# Verifying maintenance with smart contracts

> SPIE piloted a blockchain-based maintenance process for technical assets. QR or NFC scans established the asset reference, mobile records documented execution, and smart contracts checked agreed criteria before the invoice proceeded for processing.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Facility services · **Organisation:** SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa · **Maturity level:** Pilot

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/spie-deutschland-instandhaltung-smart-contract-pruefen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Unknown
- **Evidence:** Evidence high
- **Editorial review:** SapientBlock Redaktion, 17 September 2026

## Description

Maintenance of many technical systems generates numerous inspection reports. The client must assign them to the agreed services, deadlines, and a consolidated invoice. SPIE tested a seamless process linking equipment identification, on-site verification, maintenance report, and invoice verification via a permissioned blockchain.

In 2019, SPIE developed a prototype for blockchain-based maintenance processes at ARENA2036 and later described two customer pilots. In the initial process, SPIE carries out maintenance and inspections on fixed technical equipment. The customer then receives individual inspection reports and a consolidated invoice and must manually reconcile the documents. In the pilot, a maintenance request was assigned to a smart contract and submitted as an event to Hyperledger Fabric. On site, employees identified the equipment via QR code or NFC tag; a mobile application added date and time and led to the appropriate report. Documents were stored outside the blockchain in IPFS, while references and process events were kept in the permissioned blockchain. APIs and Robotic Process Automation connected email, mobile capture, application server, and ledger. The smart contract checked agreed criteria such as deadlines, reports, and evidence. If fulfilled, the user interface signalled further invoice processing. SPIE documented one pilot for performance-based invoice verification and a second in the GMP environment. Public primary sources confirm prototype and pilot, but neither quantified savings nor current productive operation.

## Benefits

- Shared status for service and evidence
- Less document reconciliation required
- Integration of existing systems via APIs
- Traceable maintenance events
- Uniform inspection criteria
- Direct access to equipment-related report
- Structured mobile documentation

## Technology foundation

Permissioned Hyperledger Fabric network on virtual Linux systems in Microsoft Azure; IPFS for external document storage; web interface, mobile applications, APIs, and RPA for process integration.

## Sources

- [Digital: Optimierte Prozesse dank Blockchain](https://spie.de/news/2019/04/optimierte-prozesse-dank-blockchain-technologie)
- [Data Analytics, Smart Services, KI – Blockchainbasierter Wartungsprozess](https://spie.de/projekte/digital/data-analytics-smart-services-ki)
- [Blockchain in der Instandhaltung](https://spie.de/news/2023/01/blockchain-in-der-instandhaltung)