Blockchains are everywhere these days, and slowly they are taking over all the marketplaces. And why wouldn’t it? It offers a lot of applications that can offer a faster output than our traditional network system. But now with all the enterprises looking into blockchain is giving rise to a different kind of marketplace.

Blockchain as a Service or BAAS is another marketplace that’s a big part of the blockchain economy. If you think about it with so many demands of this new technology it was quite evident, wasn’t it? If you are among the blockchain enthusiast, who is looking for a good Blockchain as a Service option then you’ve come to the right place.

Today, we’ll dive deeper into the realm of BAAS and see whether it’s a good choice or a bad one. Let’s start the dissection!

 

Table of Contents

Chapter-1: What Is Blockchain as a Service?

Chapter-2: How To Choose a BAAS Platform?

Chapter-3: Why Should You Look Into BAAS?

Chapter-4: Where Can You Use the BAAS Solutions?

Chapter-5: Popular BAAS Providers on the Market

Chapter-6: Companies using BAAS services

Chapter-7: Are Blockchain as a Service Solutions Not Blockchain?

Chapter-8: Final Words

 

Chapter-1: What Is Blockchain as a Service?

Blockchain as a Service is a unique product from where the consumers can use the cloud-based solutions to build, use and host their blockchain solutions, functions, and smart contracts. In short, these offer fully functional blockchain platforms according to your needs.

Blockchain as a Service companies are kind of like a bridge between the enterprise blockchain platform and the enterprise companies. Typically every enterprise might need more tweaking up than the originally developed platform.

Because usually, these platforms offer a generalized version of blockchain technology and frankly, not all companies can integrate this platform.

Some of the enterprises may need more privacy, and some may don’t. But tweaking the platform up with their very own development team might not be the ideal solution. Furthermore, developers who never developed or worked with blockchain platforms will leave a lot of security loops, and in the long run, it will harm the company itself.

The blockchain is a service is a kind of interesting new marketplace because this marketplace is aiding the integration of blockchain. Furthermore, BAAS is also making it simple, and that’s why more companies are eager to learn and integrate the technology.

Other constraining factors are the operational and complex nature of the technology. Individuals want to adopt but the time and skill for operating, configuring and creating the technology become a deterrent for the mass adoption process.

That’s why many blockchain giants offer solutions through another Blockchain as a Service companies.

Blockchain as a Service: Simply Explained Infographic

How Does BAAS Work?

Blockchain as a Service works relatively simple way. The Blockchain as a Service providers will set up your blockchain implementation, but you’ll need to give them a fee. So, for paying for the Blockchain as a Service, you’ll be actually paying the Blockchain as a Service providers to deploy and maintain your blockchain nodes instead of them.

Furthermore, this process requires the Blockchain as a Service providers to handle the back-end services specifically the complex services for their business and clients.

Moreover, the Blockchain as a Service providers take care of the important blockchain technology artifacts and keep them running up. Furthermore, they also include hosting requirements, security protocols such as anti-hack layering, suitable distribution of resources, bandwidth management and many more.

So, when you are using the BAAS solutions, you will be able to focus on the core business rather than worrying about the network statistics and performance issues.

 

An Example

Let’s start with an example to clear it up. Start thinking the Blockchain as a Service similar to a web hosting company. So, you build a great website, which will get millions of hits every day. But where can you host it? Well, there are lots of options for you to that.

Furthermore, you can always host your website on your own server or computer and take care of the maintenance yourself. Moreover, you can hire additional staff that can look after the website. However, there’s another option.

In this one, you’ll go to a web hosting provider like HostGator or BlueHost, and they can host your website on their server servers. Moreover, you can also take maintenance services from them. So, they will take care of all the responsibilities.

Blockchain as a Service works exactly like this, but here you’ll also be getting a full running network from them.

Hyperledger Cello is a Blockchain as a Service toolkit. With this, you can easily launch your Blockchain as a Service solution.

BAAS might just be the best approach to ensure a mass adoption of blockchain technology across the globe. Moreover, businesses won’t have to hire a workforce to develop and maintain their solution. Furthermore, they can now get the best of the best blockchain solutions without any hassles.

 

A Competitive Marketplace

The Blockchain as a Service frontier is slowly becoming one of the crowded and competitive marketplaces in the world. Not only top BAAS companies but also startups even started to join the game.

Furthermore, with each addition, more and more innovations are taking over the marketplace: different partnerships, collaborations, new generation technology and many more. However, there are some significant reasons why enterprises don’t have enough backup still.

Usually, the permissioned Blockchain As A Service solutions mostly remains in the pilot phase. People are still experimenting with the technology. So even though there’s a lot of demands for the industry-specific blockchain technology, the output or the production of products remain in the low state.

That’s why industries can’t get what they need and using a generalized platform makes it even more worse. The limited production rate of permissioned BAAS remain low for two great reasons –

• Immaturity in Operation: Managing the full cycle of permissioned solutions will always be an expensive option. Moreover, the tools for scaling, monitoring and developing remains too complex and need skilled personnel to control them.
• Mission Critical Application: Many pilot projects focus on mission-critical and complex enterprise applications such as trading or supply chain management. While there’s no doubt that the Blockchain as a Service solution is perfect for these applications but replacing the existing network will also be quite tough.

In the current marketplace, permissioned Blockchain as a Service remains a need, and many use immature networks without even testing it out for that particular industry. Furthermore, this gives rise to loopholes and coding errors.

And so, the ability to come up with a new idea, experiment quicker and slow incrimination become an important factor in BAAS. Blockchain as a Service certainly wins for bringing the first enterprise exposure of blockchain.

Want to know more about Blockchain Technology? Try out our Blockchain Fundamentals Presentation and Join our Webinar course now!

 

Chapter-2: How To Choose a BAAS Platform?

Often when enterprises look for Blockchain as a Service, they typically make two types of mistakes. These are –

• Rely on the Existing Cloud Provider

Maybe you already have a cloud provider that is backing up your internal networking system. However, running your blockchain solution on that cloud provider might be tempting, still not a good idea at all. Basically, the support the blockchain system needs is too much, and cloud providers can’t take that much load.

Also, these cloud providers have to change their technical aspects to make sure the blockchain solutions run smoothly. Furthermore, this is not the case in reality as many enterprises chose their already existing cloud providers instead of Blockchain as a Service providers.

 

• Rely on a Large Network Integrator

Most of the pilot projects of Blockchain as a Service follow the typical advice and knowledgebase of the large system integrators. Furthermore, the knowledge base of those large integrators is limited to tier1 stacks like Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum. That’s why the potential of the true blockchain environment remains in the dark, and no one extends the level of features in these solutions.

Moreover, it’s quite rare to see mission-critical technologies to power the entire enterprise architecture because they are only a startup. So, the big industries scope up the option for the startups to grow and offer Blockchain as a Service as well.

In reality, a strong understanding of the blockchain protocols, frameworks, and tools is much more important than just vertical expertise.

 

Selecting the Right Blockchain as a Service Architecture

Before you jump into Blockchain as a Service integration, you need to see which provider offers the right type of solution for you. There are some special features to look for in the ideal Blockchain as a Service providers. Therefore, you should always check these out before committing to them. Let’s see what they are –

 

Basic Features

• Rapid Provisioning

Rapid provisioning is actually the ability to deploy any blockchain networks quite rapidly without any issues.

The Blockchain as a Service companies are always under loads of pressure to install, deploy and manage the environment efficiently and quickly. Furthermore, the environment needs additional support, but the variation of the database, browsers, firewalls, application servers, and hardware make it difficult to achieve. Typically these are the few issues that the Blockchain as a Service companies need to overcome –

• Complicated, arduous and error-prone installation, which takes up days to get right.
• Network environments are too difficult to support and administer.
• New tools that need to be provisioned immediately after the launch.
• Inflexible systems and environments that are too difficult to integrate.
• Inconsistency in a deployment that drifts away from the standard.
• Not enough hardware support for all the projects.
• Configuring features between production, testing, and development.
• Patching up thousands of environments.

To avoid all these problems, you need to look for Blockchain as a Service provider that offers quick and economic deployment, testing, staging, and good production line without making any errors. There are some great Blockchain as a Service companies that let the user to –

• Rapidly deploy the blockchain network without too many faults.
• Offer good backup solutions in case of any emergencies.
• Quickly add up new additions to the platform without any server fails.
• Offer technical support in case of self-deployment.
• Roll back to the previous version in case of any bugs or loopholes without hurting any data.
• Takes very little time to deploy such as 10-30 minutes.

So, make sure when you choose your BAAS provider, they need to have rapid deployment facilities.

 

• Backend Services

Every enterprise comes with its unique need for backend services. Developing the oracles for that integration becomes a hurdle for the companies. That’s why the Blockchain as a Service providers need to offer backend services such as integration of popular features and mainstream technologies.

Typically, any enterprises need to have at least some of the followings from their Blockchain as a Service providers.

Data Security:

It’s a requirement for making sure the application data and user data stay within the boundaries of the platform.

Process Control/Tighter Resource:

A scalable environment is always crucial because it needs to keep maintaining the original performance all the time. Furthermore, the environment needs to have guard mechanism from any hacks, controlling data flow, computing resources, active monitoring tools and so on. These are some of the few process controlling requirement of the enterprises.

Costing Control:

We know that most of the typical SAAS come with a subscription rather than licensing it one time. But typically BAAS doesn’t come like that. Furthermore, they usually include cost-cutting solutions. However, you need to see whether the costing comes with hidden expenses or not.

Integration:

Usually, enterprises already run on a typical network layering where there should be multiple layers of the data sources, processes and workflows. Moreover, the backend services should be able to get integrated into this architecture. Therefore it can support a wide range of application without changing the old legacy network.

 

• IAM Platforms

The original purpose of any permissioned network is the ability to permit users for certain information or layers. If you integrate an identity management platform, then your blockchain network would be tightly secured. You can grant permission to individuals with that kind of status.

Obviously, not every single employee in an office have access to internal sensitive information, do they?

IAM or identity and access management is a type of framework for enterprises that facilitate the management of digital or electronic identities. Furthermore, the framework includes all the policies to manage the identities and also offer technical support to store them.

With IAM platforms, you will be able to control the user access for critical information within your organization. Moreover, identity and access management always offer control system built on role-based architecture. This helps the administrator to regulate access all over the network and identify any bad players.

In reality, usually these accessing means the ability to write or read a specific data or task, sometimes even viewing or creating also falls under the niche. Moreover, you can assign roles based on their job authority, competency, and responsibility within your organization.

You can use a single sign-in format or even use multiple authentication processes to give users access. As you’ll be dealing with authentication, you would have to store all the identities and manage them in a secure place.

Furthermore, the IAM integration also helps out in ensuring that you only share what’s needed not everything else.

So, you need to look for the IAM framework integration with the Blockchain as a Service solution.

 

• Smart Contract

For business logic, you would need a smart contract mechanism to be a part of your network system. However, as the platforms are immutable, it makes the deployment and testing process of smart contracts quite foreign for the developers. That’s why you need to make sure that your Blockchain as a Service companies offers the smart contract integration with the deployment.

Smart contracts are one of the most important parts of any Blockchain as a Service solution. Mainly because they are a great way to enforce an agreement between parties. In simple terms, smart contracts are a special kind of digital contract that directly controls the transfer of assets or documents between users under certain rules.

Furthermore, the best part is that the smart contract doesn’t only define the rules like typical contracts, but it also enforces the penalties in case of any rule breaking situation. However, the term smart contract is a bit farfetched because they aren’t legal contacts nor they are smart.

The users using the contract will just take everything into account and make sure the code runs fairly.

Furthermore, we believe that smart contracts will potentially become a legal contract if we can rule out certain conditions. We’ll probably see a fusion of the smart contracts and legal contracts to make everything digitalized. Moreover, they can also be accepted by law enforcement.

But at present, you can’t confuse smart contract with legal contracts because the law enforcement or courts don’t accept them.

 

• Different Frameworks and Runtimes

Okay, you got a quality Blockchain as a Service architecture from your BAAS company. But maybe now you want to change the initial type of blockchain platform and move on to another one, how will you do that?

Typically there isn’t many Blockchain as a Service companies that offer versatility when it comes to blockchain frameworks. However, you need to have a choice in case of choosing the perfect framework. Some Blockchain as a Service companies even offer only one kind of enterprise blockchain deployment. Furthermore, this limits the opportunity for you to get the desired type of framework you need.

Other than there some Blockchain as a Service companies that offer minimalistic tools set to further tweak up the framework. There should always a variety of toolset available at your disposal if you want the ultimate flexibility in deploying a BAAS solution.

Go for a BAAS that offer first class support for a diverse set of frameworks and runtime. This way you’ll get the ultimate taste of flexibility that your enterprise needs.

 

Advanced Capabilities

• Identity-Based Consensus Mechanisms

Seems a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it? The typical consensus mechanisms we see are practically Proof of Work or Proof of Stake. However, there is more consensus mechanism to reach an agreement between the users.

PoW or PoS actually doesn’t offer the necessary amount of scalability that the enterprise-grade actually needs. These mechanisms are absolutely unnecessary and computationally intensive consensus protocols.

The Blockchain as a Service companies should introduce a consensus mechanism that doesn’t depend on the computational aspect. Typically these mechanisms are lightweight such as Proof of Authority.

Furthermore, these identity-centric consensus models can scale up the network and enterprises can truly integrate the technology. Thus, look for identity bases consensus solutions as all the enterprise will operate with known identities.

 

• Permissioned Blockchains

Permissioned blockchains are a must for a Blockchain as a Service providers. Basically because of the need for privacy. Yes, there are typically a handful of permissioned blockchain networks on the market, but there are also public solutions too. Public solutions offer a lot of features. But they aren’t suitable for enterprise-grade integration.

You might want privacy, but popular public frameworks can’t give you that. One of them is the Ethereum platform, although they are super popular; still, they can’t offer proper applicability within corporations. That’s these have to move to private or side-chain support.

But many issues limit the private chain options in these frameworks. So, try to go for a permissioned Blockchain as a Service solution rather than public ones.

 

• Block Monitoring and Explorer Tools

So, now you have a blockchain network, but if you don’t manage it how can the system run properly? Not every enterprise is eager to have managed network architecture because of the need for privacy. Obviously, trust is the big issue here and trusting other parties from your Blockchain as a Service companies might be a bit far-fetched.

In reality, you’ll want to manage or monitor from your organization. But to do that you’d need monitoring and exploring tools to maintain the overall health of your BAAS solution. Monitoring tools such as explorer will let you know how the nodes are working or if there’s some form of error on the ledger.

You can also use these tools to see whether a node is trying to cause harm in the ledger and tamper with the information. Although they would not be able to harm the ledger system, still with the help of the monitoring tools, you can quickly assess which one is the bad player.

Other than this, some performance checking tools will let you know how much capable your blockchain solution really is. Furthermore, in case you added a new feature you can just quickly check the health and see how it’s doing.

It’s convenient and super easy. So, make sure you Blockchain as a Service companies offer you the necessary monitoring and exploring tools.

 

• Blockchain-First Services

There are some blockchain-First services available on the market; you should see whether your BAAS provider offers it or not. However, it’s an optional case. Technologies such as ENS, Metamask, Truffle, Swarm, BigChainDB, IPFS and many more offer some innovative solutions. Blockchain as a Service companies at present does not cover these technologies.

If you want you can look into these technologies in your BAAS packages. However, it’s completely optional as you won’t find many Blockchain as a Service companies that really offer these solutions.

 

• Private Transactions and State/Side Channels

Your BAAS Company should be able to offer you private transactions and even side/state channels. Many of the computational load happens on the off-chain or private chain. However, there isn’t many Blockchain as a Service architecture that supports these off-chain applications.

Furthermore, this somehow limits the scalability as the load in the main chain becomes too much and you end up with a slow network. So, make sure you know whether your Blockchain as a Service architecture supports the private chain transactions or not.

 

Other Factors to Consider

Now you know about the ten factors you should consider to know whether the Blockchain as a Service architecture you wanted is ready for your organization or not. We’ve noted down both basic requirements and advanced requirements which are basically relevant with the real world use cases.

The major part of the permissioned blockchain is based on either Ethereum or Hyperledger. Furthermore, these blockchain solutions are capable of taking on any type of real-world applications.

However, there are few of the factors that can be a great baseline to know about the technical viability of the Blockchain as a Service architecture. These are –

Implementer Community

Many enterprises need premium quality solutions, and for that, they require professional grade services. The implementer community of the Blockchain as a Service providers need to have professional personals that can easily attain the complex solutions for the enterprises.

A strong implementer community within a BAAS will streamline your deployment much faster. Moreover, it’s a perfect indicator of how great the provider is. Furthermore, their market equivalence will also be quite sophisticated.

 

Developer Community

Obviously, you would want the best of the best developers for your deployment. Furthermore, a good developer community will always give an excellent output. Usually, they can harness all your needs within the framework without any errors in coding.

Thus, you won’t have to worry about the viability of your Blockchain as a Service architecture because the developers will take care of everything.

If your BAAS company offer a good developer community, then you should definitely go for them.

 

Customers

The best way to pick out Blockchain as a Service architecture is to look for a strong fan base. In reality, the companies that can offer the most advanced and hassle-free solution will have the most customers. You can also see a lot of testimonials that can vouch for their legitimacy.

Even though there are a lot of pilot projects, there’s nothing like a customer ecosystem for evaluating their market worth. Therefore, a BAAS provider with good customer fan base is a sign of great quality services.

 

Blockchain Innovation

Is Blockchain as a Service architecture only just a medium for vendors to offer blockchain technology to organizations? Don’t they ever introduce any innovations? BAAS solutions vary from provider to provider. So, the output might not be the same for same Hyperledger deployment from different vendors. Thus, innovations in this marketplace can create a more different type of Blockchain as a Service architecture for your organization.

Innovations of their own might be a great catch in case of any blockchain deployment.

 

We know evaluating the marketplace with the press releases, level of activity or funding rounds isn’t the best way to look for a Blockchain as a Service architecture. That’s why using the guideline earlier you’ll be able to evaluate both technical and market popularity.

We’re pretty sure it will definitely help you out to filter the perfect vendor for your need.

 

Chapter-3: Why Should You Look Into BAAS?

There are quite some great reasons why you should look into Blockchain as a Service. We’ve previously explained how the blockchain development service can be a great option to invest for future integration.

But if you are still skeptical about the reason, then check out the following. We are pretty sure they are more than enough to convince you. Let’s start!

Baas: Reasons for Use and Popular Applications Infographics

• Easy and Open

The blockchain development service offers an easy solution to your complicated deployment. Developing a blockchain is not a piece of cake. Furthermore, you’d need to have the perfect team with developers’ marketer and governors to look after the platform.

Just one tiny mistake can make the system incapable of using. But the blockchain development service can deploy new networks every minute! Furthermore, they are simple to deploy and won’t take more than a few minutes to get started.

Who wouldn’t want that?

 

• Efficient and Flexible

The best part of most of the blockchain development service is that they offer a wide range of consensus algorithms. Moreover, these consensus algorithms are necessary if you want flexibility in your technology. This is why many BAAS solutions can offer 5000 per second transitions.

Moreover, other power tools such as flexible switching protocols, dynamic joining, and physical resource management are enough to make the solutions efficient. You won’t get this much flexibility from typical solutions.

 

• Cost-Efficient

How can we forget about the costing of the whole deployment? Usually, the blockchain development service costs lower than deploying your very own solution from scratch. If you want to develop your own technology, then you’d need to hire employees who are expert in that field and depend on then for the rest of your carrier.

Nowadays these costs up way too much than the average managed platforms. Furthermore, the blockchain development service will also only take money for the features you are using. There aren’t any hidden costs in most cases.

 

• Privacy Protection and Robust Security

With the help from the blockchain development service, you can manage all permission level, nodes, and keys from one single control panel. In reality, almost every single BAAS provider offer the control panel for easy access.

The encryption process of the ledger information also adds up more security and will ensure supreme privacy. Moreover, the cybersecurity in these solutions is remarkable as they don’t let any external or internal fraudulent activity happen.

 

• Management System

If you are the owner of an enterprise, it’s quite natural to want to be in charge of everything. To help you out in this regard, many blockchain development services offer management access to the network. Furthermore, they also offer the governance process so that you can ban people for illegal activities.

These systems are much needed for any enterprise that wants to change its internal networking system with blockchain.

 

• Managing Tools

You’ll get a wide range of managing tools with the blockchain development service. Furthermore, these tools help out to monitor or check the performance of the network. Moreover, there are also builder tools which you can use to tweak up the platform in any way. Mostly these tools are a great option if you have a developer in your team.

 

Chapter-4: Where Can You Use the BAAS Solutions?

Global Transactions

Previously financial industries were the first to ever consider blockchain financial service. Blockchain as a Service is fully capable of handling all their networking burden. That’s why the global transaction is one of the best Blockchain as a Service use cases.

Now with BAAS solution, you will be able to make cross border payment, which will in return give the financial sector a massive boost.

Furthermore, the instant transaction process is awfully fast, and you won’t have to wait for several days to process the payment. In reality, it only takes 10 seconds or so to send the payment.

Blockchain as a Service IBM is one of the prominent examples of this use case. IBM launched World Wire, and with that, anybody can clear up the cross border payments. Usually, they offer –

• Speedy money sending options.
• Greater efficiency.
• Reduced costing.
• Security-rich environment.
• Massive transparency

Furthermore, its super simple to use and you can integrate it in any kind of organization. So, you’ll be able to enjoy the luxury of saving time.

 

Trading

Trading is another one of the great blockchain as a server use cases. Every year, more than $18 trillion luxury items are shipped using any kind of trade finance companies. That’s a huge marketplace and Blockchain as a Service can make it run more smoothly.

In reality, what this sector needs is to have more control over the whole process. Moreover, Blockchain as a Service can really shine here.

A great example of this would be TradeLens. TardeLens is a Blockchain as a Service technology with stakeholder inputs and grounded rules. Furthermore, it’s a modern modular network system that can deliver a great deal of efficiency.

The platform has over 150 organizations to back them up. Moreover, the benefits are huge such as no paperwork, higher efficiency, trust and transparency and many more.

Furthermore, the network is fully secured, and everyone is free to see their information. So, only they will have access to it, which is great because it preserves privacy.

 

Food Safety

We are pretty sure you along with everyone else is concerned with food safety issues. The massive farming channels are growing large quantity of foods, but to do that they are harming the quality of it. Processed foods are common, and they have the least amount of nutrition we need. Furthermore, the chemical components for longer shelf life make them more dangerous for us to eat.

But how can you provide a good solution for this awful problem? Well, Blockchain as a Service use cases will come in handy in this regard. Furthermore, with the help of these solutions, the companies can track down the food material and evaluate the quality of food before marketing it.

Blockchain as a Service IBM is offering one of the wonderful solutions – Food Trust. Food Trust will let you know the quality of your raw material from the starting point to the end product.

Furthermore, it will also offer –

• Food safety accountability
• Food freshness, even after production
• Promoting brand trust
• No food wastage
• Increase sustainability
• No scoop for food fraudulence

 

Supply Chain

It’s one of the crucial Blockchain as a Service use cases. In reality, BAAS can really shine in supply chain management. Furthermore, many of the blockchain development services offer attractive features such as –

• A secure and private ledger system.
• Visibility for every step of the supply chain process.
• Validating data with smart contracts along with enforcing agreements.
• Accurate information and it’s non-changeable, this way it can quickly spot the bad player.
• Increasing revenue.
• Cost cutting solutions in every stage.

 

Usually, supply chain industries suffer from a major issue – the lack of proper traceability. Furthermore, it’s quite normal to produce a bulk amount of products in every segment, but to keep track of each one of this was quite impossible.

As a result, many products go missing or get replaced by counterfeit products. Furthermore, this in the long term damages the reputation of that brand.

To deal with the situation Blockchain as a Service, IBM is working on solutions specifically for supply chain management. Moreover, the platform offers transparency and traceability, which are two of the major needs of this sector.

 

Retail

Retailer industry is another popular Blockchain as a Service use cases. Why? Well, it’s because retailers always have to fight off counterfeit products so that their customers can get the authentic products they deserve. However, with very little success rate they are unable actually to fight off the counterfeit marketplace.

Blockchain as a Service in this point can offer a lot of security measures and help fight off the counterfeit products.

Some major players in this realm are Alibaba and Walmart.

Walmart is one of the top retailer giants on the market, and at present, they are really interested in BAAS. In everyday operation, they are using blockchain services from IBM to manage and track all of their goods. Furthermore, they are also trying to digitize all the processing of buying goods and payments.

On the other hand, Alibaba wants to stop theft issues. Every year, many products get stolen from their warehouse or production line. Moreover, to stop this, they are using blockchain based solutions. Furthermore, the company is looking into enterprise-grade BAAS.

 

Governmental Services

Blockchain as a Service use cases are perfect for any governmental services. Typically governmental institutions are really coming short on digitization. Furthermore, citizens deserve better privileges and rights, but due to running on legacy networks these institutes can’t offer it.

As a result, it’s becoming a burden for the governmental services to keep up with the demands.

However, special services such as blockchain financial service or any other service can help streamline the process of digitization of a government. Moreover, shifting everything on the ledger system will ensure a paperless society without any illegal tampering or paper trails.

In reality, many governmental services are collaborating with the Blockchain as a Service providers.

Securing digital IDs of every citizen and streamlining payments such as land, mortgage leasing or any other kind of payment is just a few of the possible applications.

Countries such as Chile, Estonia, Dubai, and Israel are already looking into their blockchain implementation.

 

Intellectual Property

Just think of a situation. You are a photographer, and you sell your work for money. Moreover, you use the social media platform for marketing your photography skills, but many are using your work without your permission, and you are not even getting paid for those. Does that seem like a good solution for you? Obviously not!

However, this is the usual case for artists, inventors, musicians, and designers. Furthermore, to put a good impact on the marketplace, they need better security for their intellectual property. In reality, there are lots of companies that patent or trademark intellectual properties; however, their databases are really backdated.

That’s why you need to use blockchain to patent your work so that no one can illegally use that. Moreover, with the blockchain financial service, you can easily keep track of your properties and get the payment you deserve.

 

Healthcare

Healthcare institutions can easily leverage all the benefits of Blockchain as a Service use cases. Typically, lots of investments go into this sector, but with very less prominent results. And why is that? Well, it’s because many people exploit the lack of transparency in the industry. Moreover, they will target the vulnerable points and take advantages.

Another major factor, in this case, is the counterfeit drug issue. Fake drugs are not something we would want to swallow every day. Furthermore, many people suffer from serious diseases for taking fake drugs. The market is growing, and the pharmaceuticals can’t do a thing about it.

To help out, this sector can really use the Blockchain as a Service application. Moreover, blockchain financial service can overlook the payment process, and the ledger platform can track and offer immutable information.

If they come together, no one will be able to do fraudulent activities.

 

Oil and Gas

It might seem like a bit of a weird Blockchain as a Service use cases, but oil and gas niche is one of the biggest enterprise industries. Moreover, multiple sources claim that BAAS would be perfect for this sector. Additionally, freight payment and auditing processes need a proper networking base to streamline.

In a simple context, Blockchain as a Service can improve the efficiency no matter which route it takes into account – Plain, Ship, Truck, and Rail. Furthermore, oil companies can come up with the best possible route and reduce costs to a great extent.

However, everything depends on the accountability of the data. So, once the data is in the ledger no can change or alter it and both the carrier and shipper would see it.

According to Accenture, BAAS solutions for enterprises can save up more than 5% of the cost. That’s why many oil giants are now exploring the idea of the blockchain.

 

Real Estate

Real estate market isn’t doing that great these days. In reality, it suffers hugely from poor liquidity along with too much costing and not enough output. Nowadays it has become a luxury item that only the rich people can invest in.

Furthermore, to balance this situation real estate companies need to utilize the Blockchain as a Service use cases. BAAS platforms can offer the necessary amount of liquidity the niche needs.

There are multiple occasions where real estate companies are using blockchain to track the marketplace. Moreover, they are also ensuring better customer satisfaction and convert every land to digital land.

Using that people would be able to invest in fractional ownership and they can easily buy and sell the lands wherever they want. So, in this way, the liquidity in the market will come back.

 

Humanitarianism

Blockchain as a Service use cases can really leverage all the applications in this niche. To you, this sector might seem like far-fetched, but this sector also needs attention. Every year, millions of dollars go to charity industries for humanitarian works, but do they really go to the people in need?

Sadly, no. Humanitarian industries suffer from one of the biggest fraudulent activities of all time. Moreover, many people try to tamper with the paperwork and make it look like they are giving the money to the poor. However, only a handful of people gets help even though they have more than enough donations coming in every day!

To help put a stop to all the bad players, this industry can use the power of blockchain financial service. Using the solutions form BAAS providers they can harness the immutability. Donations will come in through the ledger, and no one can tamper with them. Moreover, they can also track down where the donations are going.

 

Insurance

Another industry is falling behind in the technology race game is insurance. Insurance companies have to deal with too many paperwork and money trails every day, which is kind of overwhelming. Furthermore, every time someone claims their insurance the company has to send their employee to check whether the claim is true or false.

Moreover, this process takes up a lot of time and cause more trouble for both the consumer and the company.

Other than these, these companies also exploit their customers by not being completely honest. Usually, there are a bunch of loopholes in insurance policies, and for these, many customers are deprived of money.

So, to put an end to it, they need to leverage Blockchain as a Service use cases. With the integration of blockchain, they can use the blockchain financial service to lock in the agreement. Many Blockchain as a Service providers are capable of offering this solution.

Furthermore, with everything being automated and out in the open you can easily claim your insurance without any delays.

 

Media and Entertainment

The entertainment business is one of the crucial and biggest sectors in our community. In reality, participation in media and entertainment is quite easy because of social platforms like YouTube. However, even on YouTube, the treatment isn’t fair.

Even though the online platform has many rules but still there is much unfairness for YouTube artists. Moreover, they don’t get exposure for their work.

Furthermore, the situation is extremely discouraging, and many great artists don’t promote their work as they should. But with the Blockchain as a Service use cases on the mix the media industries can truly turn it around.

They can track all the records from the artist and can also distribute their revenue more carefully using the blockchain financial service. Moreover, preserving their rights using the platform is also applicable. Furthermore, they can use a smart contract feature to instantly pay the artist whenever someone buys or sees their work.

 

Travel

Last but not the least travel industry is quite popular in terms of Blockchain as a Service use cases. We’ve seen many airports to work with blockchain providers and to be frank; they do work really great. Airports are keen to use the new technology, and with the providers, they get a good deal.

Furthermore, the travel industry wants to revolutionize the passenger processing system using the tech.

Using a single database to add up all passenger identification is a great solution because this way passenger won’t have to wait for hours in a border crossing situation. Moreover, without any documentation and everything being digitized people won’t be able to forge passports and pass through.

The British Airway is currently using the tech to see how the system works. They are sting all the incoming and outgoing flights and schedules for greater accuracy. At present, they recorded more than 2 million flights without any issues.

 

Chapter-5: Popular BAAS Providers on the Market

Baas Providers and Real-World Examples Infographics

 

1. Microsoft

You obviously heard about Microsoft – the tech giant ruling the marketplace. But we think you’ll be more pleased to know that Microsoft did join the BAAS provider league with their platform. So, now they offer solutions through their Blockchain as a Service Microsoft Azure platform.

Furthermore, with their awesome new product range, you can deploy a platform just within a day! How wonderful is that? Another awesome feature of this Blockchain as a Service Azure platform is that it would only take a few clicks to set it up! Blockchain as a Service Azure workbench is mostly suited for development or test phases of ledger system. Not that you won’t be able to use the ledger system, but if you want a solid platform to only develop then Blockchain as a Service Microsoft is here to back you up.

In reality, Microsoft always excelled at any kind of technology they offered us. So, in the case of the blockchain, we can’t expect any less output from them.

Blockchain as a Service Microsoft reduces the costing and timing for deployment using their prebuilt integrations on the platform. Moreover, when you are setting up you’ll get a lot of developing tools in the Blockchain as a Service Azure platform.

All you have to do is choose the options or features you want to add on your network and you are done! Moreover, you can configure every feature on the Blockchain as a Service Microsoft platform. No other provider will give you this much flexibility. So, it’s a really easy task.

 

Topologies

After that, you’ll have to deal with the topology section of Blockchain as a Service Azure platform. Here you would have to choose the topology you need. Typically they offer three kinds of topologies in the Blockchain as a Service Microsoft platform.

First one is the Dev/Test topology. In this Blockchain as a Service Azure solution, you will only a virtual machine to work with. It’s mostly for developers only.

If you are a single organization, then go for the single member topology. With this, you’ll get multiple nodes across a variety production line.

If you are a consortium, then it’s best to stick to multimember topology. Additionally, this one will let you stimulate any consortium like structure. You can select the number of nodes and depend on that it might take you 15 minutes to set up.

 

What Are The Features?

• You can track produced goods with the help of voice and SMS interfaces.
• It integrated the Internet of Things, using that you can easily track the location of your shipment or any kind of product.
• You can manage the core processes with the help of ERP systems. Furthermore, it can also communicate with the core participants.
• Microsoft Azure will let you enjoy faster deployment options with greater efficiency.
• It also reduces the cost of blockchain deployment. So, changing from legacy network to blockchain won’t cost you too much money.

 

2. IBM

Blockchain as a Service IBM platform is another excellent option for you. The wonderful platform comes with a lot of BAAS solutions for you to try out. Furthermore, we have to admit IBM does have a lot of BAAS projects under its bag.

IBM cloud infrastructure is one of the enterprise-ready, integrated and fully operational solution on the market. Using the Blockchain as a Service IBM application, it’ll be much easier for you to integrate blockchain, operate the interface and govern the system.

At present, you’ll only get Blockchain as a Service IBM platform on Hyperledger Fabric. Moreover, IBM was one of the biggest contributors to this project. Don’t worry because of just one solution, as IBM can tweak up the platform for your needs.

Furthermore, integrating with Blockchain as a Service IBM is really fast, efficient and offers additional security for your organization. Who wouldn’t want that right?

In reality, you will get a wide range of subscription options for you to choose from. Moreover, each one will offer something new to make them more lucrative. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a small enterprise or a multinational enterprise; you’ll always get the BAAS solution you deserve.

However, if you are on a tighter budget then look into the started plan as it’s one of the economic ones.

 

The Blockchain Platform Features

• Creating New Apps

It does come with an efficient development environment for your apps. Moreover, you can go for the online, shared or the local environment when setting up. However, you would need development tools too, right? Not to worry, because Blockchain as a Service IBM got your back. All the settings of your development environment are equipped with modern tools.

And so you’d only have to plug in and start making new applications.

 

• Governmental Power

As we said earlier, you’ll be getting a governance system with your blockchain solution. Moreover, you can start governing your platform right after the deployment. Activation tools are here for new channels, members, smart contracts and network system. Furthermore, if you are working with more than one party then, you can also see their updates from your panel.

 

• Extremely Operational

The network is always a high performing, seamless connecting platform. Moreover, if any new updates are there, you’ll get them instantly. Furthermore, as it’s equipped with the latest technology, you won’t have to upgrade the network for a really long time.

 

• Reduces Risk

IBM’s solution reduces the risk of failure. In many cases, you might be confused about whether you will invest in this platform or would it be ideal. However, the flexible pricing of the subscription and support option will help you out. Also, the extra governance option will let you keep out all the unwanted authorities.

 

• Saves Time

You can start your blockchain implementation quite fast. It only takes minutes to deploy your network. Moreover, extensive tools for development make it easier to make any changes.

 

• Enterprise Ready

The platform is designed in a way to offer high availability and also offer disaster recovery option. In reality, not many BAAS providers actually offer these features. Also, you can burden the network with the transactional workload; it won’t collapse under pressure.

 

• Open Ecosystem

Blockchain as a Service IBM platform won’t vendor lock you. Typically when you go for a SAAS solution, they tend to have lots of rules that don’t let you change the vendor even if you don’t like their solution after use. But with IBM you won’t have to worry about that.

 

 

3. Oracle

Are you looking for a comprehensive Distributed Ledger Technology platform? The Oracle might just be the right BAAS provider for you. Oracle is relatively new in this filed, but don’t worry; they can offer exotic solutions.

Moreover, you can join other organization for deploying your blockchain implementation and update the ledger system. Furthermore, with Oracle, you can now securely share information with your business associates such as business partners, vendors, suppliers, etc.

Oracle is offering Blockchain As A Service that would give you all the above features. But wait, there’s more. The platform is based on composable architecture model. Moreover, it will let you enable specific features that go with your organization.

But what about constant technological updates? For that Oracle is giving you automated updating option, they’ll take care of that process; you won’t have to worry about that. Furthermore, using a customizable plugin here is super easy because of the multi-layering.

 

How Does It Work?

Let’s jump into the main point on how it actually works. First of all, they consist of a network of nodes; these nodes validate the transactions and also responds to smart contracts queries. Moreover, the smart contract is integrated with the cloud server so that you get a major boost for your organization.

Furthermore, if you are using external applications, you’ll have to use the client’s REST API calls to invoke the transaction process. It will also start the queries as well.

Once the consensus nodes agree that it’s valid, it will get into the group of data blocks. Moreover, all the data blocks are extremely secure, and no one can see later them.

Don’t confuse their Blockchain as a Service as Oracle is not trying to create a business network on the platform. They are just only offering a platform for organizations who want to have blockchain solutions.

 

Properties of the Blockchain Cloud Solution

• Transparent and Shared: All your participants can see consistent data updates on the ledger. However, you can limit the access of nodes based on their ranking. Moreover, they would need to be authorized to get access to the ledger system.
• Accurate and Undeniable: Here, the consensus does depend on the decision of the subset of users on the network. Furthermore, once they validate or add up the information, there’s no way anyone deletes change that.
• Unchangeable: It works kind of similar to the public blockchains. Usually in those type of technology no can alter the transactions. In Oracle, you’ll see the same thing.
• Encrypted: Encryption is a must for blockchain, and Oracle provides the ultimate encryption for securing your sensitive information.

 

4. Amazon

Another awesome Blockchain as a Service solution is Amazon Web Services. Blockchain as a Service AWS offers one of the wonderful ways to implement blockchain. With Blockchain as a Service AWS solution, you can develop your very own network system with scalability and performance. Moreover, this is one of the easiest ways to grow your enterprise.

Furthermore, Blockchain as a Service AWS happens to offer plenty of solutions for decentralized and centralized architecture. Maybe you want to have the security of blockchain, but you want a centralized theme, the AWS can get it for you. Additionally, Blockchain as a Service AWS will give you a high-end performing ledger with cryptographically secured data formation.

But in the case of decentralized architecture, Blockchain as a Service AWS will give you the best of the best blockchain environments. Everything here is fully managed, so there’s no point in worrying about managing the network all by yourself.

All of their services are entirely easy to set up, and they are really cost effective. You’ll get blockchain as service AWS templates to deploy, so, let’s check out how they are.

 

AWS Blockchain Templates

You will mainly get this type of Blockchain as a Service AWS template. It’s actually a great way to do it because it saves a lot of time. Moreover, it’s kind of like website templates, where you can tweak up features to make it unique.

 

What Will You Get?

• Faster Deployment Time

It would take only a minute or so to deploy your network. Moreover, you should check out their ECS and ECS2 templates, because these two are the most popular ones so far.

 

• Choice Option

Choose any framework you want to launch your blockchain. At present, they only offer three kinds of blockchain platforms – Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, and Ethereum. Moreover, in every deployment, you’ll see changes because the frameworks are slightly different than one other.

 

• Managing Tools

You’d probably need managing tools to check up on your deployment, right? With Blockchain as a Service AWS, you’ll get loads of managing tools based on the framework you choose. Moreover, this equipment’s will let you monitor your system, and you’ll be able to notice any bad players among the nodes.

 

• Pay For What You Use

Payment process of Blockchain as a Service platform AWS is really easy. Moreover, you will only pay for the ones you use, and there are no hidden costs, unlike other BAAS providers. So, you can just enjoy the solution without any burden.

 

 

5. Alibaba

Another great vendor on the market is the Alibaba Cloud. They offer one of the sophisticated enterprise Blockchain as a Service application in the market. You’ll be able to deploy any kind of enterprise-grade platform using their platform. Moreover, with the help of their BAAS, you’ll get closer to the most popular blockchains on the market.

If you are one of those businesses people who don’t have enough time to develop blockchain technology, then Alibaba should be on your checklist. In reality, they offer managed systems, which means all you need to is to consult with them, tell them how you want it and it’d be done.

 

What Are The Benefits?

• Higher Security Protocol

Alibaba cloud comes with a new kind of security architecture that has multi-tenant isolations. Furthermore, using these you would get to experience a superior security level.

• Greater Stability

Maybe your company has to deal with a lot of transactions or nodes every day. Not to worry unlike other blockchain deployment scaling up here won’t be an issue. Furthermore, it would remain fast no matter how many users are online.

• Simple and Easy

Setting it up is super easy; all you have to do is administer the functionalities with a few clicks. And the rest will get handled.

• Open Ecosystem

The ecosystem is quite open as it supports different types of applications and plugins. That’s why it’s a great option for your enterprise organization.

• Advanced Technology

Alibaba Cloud works with Quorum and Hyperledger Fabric to offer you an advanced level of technology at present.

• Quick Mode

The quick mode will let you deploy with only one click. Furthermore, this deployment doesn’t have any complex configurations like other platforms.

 

6. SAP

SAP is a relatively new addition to the Blockchain as a Service providers league. Moreover, they are perfect for you if you are looking for a low-risk gateway and easy deployment for your blockchain technology. At present, you will be able to develop blockchain solutions on their cloud platform.

Furthermore, they have equipped their cloud platform to fully back you up with every high-end technological need. In reality, SAP wants to eliminate the large upfront investment when enterprises start to integrate blockchain. Moreover, this large amount of investment does discourage companies to even consider blockchain.

That’s why SAP is here to change that and fast track the process of integration.

 

What Will You Get With The Deployment?

• Cloud platform deployment that will allow you to have an efficient platform.
• Make the porotype, test it out and deploy all blockchain smart contracts and application.
• Create new blockchain extensions that will enhance your project.
• Use the open cloud standard to create a consortium or private blockchain networks.

 

SAP HANA

SAP recently launched its SAP HANA blockchain adapter for enterprises. Moreover, they are integrating SAP HANA with their platform. With this new integration now customers can fully use blockchain data using standard SQL commands and SQL interface to build their enterprise blockchain solution.

Moreover, this new formation will allow developers to develop new blockchain technology without fully understanding the core blockchain implementation steps. Furthermore, they can now only just apply them which makes it a quick and easy option for blockchain deployment.

So, now you will be able to get enterprise blockchain solutions along with use relevant data form blockchain networks. At present, you will get those data in virtual tables, but you can also convert them in physical table format. Moreover, SAP HANA will continue to update the table accordingly for better output.

That’s why with SAP HANA you will be able to fully use blockchains potential with full transparency and light speed integration.

 

Why Use SAP BAAS for Blockchain?

• Keeps Your Core Business at the Center

In SAP, you will get the most advanced level of blockchain solutions, but it will also focus on your business strategy. So, your business would not only become about blockchain technology. Furthermore, they will cover data quality and integrity of the system.

 

• Greater Networks Experience

SAP wants to offer the ultimate network experience of all time. Moreover, they want to combine the two networks and make it the perfect business network you can ever wish for. So, using this you will be able to implement it securely and seamlessly.

 

• BAAS Abstraction Layer

This layer supports all kind of open standard rules and comes with built-in SAP application to help you develop the blockchain. What’s a better way to insulate you and your partners than this?

 

• Faster Deployment

Deploy all the formworks relatively faster; it takes a very little time to get things set up and to make the tweaks.

 

• Multiple Options

At SAP you are getting multiple frameworks to choose from. Currently, they offer Hyperledger Fabric, Quorum, and MultiChain integration. So, you got loads of options to get the best one. Moreover, each one of the deployment will have a different feature as all the models differ from each other.

 

7. Accenture

Accenture is one of the top players in the Blockchain as a Service marketplace. And why won’t they? They have been enthusiast about it from the very beginning. Furthermore, Accenture and blockchain are meant for each other.

But Accenture did approach the Blockchain as a Service application a bit differently. In reality, they focus on mainly consultancy services which allows them to help enterprises pick the right solution for them.

As the technology is relatively new, many make mistakes while trying to understand the whole spectrum. But with the help from Accenture now you will be able to know just what type of blockchain would be perfect for you.

It’s not Accenture, but there are other blockchain consulting firms on the market as well.

 

What Do They Offer?

• Analyzing Strategies: Well, the best way to describe their Blockchain as a Service solution is to start with their analyzing strategies. Additionally, they will offer their best professionals to help you out in blockchain strategies.
• Applicability of Blockchain Platform: You might be relatively new in this new blockchain league and might not know whether your organization can offer certain blockchain features or not. That’s why you need to focus on your target and Accenture will help out in this manner.
• Advanced Training: Your developers may need an advanced level of blockchain training to get things done. With Accenture, you will get the best of the best training.
• Development Environments: You will get development environments for your deployment in this Blockchain as a Service platform.
• Blockchain Model Design and Implementation: It’s a hassle-free feature. All you need to do is let them know what your requirements are and they will do the work for you.

 

8. Baidu

Baidu is a popular Chinese Web service engine, and they previously launched their new blockchain platform XuperChain. However, now they are coming with blockchain as a solution for the enterprise that wants a simple yet multi-functional platform.

 

What are the Features?

• Greater Stability

Maybe your company has to deal with a lot of transactions or nodes every day. Not to worry unlike other blockchain deployment scaling up here won’t be an issue. Furthermore, Baidu’s blockchain as service would remain fast no matter how many users are online.

• Multiple Options

Choose any framework you want to launch your blockchain. At present, they only offer three kinds of blockchain platforms – Hyperledger Fabric, XuperChain, and Ethereum. Moreover, XuperChain is Baidu’s original blockchain platform, and it’s open source. They further wanted to add Hyperledger Sawtooth, but we still don’t know when that might happen.

• Open Ecosystem

The ecosystem is quite open as it supports different types of applications and plugins. That’s why it’s a great option for your enterprise organization.

• Saves Time

You can start your blockchain implementation quite fast. It only takes minutes to deploy your network. Moreover, extensive tools for development make it easier to make any changes.

 

9. Huawei

Huawei is a newcomer too in the BAAS business. However, they are the only provider of blockchain solution in Asia, which makes them a leading platform. Moreover, they did launch their services for only China at first, but later they opened that for everyone.

Huawei Cloud is one of the sophisticated Blockchain as a Service solution, and they are mainly for enterprise usage. If you are a developer, you can get benefits from this platform and quickly deploy a platform within your budget.

 

Advantages of Huawei Cloud Platform

• Operational and Efficient

The network is always a high performing, seamless connecting platform. Moreover, if any new updates are there, you’ll get them instantly. Furthermore, as it’s equipped with the latest technology, you won’t have to upgrade the network for a really long time.

• No Risk

Huawei Cloud Platform’s solution reduces the risk of failure. In many cases, you might be confused about whether you will invest in this platform or would it be ideal. However, the flexible pricing of the subscription and support option will help you out. Also, the extra governance option will let you keep out all the unwanted authorities.

• Open Ecosystem For Everyone

Huawei’s Blockchain As A Service platform won’t vendor lock you. Typically when you go for a SAAS solution, they tend to have lots of rules that don’t let you change the vendor even if you don’t like their solution after use. But with Huawei Cloud Platform you won’t have to worry about that.

• Cost-Effective

Payment process of Huawei Cloud Platform BAAS is really easy. Moreover, you will only pay for the ones you use, and there are no hidden costs, unlike other BAAS providers. So, you can just enjoy the solution without any burden.

• Full Proof Authentication

Huawei’s Blockchain as a Service platform offers an advanced level of authentication. This way you can limit the node entrance facility. Moreover, it will let you keep out the bad players and work with only your employees.

 

10. Kaleido

Kaleido is one of the Blockchain as a Service providers in the market with a partnership with ConsenSys. Together with the help from Microsoft Azure, AWS and ConsenSys Kaleido is bringing the SAAS operations in blockchain too.

According to them, you’ll be getting scaled platform with greater efficiency, and they offer lots of templates to get you started.

Benefits of Kaleido Blockchain Cloud

• Instant Networks

It would take only a minute or so to deploy your network. Moreover, it would save you millions of money and reduce the month of work.

• Choice Option

Choose any framework you want to launch your blockchain. At present, they only offer three kinds of blockchain platforms – Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, and Ethereum. Moreover, in every deployment, you’ll see changes because the frameworks are slightly different than one other. It’s a bit of different than usual as you’ll be managing your network across AWS and Microsoft Azure workbench.

• Greater Stability

Maybe your company has to deal with a lot of transactions or nodes every day. Not to worry unlike other blockchain deployment scaling up here won’t be an issue. Furthermore, it would remain fast no matter how many users are online.

• Rich Marketplace

Kaleido offers a rich marketplace full of plug and plays solution in their Blockchain as a Service platform.

 

11. Hewlett-Packard Enterprise

HPE is launching its relatively new Blockchain as a Service solution for mission-critical environments. According to them, their customers have been playing with blockchain for some time, and the demand for 100% fault tolerance system became a huge thing.

Furthermore, their platform eliminates the risk of working with a new niche and making online transactions that require more processing time. Now you can use the platform in private clouds too.

 

Special Features

• System security

Hewlett-Packard’s Blockchain as a Service comes with a new kind of security architecture that has multi-layered protocols. Furthermore, using these you would get to experience a superior security level.

• Business Continuity

In Hewlett-Packard’s Blockchain as a Service, you will get the most advanced level of blockchain solutions, but it will also focus on your business strategy. So, your business would not only become about blockchain technology. Furthermore, they will cover data quality and integrity of the system.

• Managing Tools

You’d probably need managing tools to check up on your deployment, right? With Hewlett-Packard’s Blockchain as a Service, you’ll get loads of managing tools based on the framework you choose. Moreover, this equipment’s will let you monitor your system, and you’ll be able to notice any bad players among the nodes.

• Enterprise Ready

The platform is designed in a way to offer high availability and also offer disaster recovery option. In reality, not many BAAS providers actually offer these features. Also, you can burden the network with a transactional workload; it won’t collapse under pressure.

New to Blockchain Technology? Don’t have time to go deep into the core? Well, try out our blockchain cheat sheet now!

 

Chapter-6: Companies using BAAS services

• CLS

CLS is getting Blockchain as a Service solution from IBM to power its payment netting solution. They are calling it CLSNet. Moreover, the platform is capable of driving operational processes such as real-time knowledge of any currency, reducing risks and optimizing intraday liquidity and many more.

Furthermore, CLS is one of the largest settlement provider and risk mitigation company in the global foreign exchange. Using the blockchain financial service they can now work on a trustless environment without any worries.

According to CLS, they could have made the system without a blockchain network, using only traditional approaches. But blockchain, in the long run, will be more beneficial to their organization. Additionally, their solution can grow to cover a wider spectrum of the financial sector.

 

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

FDA is exploring the blockchain realm using Blockchain as a Service solutions. Moreover, they want to use an efficient, secure and scalable ledger system where they can store health data. Furthermore, the data will get collected from clinical trials, electronic medical records, health data, genomic data and many more.

How will these actually help? Well, if the doctors can get all the information about the patient’s condition from one source, it would be much easier for them to evaluate the treatment. Furthermore, the solution helps them get a 360° idea of what the patient is dealing with.

However, you would also need to preserve the patient’s privacy and make sure they have full control over it. At present they have the initial focus on oncology data, but in the future, they will expand to more branches.

 

• Insurewave

It’s another wonderful outcome of a blockchain development service integration within the insurance industry. Here, EY and Guardtime lead the project, and other industrial companies’ participated for the betterment. Insurewave is a marine insurance blockchain platform.

At present they are using Blockchain as a Service Azure platform to get the technical backup for the platform. Moreover, the platform is capable of supporting half a million transactions and even help out in managing risks. Furthermore, they expect to manage risks for 1000+ commercial vessels within the first year of launching.

The best part is that they plan to expand their platform to support more solutions using the Blockchain as a Service. Some of them may include energy sectors, global logistics, marine cargo, and aviation.

 

• Bühler

Next in line is Buhler. Buhler is one of the food production giants in the market. And so they are looking into more productive solutions for food safety. At present they are using Blockchain as a Service Azure solution to facilitate their Buhler Insights platform.

Moreover, their “Laatu” solution will help to get rid of microbials from the dry foods. Additionally, Tubex Pro can track production line in real time. Furthermore, their food processing covers more than 70% of the chocolate, 65% of grain and 30% of rice in the whole world.

So, making sure they offer the best quality food is always the top priority and Blockchain as a Service can do that pretty easily.  Using the solution they also want to reduce the cost of making and processing the foods.

 

• CargoSmart

Software solution providers are launching a Global shipping business based on blockchain development service solution. But to that, they are collaborating with forwarders, shippers, terminals, and carriers. Furthermore, they already have nine ocean terminals and carriers in the bag.

Moreover, they signed a statement for Memorandum of Understanding to form the consortium that will take part in the process of making the platform. Additionally, they are taking all their BAAS support from Oracle. The nine leading ocean carrier companies are –

Shanghai International Port, PSA International Pte Ltd, Hutchison Ports, DP World, Yang Ming, OOCL, Evergreen Marine, COSCO SHIPPING Lines, and CMA CGM.

They want to achieve a shared platform that will help them get rid of the issues of a siloed shipment management system and data processing. Obviously, the main concern is trust, and that’s why they chose blockchain as service support over the traditional method.

 

• NitiAayog

India is on top of their game with the production of generic drugs. However, they are facing a serious issue – Counterfeit drugs. Other than their domestic consumption, they export a large quality of drugs to the U.S.A. But due to the increase in counterfeit products many brands are losing their brand value because of bad players.

In this regard, NitiAayog being the government think-tank is exploring the Blockchain as a Service application. They are using Oracles BAAS solution to back up the technical aspect of their project along with Apollo hospital. Moreover, the project aims to record all the pharmaceutical transactions and track those on a shared supply chain platform.

With this solution, they can make sure the drugs go from pharma firms to distributors and from there to customers.

 

• Healthdirect Australia

Healthdirect Australia is a public health information service provider. They offer national citizens free health helplines and online platform to know about health-related advice. Moreover, they are the healthcare information infrastructure in Australia.

Getting Blockchain as a Service AWS solution, they are building up a different kind of infrastructure for healthcare information. Moreover, they are using proof of Concept to regulate the ledger system. As Healthdirect Australia needs to be able to operate in extreme pressure every day, going for a BAAS solution was the perfect way for it.

Making sure no one tampers with their database and providing full-time support is what the blockchain can streamline quite easily.

 

• The Guardian Life Insurance

Guardian Life Insurance is a financial company that offers insurance facilities including disability and life insurances, different employee benefits and even dental insurance. Moreover, they have a vast partner ecosystem, and so they are exploring the immutable and decentralized tracking system of the blockchain solutions. Furthermore, they want to use the blockchain financial service for their insurance business.

Additionally, they think that BAAS can offer efficiency and transparency for the stakeholders within the network system maintaining the independent verifiable activities. However, they know that the blockchain network system is really complex and difficult to manage and that’s why they choose AWS to power their project.

AWS will let them test and deploy networks using their blockchain development service offerings. Furthermore, they would also be maintaining the platform for Guardian Life.

 

• MasterCard, Amazon Web Services, Everledger and Mercy Corps

These four companies are working on a project that will cover the supply chain management process for small suppliers. Using the platform, they will be able to adopt sustainable options and promote many financial inclusions.

Moreover, for the Blockchain as a Service solution, they are working with Accenture. Accenture is calling the system a circular supply chain because of the connection of the customers and farmers. As they are using an app to track the process customers can tip the farmers in the beginner stage if they can show sustainability. Furthermore, things such as they didn’t destroy other lands to make their farm or didn’t use insecticides on their produce.

Furthermore, Accenture will also offer them insights into the marketplace and how they can target a specific consumer niche to promote their solution.

 

• DHL

DHL is using the Blockchain as a Service solutions to fuel their blockchain based logistics application. At present they are collaborating with Accenture to provide them with full technical support. Moreover, they currently have a working prototype that can track pharmaceuticals from the time of production to the customers.

In this line, no one can tamper with them, and thus, they are ensuring a safe option. Furthermore, they already know what the blockchain financial service is capable of doing. Saving lives is their motto and to do those, counterfeit products need to stop existing. Additionally, the platform can also handle 1500 transactions every second and will offer seven billion unique serial numbers.

 

• Naturipe Farms

Naturipe Farms is working on a food supply chain management project. In this project, they will lead the retailers and consumer product suppliers to use the blockchain technology to reduce wastage in food manufacturing.

Furthermore, the primary goal is to bring the next generation farmer to consumer digital supply chain management system.

At present, for this Blockchain as a Service solution, they are using SAP’s technical support. Currently, most of the stakeholders of the manufacturing companies record their information and disclose it if necessary. The process needs to be more transparent as people are losing their trust in produced goods. In this regard, BAAS solutions can really help out. Moreover, if a large group of manufacturing companies starts to use it, consumers can see just how their produced food is packaged.

 

• Boehringer

The pharmaceutical company Boehringer is working with SAP to establish a digital network system. It’s another company using blockchain for supply chain management. Moreover, they will be tracking the process of manufactured drugs and will give the customer a chance to see if they are reliable or not.

It’s a great approach truly as with the fake drugs in the mix many consumers now have a bad impression of pharmaceutical companies. But with this solution, they can verify whether they are getting the real thing or fake products. Furthermore, they are going to collaborate with other companies to form a hub of the drug manufacturer’s to ensure everyone is following the health and safety protocols from the FDA. So, supply chain management is becoming one of the cool use cases of BAAS.

 

• London Stock Exchange Group

LSEG is working on the blockchain technology and getting BAAS support from IBM for that. They are trying to create a platform for financial sectors where they will leverage the full potential of blockchain financial service.

Moreover, the platform will be able to segregate data and offer confidentiality to users. Currently, they are using Hyperledger Fabric solutions from IBM, which is one of the highest levels of security protocols in the market.

LSEG’s system will be full proof with full-on security measures and transparency. According to them, blockchain is poised to rule the financial sectors, and we have already seen a lot of examples of it. Now they want to get a taste of that too.

 

• ANZ, Westpac and Scentre Group

Another wonderful real world blockchain as a solution example is the collaboration of ANZ, Westpac and Scentre Group on the digitization of bank processes. Moreover, they are using Blockchain as a Service IBM solutions. It’s a simple project that can reduce a lot of headaches of the bank employees. Usually, they have to deal with a lot of paper-based guaranteed.

If somehow they can make it all digitized and maintain it from one single source, it can save lots and lots of time. Moreover, many of these companies have to face with duplications and fraud cases. However, they are making sure the blockchain solution is full proof, and no one can tamper it in any way. At present, it’s only a pilot project.

 

• TenneT

Well, when did we ever had the right amount of electricity supply, right? The supply of electricity was never equivalent to the demand, and the difference is increasing day by day. As a result, you are suffering from power outage more often than before. In a world where almost everything runs on power, a power outage is not expected.

That’s why TenneT is here to ensure there’s a seamless supply of electricity and no one has to deal with a power outage. Basically, what they are doing is using the blockchain to keep track of the demand-supply. Furthermore, with this, they will be able to predict when a shortage might happen and take the necessary measurements.

Moreover, they will be using unused car batteries to power the grid. The Blockchain as a Service platform will act an application which can detect which car batteries are vacant to use. Therefore, they will reduce the power outage to a great extent.

 

• UBS

The global trade platform Batavia is a wonderful project based on the blockchain. Currently, UBS is leading the project with help from Blockchain as a Service IBM enterprise. However, they aren’t the only ones in this project. There are other companies such as CaixaBank, Erste Group, Bank of Montreal (BMO), and Commerzbank.

Any organization is free to use the platform and utilize the features of trade finance. Furthermore, it won’t matter whether you are trading on land, air or waterways.

The Batavia platform can change the ways of this sector and could potentially increase productivity.

 

• Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Holdings Inc.

Sompo Japan is a Japanese based property and global casualty insurance group. It’s another great example of a company that is using the benefits of a Blockchain as a Service provider. Blockchain usage in the insurance niche is really popular nowadays, and many are joining the league like Sompo.

According to them, they quite recently uncovered the true potential use cases of the blockchain. But maintaining the system along with the architecture is still quite foreign for them. And so they are using BAAS services to get help in deploying and managing their network system.

At present, the project is still on trial, if they see true benefits they will be making it a permanent network framework within their company.

 

Chapter-7: Are Blockchain as a Service Solutions Not Blockchain?

It’s a usually a debating question because you’ll find two kinds of answers. One party believes that the Blockchain as a Service solutions aren’t blockchain at all; they are entirely different kind of architecture. On the other hand, some parties believe that BAAS is actually upgraded blockchain platforms.

In any case, the misunderstanding mainly occurs because of the lack of proper knowledge of blockchain. Furthermore, many people still believe that bitcoin’s blockchain is the original blockchain platform. Moreover, they don’t know about the multiple blockchain types.

Usually, private or permissioned blockchain was introduced because the public architecture isn’t suited for an enterprise that has to deal with a lot of sensitive information. Due to the nature of their business model, it’s not possible for them to work with 100% decentralization.

In reality, Blockchain as a Service came to be for the growing need of blockchain in enterprises. That’s why they offer a different kind of blockchain that offers freedom but might not be 100% decentralized. Any kind of governmental system is necessary, and identity management is also necessary.

So, if you are confused with whether these solutions are blockchain or not, then don’t worry because they are private or permissioned blockchain network.

You should check out our ultimate blockchain technology guide to get more idea about the tech.

 

Chapter-8: Final Words

Blockchain as a Service is a unique way to streamline the digital transformation process. Nowadays many companies want to adopt blockchain, but due to the lack of adequately skilled persons in the market, it becomes difficult. This is where Blockchain as a Service comes in and seals the deal.

These big enterprises will influence the future of blockchain transformation. So, it’s necessary that they offer good Blockchain as a Service solution to provide the long-term support of the companies. In the end, this new marketplace has just started to influence the market.

We’ll see more of them shaping or at least paving the way for the future.

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