A clerk at the Weifang high-tech zone's government service center instructs a resident on how to use storage boxes to file an application.

Han Peng, a resident of the Weifang Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, got his business license from a storage box in the zone's government service center at noon on Oct 28, when all service staff members were off duty.

"I was just trying it. But the storage box service is very convenient and saves time," Han said with a big smile.

Han was applying for a business license for his small shop. He visited the government service center in the early morning on Oct 28, and found a long queue at the counter.

"I was concerned that I would not have time to visit the bank in the morning," Han said.

Then, working staff suggested he use the new storage box services.

"They gave me a piece of paper with instructions so I would know how to use the box," he said.

Han entered his personal information and requests and put all the documents in the storage box, then left to visit a bank.

When he was still at the bank, he received a text message from the government service center that his application had been approved and that he could pick up his business license from the storage box at any time.

Ding Yugang, a staff member at the government service center, said: "We developed the storage boxes for busy government departments such as the market supervision bureau and property registration center to increase their working efficiency and help residents to save time."

Ding said the storage box service system, first introduced by the zone in Shandong province, will notify staff about the case soon after applicants put documents into the storage boxes.

The working staff process the application, put documents back into the boxes once completed and send messages to applicants to pick up their documents.

For applications that need more information, staff will follow the same procedures to inform applicants to collect their application and provide further documents.

Wang Yan, from the government service center, said that the storage box services not only shortened people's wait time, but also promoted the use of the online appointment system.

Chen Jiancheng, director of the government service center, said: "The internet plus government services is a development goal of the local administration. It will save enterprises and local residents time, and improve working efficiency."