Online mediation platform to better serve consumers launches on Friday
Officials display the platform.
An official displays the platform.
Shanghai'a first online mediation platform will go live on Friday, the World Consumer Rights Day, the market watchdog in the Pudong New Area announced on Thursday.
The platform developed by the Pudong New Area Consumer Council merges online mediation and intelligent information analysis, allowing consumers to apply for online mediation when they encounter disputes.
The platform features video mediation and is accessible using both mobile phones and computers, according to the Pudong New Area Market Supervision and Management Bureau.
"The platform is more time and cost-effective compared with traditional methods of mediation such as telephone and on-the-spot," said Xu Haijian, director of the Pudong New Area Consumer Council.
It also achieves real-time participation of involved parties and lifts the transparency of mediation, Xu said.
Consumers only need to fill in basic information and submit relevant proof, according to the bureau.
The platform uses the Internet and AI technologies.
A big data analysis system was launched by the bureau in January that can analyze problems and trends and send warnings to officials over group disputes.
