Chainlink Research
ChainLink Research is a Newton, MA-based research and advisory firm founded in 2003 that supplies supply chain practitioners, solution providers, and government clients with proprietary research, industry schematics, and custom consulting services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersNewton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Chainlink Research does
ChainLink Research is a privately held, founder-owned research and advisory firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts. The firm specializes in supply chain management, with coverage spanning logistics, sourcing and procurement, planning, demand management, inventory management, risk management, sustainability, IoT/RFID, blockchain, and AI/ML in supply chain. It operates with a small core team of 1-10 employees supplemented by an extended network of partner specialists, and primarily serves two customer segments: supply chain practitioners and executives across retail, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, defense, and other industries, and supply chain solution providers ranging from the largest ERP companies to early-stage startups.
The firm's core product is a research library of over 1,000 proprietary studies, articles, reports, and webinars produced over 20+ years, alongside the monthly ChainLink Brief publication and proprietary industry-specific supply chain schematics. Its service portfolio includes thought leadership content development, market discovery research, ROI models, executive workshops, and process and technology consulting engagements. Distribution is primarily direct via the firm's website, with content gated behind free Basic and Premium (also free) subscriptions that capture leads for higher-value advisory work.
Revenue is generated primarily through professional services engagements — bespoke research projects, advisory, and consulting for solution providers and supply chain organizations (including government clients such as the Department of Defense) — rather than through subscription fees, since both subscription tiers are free. The firm participates in and maintains partnerships with industry associations and content networks (AIM, RAIN RFID Alliance, CSCMP, NRF, RVCF, SupplyChainBrain, C4ISN) and uses a GTM approach combining content marketing, an email newsletter, webinars, and conference speaking. The company is privately held with no evidence of external institutional investment, and its leadership comprises Bill McBeath (Chief Research Officer, founder) and Allan Barr (EVP, formerly Global VP of Digital Commerce at The Coca-Cola Company).
Chainlink Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chainlink Research
- Legal name
- ChainLink Research, Inc.
- Website
- https://clresearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ChainLink Research is a Newton, MA-based research and advisory firm founded in 2003 that supplies supply chain practitioners, solution providers, and government clients with proprietary research, industry schematics, and custom consulting services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chainlink Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Supply Chain Research and Advisory
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Supply Chain Planning (S&OP/IBP, Demand & Inventory) (BPAHAHAD), Supply Chain Strategy & Network Design (BPAHAHAA)
Keywords
Where Chainlink Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chainlink Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Research and Advisory Projects: Bespoke research projects for solution providers and supply chain organizations, including market discovery, competitive analysis, and strategic consulting
- Subscription-based Content Access: Free Basic and Premium subscriptions granting access to research library; no direct revenue but drives lead generation for higher-value consulting engagements
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Basic Subscription - Free access to public and basic research |
| Freemium | Annual | Premium Subscription - Free access to all research including premium content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Chainlink Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ChainLink Research is a B2B research and advisory firm specializing in supply chain market intelligence. It sells subscriptions to a research library of 1,000+ studies, a monthly ChainLink Brief publication, industry-specific supply chain schematics, and paid custom research, advisory, and consulting engagements for supply chain executives.
Product overview
ChainLink Research is a research and advisory firm specializing in supply chain, IoT, and blockchain technologies. The company offers a portfolio of research publications (the ChainLink Brief monthly publication and a research library of 1,000+ proprietary studies), industry-specific supply chain schematics, and advisory services including thought leadership content development, market discovery research, ROI models, executive workshops, and process & technology consulting. Their services are designed for both solution providers (vendors) and supply chain organizations (end users).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ChainLink Brief Monthly research publication delivering supply chain market intelligence, analysis, and trend commentary for supply chain executives and practitioners.
- Research Library Subscription-based archive of 1,000+ supply chain research studies accessible to Basic (free) and Premium subscribers, supporting benchmarking and trend analysis.
- Industry-Specific Supply Chain Schematics Structured schematics that map supply chain processes, technologies, and vendor landscapes for specific industries, used by executives to plan and benchmark operations.
- Thought Leadership Content Development Custom development of thought leadership content for technology vendors and service providers seeking to publish supply chain research under their own brand.
- Market Discovery Research and Advisory Custom paid advisory engagements that research specific supply chain markets, vendors, and technologies for technology providers and enterprise buyers.
- ROI Models Custom return-on-investment models built for clients evaluating supply chain technology and process investments, quantifying expected financial impact.
- Executive Workshops Paid facilitated workshops for supply chain executives covering industry trends, technology selection, and strategic decision-making.
- Process & Technology Consulting Custom consulting engagements advising enterprise clients on supply chain process improvement and technology selection and implementation.
Companies that use Chainlink Research
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Chainlink Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Chainlink Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- AIMminorAIM is the leading industry association and worldwide authority for automatic identification & data capture (AIDC) innovation and technologies, serving members around the globe as a trusted resource for more than 40 years. AIM promotes standards, education and advocacy efforts for economic competitiveness.
- JRocket MarketingminorJRocket is headed up by Judith Rothrock, a 20+-year marketing executive who has won more than 10 U.S. and international marketing awards. Offers CMO, analyst relations and ROI-rich collateral systems. Headquartered in Delray Beach, FL.
- RAIN RFID AllianceminorRAIN RFID Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded by Google, Intel, Impinj and Smartrac that promotes awareness, education, and initiatives to accelerate RAIN adoption in business and consumer applications worldwide. Focuses on UHF RFID standards developed by GS1 (EPC Gen2v2) and incorporated by ISO/IEC.
- SupplyChainBrainminorSupplyChainBrain is the world's most comprehensive supply chain management information resource, providing complete coverage of fundamental supply chain principles, emerging trends, strategies and best practices, and cutting-edge solutions.
- CSCMP (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals)minorCSCMP is the preeminent association for individuals involved in supply chain management. Provides educational, career development, and networking opportunities to its over 9,000 members and to the entire profession.
- NRF (National Retail Federation)minorNRF is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership comprising all retail formats and channels of distribution. Represents an industry with more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, more than 20 million employees, and $3.8 trillion in sales.
- C4ISN (Center for Intelligent Supply Networks)minorC4ISN aims to promote industry and university alliances through education, research, and consultation, advancing scientific and operational knowledge in intelligent supply networks. Part of the School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas.
- RVCFminorRVCF is the nation's fastest growing retail supply chain organization where vendors and retailers come together to increase supply chain efficiencies, integrate processes and eliminate disconnects to prevent profit loss.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Chainlink Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ARC Advisory Group: Dedicated supply chain and industrial operations research and advisory firm. Most direct competitor to ChainLink on supply chain strategy, technology selection, and custom advisory.
- Aberdeen Group: Research and advisory firm focused on technology-driven business performance with comparable coverage of supply chain and operations. Closely comparable in business model and target buyer.
- Supply Chain Brain: Comprehensive supply chain management information resource covering principles, trends, strategies, and solutions. Direct comparable in content/research partner role.
- Supply Chain Management Review: Long-running supply chain management publication and research resource. Comparable in vertical focus and audience of supply chain practitioners and executives.
Broad incumbents
- IDC: Global market intelligence firm with supply chain, manufacturing, and retail insights. Overlaps on industry-specific research and custom advisory for solution providers.
- McKinsey & Company Operations Practice: Global management consulting firm with a large Operations and Supply Chain practice. Competes at the high end of supply chain strategy advisory that ChainLink also targets.
- Forrester Research: Major research firm covering technology and business with a dedicated supply chain practice. Overlaps with ChainLink on B2B research and advisory engagements.
- Gartner Supply Chain: Largest IT and supply chain research powerhouse. Competes with ChainLink on supply chain Magic Quadrants, Hype Cycles, and executive advisory, but with much broader portfolio.
Emerging players
- Navesink Advisory Group: Boutique supply chain advisory firm focused on transformation and technology selection. Comparable in niche advisory services to mid-market enterprises.
- BCI Global: Supply chain network design and operations strategy consultancy. Comparable in supply chain strategy advisory but with a more consulting-led model than ChainLink's research-plus-advisory mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chainlink Research social profiles
Digital presenceChainlink Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chainlink Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Chainlink Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chainlink Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chainlink Research
What does Chainlink Research do?
ChainLink Research is a B2B research and advisory firm specializing in supply chain market intelligence. It sells subscriptions to a research library of 1,000+ studies, a monthly ChainLink Brief publication, industry-specific supply chain schematics, and paid custom research, advisory, and consulting engagements for supply chain executives.
Is Chainlink Research a public or private company?
Chainlink Research is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chainlink Research founded?
Chainlink Research was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chainlink Research based?
Chainlink Research is headquartered in Newton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chainlink Research make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Research and Advisory Projects are the primary driver. The others are subscription-based Content Access.
Who are Chainlink Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ARC Advisory Group, Aberdeen Group, Supply Chain Brain and Supply Chain Management Review. Broad incumbents are IDC, McKinsey & Company Operations Practice, Forrester Research and Gartner Supply Chain. Emerging players are Navesink Advisory Group and BCI Global.
Does Chainlink Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chainlink Research.
What industry is Chainlink Research in?
Chainlink Research's product category is Supply Chain Research and Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHALAE, Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom), with a secondary code of BPAHAHAD, Supply Chain Planning (S&OP/IBP, Demand & Inventory).