Business · Economy · 1 hr ago
China speeds up digital upgrades across its service industries
China is speeding up digital upgrades across its service industries, including trade, transport, logistics and daily services.
At a redesigned gas station in Wuhan, drivers can pay and receive an electronic invoice through one system, cutting the time needed for the process by more than 80%.
In Xiamen, all 10 community health centers in Siming district offer a system that lets patients receive care before paying; it had served 184,000 outpatient and emergency visits by September 2026.
More than 60% of large service companies in China use digital technologies such as cloud computing, while 20.2% have introduced artificial intelligence applications.
The information technology services sector's production index rose 10.4% in the first eight months of the year, as demand for artificial intelligence and computing power grew.
China says it will promote more accessible digital services and low-cost tools to help smaller service businesses make the transition.
China is accelerating digital and smart upgrades across its service industries, including commerce, transport, logistics and daily services.
The upgrades are intended to improve customer experience and business efficiency, while creating new types of services.
At a renovated Wuhan petrol station, an integrated system for refuelling, payment and invoicing has cut the time needed for the process by more than 80%.
By September 2026, 10 community health centres in Xiamen had introduced a credit-based system allowing patients to receive care before paying.
More than 60% of large service-sector companies in China had applied digital technologies such as cloud computing, according to figures cited in the report.
- Who
- China is upgrading its service industries, including businesses and public-service providers.
- What
- It is applying digital and smart technologies to service operations and processes.
- When
- The upgrades have accelerated since the start of 2026.
- Where
- Across China, with examples in Wuhan and Xiamen.
- Why
- To improve public convenience and market efficiency, reduce business costs and support new services.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China accelerated digital and smart upgrades across its service industries.
Drivers used an integrated refuelling, payment and invoicing system at a renovated petrol station in Wuhan.
The production index for information transmission, software and information technology services rose 10.4% year on year.
Xiamen's 10 community health centres had all introduced credit-based medical care, serving 184,000 outpatient and emergency visits.
- Digital technology uptake
- More than 60% of large service-sector companies had applied technologies such as cloud computing.
- AI applications
- 20.2% of large service-sector companies had implemented artificial-intelligence-related applications.
- Wuhan petrol station
- The integrated system shortened the process by more than 80%.
- Xiamen credit-based care
- 10 community health centres had adopted the system by September 2026.
- Xiamen visits
- 184,000 outpatient and emergency visits had used credit-based care by September 2026.
- Industry production index
- Information transmission, software and information technology services rose 10.4% year on year in the first eight months of 2026.
What people are saying
service-sector digitalisation means using digital and smart technologies to optimise existing business processes
first treatment, then payment
Sources
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