The problem BlockTrace solves

"BlockTrace" addresses several key problems in contemporary supply chains:

1. Lack of Accountability: It's challenging to hold parties accountable for their actions within the supply chain.
   Solution: The system enhances accountability by recording and verifying every transaction on the blockchain, creating a tamper-proof record of each participant's actions.

2. Opacity and Complexity: Problem: Lack of transparency and complexity in supply chains make it difficult to understand the journey of products.
   Solution: Sustainable Trace provides a clear and transparent view of the entire supply chain, making it easier to understand and monitor each step.

3. Counterfeiting: Fake products entering the supply chain can harm consumers and undermine trust in brands.
   Solution: The blockchain technology used by Sustainable Trace verifies product authenticity, preventing the circulation of counterfeit goods.

Challenges we ran into

1. Encryption of Data:

Issue: Storing sensitive data on a transparent and decentralized blockchain posed a significant challenge. The inherent visibility of blockchain made confidential information accessible to all users.
Solution: Employed a sophisticated approach involving symmetric encryption techniques. Prior to blockchain upload, all data was encrypted on our backend using a secure symmetric encryption method. This encrypted data was then stored on IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), and the resulting hash was mapped with the user ID on the Polygon blockchain. This comprehensive encryption process ensured data privacy while maintaining the benefits of transparency.

2. Data Mapping:

Issue: Efficiently mapping and organizing data for diverse user roles (manufacturers, distributors, logistics, consumers) in the dashboard proved to be a time-consuming task. The increased volume of requests to our backend server led to performance issues, especially under simultaneous user instances.
Solution: Implemented an optimized solution by leveraging a robust API framework, specifically Next.JS. This framework not only reduced the load on the backend server but also streamlined the data mapping process. By enhancing the efficiency of data retrieval and presentation, we successfully mitigated the performance challenges associated with multiple user instances accessing the system concurrently.