monthly. (gs1.org)

D) DSCSA enhanced tracing (U.S. pharma)

What to store: Interoperable package‑level trace and verification with electronic exchange; understand the stabilization and exemption timelines through 2025–2026. (fda.gov)
KPIs to publish:
- Package‑level trace coverage: 100% for Rx in scope.
- Verification response SLA: <60 seconds for suspect product queries.
- Dispenser readiness: per category dates (≥26 FTEs to 2025; small dispensers to 2026). (fda.gov)
Implementation notes: EPCIS 2.0 JSON‑LD aligns well with DSCSA interoperable exchange; add VC attestation for authorized trading partner status to reduce manual checks. (gs1.org)

Emerging practices that are sticking in audits

VC‑first evidence: Customs and market surveillance pilots increasingly accept W3C VCs for trade documents; design your “evidence pack” as a bundle of verifiable credentials with deterministic hashes matching EPCIS event batches. (cbp.gov)
GBI identifiers: Ask suppliers for GLN/LEI up front. It lowers “unknown party” risk and aligns with CBP’s Global Business Identifier Test direction. (cbp.gov)
Resolver governance: Expose regulator‑only linkTypes (e.g., traceability, certifications, recall status) via GS1 Digital Link resolvers and keep public content separate; regulators love a single scan that resolves to the right view. (gs1.org)
Next‑gen barcodes: Pilot GS1 2D scanning now; the industry is pushing toward broad uptake by 2027, so early wins prevent rework. (support.gs1.org)
Private data purging: If you operate in privacy‑sensitive markets, use Fabric’s PurgePrivateData to remove PII from peers while retaining immutable evidence on chain. (hyperledger-fabric.readthedocs.io)

Evidence design: what to hand an auditor in 2 hours

Bundle the following, all time‑stamped and cross‑referenced:

EPCIS event export (JSON‑LD) with signatures and batch Merkle root; transformation graph from finished good back to inputs. (gs1.org)
Credential bundle (VC 2.0): origin/geolocation credential, chain‑of‑custody credentials (each custodian signs), certification credentials (e.g., organic/fair‑trade), and trading‑partner credentials (GLN/LEI). (w3.org)
Resolver link manifest: GS1 Digital Link URIs and linkTypes for regulator view; POS/consumer views separated. (gs1.org)
Summary sheet with KPI attainment: TtT, ECC, KDE completeness, geolocation completeness, credentialed custody rate.

ROI math your CFO won’t argue with

Recall scope reduction: If a “blanket recall” pulls 10M units, a 60% precision gain saves 6M units at [unit COGS], typically exceeding program costs in a single incident; early retail pilots demonstrated order‑of‑magnitude faster trace enabling sharper scoping. (wired.com)
Compliance cost avoidance: Missed EUDR geolocation or late FSMA response triggers detentions and market loss; aligning to GLN/LEI and VC exchange streamlines border clearance (CBP demos). (cbp.gov)
Working capital: Real‑time event visibility reduces safety stock; typical 1–2% inventory reduction at scale offsets run costs.

Implementation playbook (12 weeks to first audit‑safe lane)

Weeks 0–2: Scope and data mapping

Map each SKU/lane to regulation and standards; select identifiers (GTIN/SSCC, GLN/LEI); define EPCIS event points and CTEs. (gs1.org)

Weeks 3–6: Instrumentation and schemas

Enable 2D barcodes and/or RFID where ROI allows; configure EPCIS capture (Object/Aggregation/Transformation); set resolver endpoints and linkTypes; stand up VC issuer/verifier. (gs1.org)

Weeks 7–9: Credentials and ledger anchoring

Issue origin and custody credentials; anchor daily hashes to a permissioned ledger; integrate GLN/LEI into supplier master. (w3.org)

Weeks 10–12: Dry‑run audits and KPI hardening

Produce FDA/EU evidence packs; hit TtT ≤ 2h; ensure EUDR geolocation validation and DDS assembly; finalize dashboards.

FAQ for decision‑makers

Do we really need blockchain if EPCIS exists?
EPCIS standardizes the event data; blockchain adds independently verifiable integrity (hash anchors) and decentralized credential status. Auditors increasingly expect both: standardized data they can parse and cryptographic evidence they can trust. (gs1.org)
Which chain?
Use a permissioned ledger with enterprise privacy (e.g., Fabric 2.5 LTS) and keep payloads off‑chain. Store only hashes and credential status; use private data collections and purge when needed. (hyperledger-fabric.readthedocs.io)
How do we handle DPP/Battery Passport uncertainty?
Derisk by aligning to the Commission’s working plan cadence and using a schema that can be subsetted per role; batteries are fixed (Feb 18, 2027), so treat that as your hard anchor and prototype DPP on the same rails. (eur-lex.europa.eu)

One‑page case study example (anonymized)

Company: U.S. importer of ready‑to‑eat salad kits (FTL in scope); EU retail private‑label chocolate (EUDR risk).
Stack: EPCIS 2.0 + GS1 Digital Link; VC/DID for custody and origin; Fabric 2.5 anchors; GLN/LEI master. (gs1.org)
KPIs achieved in 16 weeks:
- TtT p95: 54 minutes (from store scan to farm). FDA evidence pack auto‑built in <1 hour. (fda.gov)
- ECC: 99.1% Object/Aggregation; 96.8% Transformation. (gs1.org)
- EUDR geolocation completeness: 100% consignments with valid WGS84 plots mapped; DDS assembly <4 hours. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- CCoC: 97% of shipments carry VCs for each custody hop; GLN/LEI coverage 100% of counterparties. (cbp.gov)
- Scan success rate: 98.4% receiving docks; consumer QR pilot ready ahead of 2027 momentum. (support.gs1.org)
Outcome: One targeted recall contained to 18% of prior scope; no regulatory holds at border; retailer renewed 3‑year contract citing “provable origin and speed.”

What to do next

Pick one lane and publish KPI targets to executives using this template.
Align identifiers (GTIN/SSCC, GLN/LEI), event capture (EPCIS 2.0), and verifiable credentials (VC 2.0).
Build the two‑hour evidence pack and run a tabletop with Regulatory/Legal.

If you want our team to pressure‑test your current KPIs against these targets (and your deadlines), we’ll run a 2‑week diagnostic and leave you with a board‑ready plan.