Big data to make big progress in payments

Shanghai residents will soon be able to pay for local government services using UnionPay, Alipay or WeChat.

Shanghai Big Data Center has signed agreements with China UnionPay, Ant Financial and Tencent to collaborate on development of the city’s public payment platform.

By the end of September, residents won’t need to pay in cash for services such as applications for passports and residence permits.

“It is an important step toward one-stop government services,” said Vice Mayor Zhou Bo.

People used to have to go to two windows — one for applications, the other for cash payments — to pay for government services. Now they need only go to one. 

Applications for driving licenses and payments for car registration plates can already be made online.

It is expected that another 15 services provided by the public security bureau, the human resources and social security bureau and the education commission will be included in the program in a month’s time.