Beyond Blockchain: Configurational Drivers of Digital Traceability Success in International Trade - A fsQCA Study

Digital traceability has become a critical capability in international trade, yet existing research has not fully explained how institutional, technological, and coordination-related conditions combine to produce successful outcomes. This study applies fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to 24 trade-corridor cases to identify the configurational drivers of Digital Traceability Success (DTS). The findings show that Digital Trade Readiness (DTR), Market Strictness (MKT), Digital Infrastructure (DIF), and Cross-border Coordination (COO) are necessary conditions for DTS, whereas Blockchain-enabled Traceability (BCT) is not. The sufficiency analysis identifies one dominant pathway DTR * PRK * MKT * DIF * COO with perfect consistency and substantial coverage. These findings demonstrate that digital traceability success is not driven by blockchain adoption alone, but by the joint alignment of institutional readiness, regulatory pressure, infrastructure, risk exposure, and inter-organizational coordination. The study makes two main contributions. Scientifically, it advances the literature on digital trade and supply-chain traceability by offering a configurational explanation grounded in conjunctural causation and causal asymmetry. Practically, it suggests that policymakers and firms should prioritize system-wide readiness, interoperable digital infrastructure, and cross-border governance rather than relying narrowly on blockchain solutions.