Mercedes-Benz Cars has been working on this project with the US company Icertis , one of the leading providers of enterprise contract management solutions in the cloud. Together they are planning to develop a blockchain for consistent documentation of contracts along the supply chain . Specifically this concerns contractual obligations in relation to working conditions, human rights, environmental protection, safety, business ethics and compliance; the direct contract partners of the corporation are supposed, in turn, to pass these on to their suppliers and ensure that they comply with them. Through publication of the contractual clauses in the blockchain, a transaction log is created for sustainable production among the suppliers. The requirements are clear to all participants in the supply chain. Confidential data is not transmitted in this context.

Mercedes-Benz Cars and Icertis have already developed a prototype, which is now ready for testing in a pilot project. Above all, this will involve installing the application with suppliers and partners and getting feedback from them.