With the scaling price of Bitcoin, new projects nowadays are mostly based on blockchain, extending beyond the the economic aspects. Even old concepts are being merged into crypto technology. (We've heard projects about Disney going blockchain to run its theme parks, plans to help war refugees and so on)
This article:http://freedomwithcrypto.blogspot.com/2017/12/8-ways-blockchain-will-change-world.html gives a little insight on the practical functionality of the blockchain.