The SAP software company has developed the SAP Pharma Blockchain POC App in collaboration with the Merck pharmaceutical firm. Development was prompted by tightened pharmaceuticals legislation in the United States, which imposed stricter requirements for tracking and tracing drugs in the supply chain. When Merck dispatches a shipment, it is registered on the SAP Pharma POC blockchain. All along the supply chain, a distributor, vendor or end user can verify the authenticity and provenance of the product in a mobile app. POC stands for proof-of-concept, but full implementation will not be much longer in coming.