[Proposal setup] Proposal title
Please provide your proposal title
Blockchain-Based Product Distribution Tracking
[Proposal Summary] Budget Information
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
500000
[Proposal Summary] Time
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
12
[Proposal Summary] Translation Information
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement
What is the problem you want to solve?
Product distribution in Vietnam faces diversion, smuggling, and off-route sales. No trusted system tracks and verifies distribution paths across regions.
[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation
Supporting links
[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
No dependencies
[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
No
License and Additional Information
Only on-chain components (smart contracts, transaction schemas) will be open-sourced under the Apache 2.0 license via a public repository.
Off-chain code, including distribution management logic, user data handling, and integration with enterprise ERP systems, will remain private to protect sensitive business processes, ensure data security, and comply with privacy regulations.
[Theme Selection] Theme
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Supply Chain
[Campaign Category] Category Questions
Describe your established collaborations.
- This project will be fully developed and deployed in-house by iCheck Joint Stock Company, leveraging our technical, product, and operations teams.
- We will build on our existing ecosystem, which already includes:
- 25,000+ brands and distributors using our platform for product data and barcode management.
- A large active consumer base regularly using the iCheck mobile app to scan and verify products.
- These existing resources ensure that once deployed, the solution will have immediate real-world adoption and impact.
Describe funding commitments.
- This project will be funded entirely by the requested Catalyst grant.
- No external collaborators or third-party funding are involved.
- 100% of the budget will be allocated to in-house personnel, infrastructure, and resources to develop, deploy, and maintain the solution.
Describe your key performance metrics.
- Number of products with unique blockchain-linked QR codes → measures coverage of the system.
- Number of distribution logs stored on-chain → reflects transparency and tracking accuracy.
- Number of participating manufacturers, distributors, and retailers → shows ecosystem adoption.
- Detection rate of out-of-route or unauthorized distribution events → proves fraud prevention capability.
- Average verification scans per product during distribution → measures active usage by stakeholders.
[Your Project and Solution] Solution
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
We address the lack of transparency and accountability in product distribution, a problem that leads to out-of-route goods, parallel imports, and smuggling. Currently, there is no trusted, immutable system to track product movement between regions. Existing ERP or logistics tools rely on centralized databases, making them easily to manipulate or miss of records, which undermines regulatory compliance and fair market practices.
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Our solution is a Cardano blockchain–powered distribution management platform that assigns each product a unique blockchain-linked QR code. This QR code acts as the immutable identifier for the product throughout its lifecycle.
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Problem in Fact
- Product distribution in Vietnam and Southeast Asia faces serious issues: out-of-route sales, smuggling, and unauthorized cross-region transfers.
- Existing ERP and logistics systems rely on centralized databases, allowing manipulation or deletion of distribution records.
- No trusted intermediary exists to ensure that product movement logs are accurate, immutable, and accessible to all stakeholders — from manufacturers to regulators.
- This leads to loss of revenue, unfair market competition, and weakened regulatory enforcement.
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Our Approach
- Assign each product a unique blockchain-linked QR code acting as its permanent ID.
- Record every distribution event (origin, destination, time, authorized handler) on the Cardano blockchain.
- Integrate blockchain logging directly into the iCheck platform, enabling real-time updates and verification via mobile app scanning.
- Use smart contracts to flag deviations from planned routes or detect unauthorized geographic presence automatically.
- Maintain a hybrid system: blockchain as the immutable source of truth, with off-chain databases for indexing and fast retrieval.
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Target Users
- Manufacturers & Brand Owners: Ensure distribution integrity, prevent unauthorized regional sales, and protect brand reputation.
- Distributors & Retailers: Gain transparent visibility of product movements and verify authorized stock.
- Sales Representatives: Track and validate that their assigned products are distributed within the correct territories, protecting sales commissions and performance metrics.
- Sellers / Merchants: Confirm that products they stock are legitimate, sourced from authorized channels, and within their permitted sales regions.
- Regulatory Authorities: Access tamper-proof logs for enforcement against smuggling and market violations.
- Consumers: Verify that products they purchase are legitimately distributed and not diverted or counterfeit.
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Proving Impact
- Number of products registered with unique blockchain IDs; number of active participating brands and distributors.
- Volume of distribution logs stored on-chain; frequency of verification scans by stakeholders.
- Number of flagged out-of-route events detected and resolved.
- Satisfaction and trust ratings from manufacturers, distributors, and regulators in pilot programs.
- Increased awareness of Cardano as a practical, real-world supply chain solution.
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Unique Value
- First blockchain-powered distribution route tracking system in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
- Leverages Cardano’s low fees, security, and scalability to handle large-scale, multi-party logistics data.
- Prevents fraud and policy violations through immutable, decentralized records rather than relying on central authority.
- Integrates seamlessly into an existing ecosystem (iCheck platform with millions of users), ensuring immediate real-world adoption.
- Demonstrates Cardano’s capability in high-impact, regulated industry use cases, creating a showcase for global replication.
[Your Project and Solution] Impact
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Value to the Cardano Community
- Demonstrates a high-value, real-world supply chain use case for Cardano, enhancing its credibility in enterprise adoption.
- Positions Cardano as a blockchain of choice for anti-smuggling and distribution integrity solutions in emerging markets.
- Expands Cardano’s footprint in Southeast Asia through integration into iCheck’s network of 25,000+ brands and millions of users.
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Measuring Impact (quantitative & qualitative)
- Number of distribution logs on-chain → shows blockchain adoption at the operational level.
- Number of unique product IDs issued → reflects scale and market penetration.
- Number of sales reps, merchants, and distributors onboarded → measures ecosystem participation.
- Detection rate of unauthorized cross-regional sales → indicates effectiveness in policy enforcement.
- Consumer scans verifying distribution path → reflects end-user trust and engagement.
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Sharing Outputs & Opportunities
- Regular progress reports on Catalyst platform and Cardano community channels.
- Public case studies showcasing technical architecture and results.
- Open-source on-chain components (smart contracts, data schema) to enable reuse by other Cardano projects.
[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & Feasibility
What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
We are iCheck Joint Stock Company, a leading Vietnamese technology firm established in 2015, specializing in product information transparency, QR/barcode-based traceability, and consumer engagement solutions.
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1. Why we are best suited to deliver this project:
- Proven experience: 10+ years in developing and operating large-scale digital platforms for product distribution and automation in manufacturing.
- Market presence: Serving 25,000+ brands and millions of consumers via the iCheck mobile app.
- Technical expertise: In-house R&D team with capabilities in blockchain development, mobile & backend infrastructure, and large-scale data management.
- Deployment readiness: Existing platform and user base ensure immediate adoption without starting from zero.
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2. Trust and fund management processes:
- Dedicated project manager responsible for milestone delivery and reporting.
- All expenditures tracked and aligned with approved budget items.
- Milestone-based fund release, with progress evidence provided before each stage.
- Transparent reporting to Catalyst, with willingness to undergo external review if required.
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3. Validating feasibility:
- Pilot onboarding of selected manufacturers and distributors to the blockchain-integrated platform.
- Tracking KPIs such as products onboarded, active users, and detected inconsistencies.
- Gathering consumer and merchant feedback to validate usability and trust impact.
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4. Supporting Evidence
We strongly believe that our domain expertise, technological capacity, and long-term market presence uniquely position us to deliver this solution effectively and responsibly.
[Milestones] Project Milestones
Milestone Title
Requirements & System Design
Milestone Outputs
- Comprehensive functional and non-functional requirements for the blockchain-based distribution tracking system.
- Detailed system architecture covering on-chain smart contracts, off-chain components, and integration with QR code generation.
- Full implementation plan with timelines, dependencies, and resource allocation.
Acceptance Criteria
- Requirements document approved by project stakeholders, clearly defining features such as unique product ID, route logging, and access levels.
- Architecture diagrams specifying Cardano blockchain interactions, API endpoints, and database schemas for indexer.
- Implementation plan reviewed and confirmed by technical and product leads.
Evidence of Completion
- Comprehensive requirements documentation, formally approved by project stakeholders.
- Finalized system architecture diagrams, including on-chain, off-chain, and integration components.
- Approved project implementation plan, detailing timelines, milestones, and assigned responsibilities.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
80000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Blockchain Backend Development
Milestone Outputs
- Cardano smart contracts to store and retrieve distribution logs for each unique product ID.
- Backend infrastructure set up for blockchain integration, including secure API for data logging.
- QR code generation service linked to immutable on-chain product IDs.
Acceptance Criteria
- Smart contracts deployed to Cardano network, successfully recording and fetching distribution records.
- Backend API fully operational with authentication, error handling, and integration to off-chain indexer.
- QR codes generated and scannable, linking directly to product history on blockchain.
Evidence of Completion
- Publicly accessible GitHub repository containing the complete smart contract source code.
- Comprehensive API documentation, including endpoints, parameters, and usage examples.
- Recorded demonstration showcasing QR code generation, blockchain data logging, and on-chain retrieval.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
100000
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
Data Migration & Indexer Integration
Milestone Outputs
- Migration of selected product and distribution route data from existing systems to Cardano blockchain.
- MySQL maintained as an indexer layer for high-speed queries and analytics.
- Validation scripts to ensure data consistency post-migration.
Acceptance Criteria
- Historical and active distribution records successfully migrated with no missing entries.
- MySQL indexer in sync with blockchain data, ensuring fast retrieval for mobile and web clients.
- Validation report showing 99%+ data integrity match between original and blockchain datasets.
Evidence of Completion
- Data migration logs and scripts.
- MySQL schema and API integration test results.
- Validation report comparing pre- and post-migration datasets.
Delivery Month
6
Cost
90000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
Frontend & Mobile App Integration
Milestone Outputs
- Integration of blockchain distribution tracking into the iCheck mobile application.
- QR code scanning feature to display complete route history for each product.
- Alert system to detect and flag out-of-route or suspicious product movement.
Acceptance Criteria
- Scanned products show blockchain-verified distribution history, including timestamps and route locations.
- Alerts triggered when detected routes differ from assigned distribution zones.
- UI/UX tested for clarity and usability, with feedback incorporated from internal QA.
Evidence of Completion
- Mobile app build (APK/TestFlight) with integrated features.
- Video demo of QR code scanning and alert functionality.
- Internal QA report detailing test coverage and defect resolution.
Delivery Month
8
Cost
80000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Pilot Deployment & Stakeholder Feedback
Milestone Outputs
- Live pilot with selected manufacturers, distributors, sales representatives, and merchants.
- Collection of feedback on accuracy, usability, and fraud detection efficiency.
- Iterative improvements based on real-world pilot results.
Acceptance Criteria
- Minimum of 3 partner organizations actively participating in pilot phase.
- Feedback received from at least 50% of pilot participants.
- System adjustments completed to address identified issues and optimize workflows.
Evidence of Completion
- Report summarizing pilot feedback, including user insights and performance metrics.
- Signed participation agreements or verified confirmation emails from pilot partners.
- System update logs documenting feature enhancements and adjustments made after pilot evaluation.
Delivery Month
10
Cost
80000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Final Deployment & Project Close-out
Milestone Outputs
- Full production deployment of blockchain-based distribution tracking system.
- Public project close-out video summarizing objectives, development process, and results.
- Open-source release of on-chain components and smart contract code.
Acceptance Criteria
- Live system operational on Cardano mainnet with stable uptime and transaction performance.
- Video and final report shared publicly via Cardano community channels and project website.
- GitHub repository containing all agreed open-source artifacts.
Evidence of Completion
- Link to live production system.
- Publicly available close-out video and final report.
- GitHub repository link for smart contracts and on-chain schema.
Delivery Month
12
Cost
70000
Progress
100 %
[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Budget Breakdown (Total: ₳500,000)
- Product Owner – ₳70,000
- UX/UI Designer – ₳35,000
- Backend Developer(s) – ₳120,000
- Frontend Developer(s) – ₳40,000
- Mobile Developer(s) – ₳80,000
- Tester / QA Engineer – ₳60,000
- Infrastructure & Hosting (servers, blockchain nodes, cloud services) – ₳50,000
- Data Backup & Recovery (redundant storage, security monitoring, disaster recovery setup) – ₳20,000
- Contingency Reserve (unexpected technical or operational costs) – ₳25,000
[Final Pitch] Value for Money
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
- Competitive Salaries: Rates for developers, designers, and testers follow Vietnam’s industry standards (~$2,000–$3,000/month), ensuring top talent at cost-effective rates.
- Milestone-Based Funding: Budget tied to 6 clear milestones with specific deliverables for maximum accountability and transparency.
- Strategic Allocation: Prioritizes development, testing, and product management, including Cardano node setup to strengthen on-chain integration.
- Ecosystem Impact: Expands Cardano adoption in Vietnam, providing a high-visibility real-world use case to millions of consumers and thousands of merchants.
- Long-Term Sustainability: Built on iCheck’s existing infrastructure and user base, ensuring continued use and ecosystem benefits well beyond the funding period.
[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation
Terms and Conditions:
Yes