A system for tracking items within a value chain, the system comprising an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to create a first object in response to an input, the first object including first identifying metadata, receive an action, and apply the action to the first object to modify the first object into a second object and modify the first identifying metadata into second identifying metadata. The electronic processor is further configured to link the second object to the first object, receive a request to retrieve a history of the second object, and generate the history, wherein the history includes the first object, the first identifying metadata, the action, the second object, and the second identifying metadata.