The Fashion Product Passport: In Search of the “Killer App”

A “killer app” denotes any computer programme or software that is so essential or desirable that it demonstrates the fundamental worth of a larger technology. It is portrayed as virtually indispensable or vastly superior to competing products. Supply chain transparency (SCT) has long been ripe for disruption and in need of such a technological solution. Several applications have appeared on the market–but few have coalesced the complex tasks required for full transparency. To date, there is no “killer app” for fashion supply chain transparency.

Applications that facilitate SCT including tracking and tracing mechanisms as well as data repository and distributed ledger systems like blockchain are complex and daunting for most fashion businesses. Industry power plays and lack of trust are blocking the universal adoption of current solutions. This chapter aims to explore how SCT can be adopted by firms and facilitated at scale. We advance current knowledge of digital technology applications for SCT through the theoretical lens of organisational culture to decipher how start-ups are developing technology for adoption by fashion firms. Using a single case study methodology, we analysed one hybrid start-up(fashion and technology firm) that has developed and implemented advanced digital technology initiatives at scale. From our case analysis, we provide insights into the requirements to build a digital ecosystem–one with which most firms are not yet familiar. We discuss key implications for theory and practise, based on our findings.