Jing’an to go 100% digital

JING’AN will go 100 percent digital in September when dealing with applications by people who want to start business in the district.

The move means that entrepreneurs don’t need to pay repeated visits to different government departments. Instead, they can go through all administrative procedures via the Internet, and they just need to wait at home for the business operation license to be sent by express delivery.

Jing’an, home to the Shanghai Data Exchange, is a pioneer in the city in building a “smart guide” system to create a “personalized” application form for entrepreneurs.

People who want to set up restaurant and beverage shop need to offer different documents, but they also all need the food operation permit. The system can tell them what exactly to prepare and they can obtain a tailor-made guide. Previously, they found it cost them time because they had to commute between different departments to ask for information.

Jing’an has also been chosen as a pilot district by the city government to launch “digital business operation license.”

The digital license is designed to break “walls between government departments” by sharing data. A man who wants to sell alcohol has to get a business operation license first before applying for an alcohol retail license. But the digital license will allow different departments to see it on the online platform and saving him visits. Also, his request to apply for an alcohol retail permit can be processed in advance.

However, it hasn’t been decided when to launch the digital license.