SaaS Publishing and Localisation in China

Launching a software-as-a-service (SaaS) product in China involves decisions about your operating entity, regulatory requirements, infrastructure and customer experience. Supporting existing enterprise customers may require a different approach from selling directly to Chinese consumers.

AppInChina helps international companies assess these requirements, publish and localise their SaaS products, and manage agreed local operations.

Why Does SaaS Publishing Require a Different Approach in China?

As a result of the Great Firewall and local regulations, China has different internet access regulations as well as different cloud platforms and licensing requirements. A SaaS product that works in other markets can therefore need changes before it can operate in China.

• Internet access: Some overseas services are blocked or unreliable, which can prevent features such as login or notifications from working.
• Local accounts: Cloud platforms and other service providers may require a Chinese account holder and local business documents.
• Regulatory approvals: Website and app filings, operating licences and cybersecurity requirements depend on the service being provided.

This means that simply translating and providing the solution to Chinese users does not resolve fundamental issues that will affect how the solution functions.

Why is Technical Localisation Required for SaaS in China?

Technical localisation changes the software and its integrations so that users in China can access its features reliably.

For example, if your SaaS product relies on an overseas identity service that users cannot reach, they cannot log in even when the application itself is hosted in China. The login integration must be changed or replaced.

Part of the product	Examples of technical localisation
Registration and login	Integrating a compatible identity service, SMS verification or WeChat Login.
Cloud integrations	Changing credentials, API endpoints and integrations to use services available in the selected China region.
Payments and invoicing	Adding WeChat Pay, Alipay or UnionPay, and connecting to an electronic fapiao service for Chinese tax invoices.

Can You Publish a SaaS Product Without a Chinese Entity?

Yes, a local Chinese publishing partner, such as AppInChina, can localise and operate the Chinese service on your behalf. The foreign company can remain the software owner while the partner handles the agreed publishing responsibilities in China.

The two main routes are:

• Your own Chinese entity: Your company opens local accounts and applies for the approvals it is eligible to hold.
• A Chinese publishing partner: The partner operates the local service and holds the accounts, filings and licences required under the agreed arrangement.

A Chinese business licence alone does not authorise every type of SaaS service. The operating company must also obtain the relevant certificates and filings to ensure the solution is fully compliant. Establishing a Chinese company does not automatically resolve all licensing requirements. 

What Are the Compliance Requirements for SaaS in China?

What you need to make your solution compliant depends on the product’s functions, hosting, operating entity and data processing. Common compliance requirements include:

Requirement	What it covers
ICP Filing	Registers the service and its operator. The ICP Filing is required for a publicly accessible website hosted in Mainland China.
ICP License	The ICP License must be held by any company generating revenue from commercial internet information or telecom services.
PSB Filing	Registers website information with public security authorities, separately from the ICP Filing.
MLPS Filing	Sets cybersecurity requirements according to the system’s classification. SaaS products do not all require the same protection level.
Mobile App Filing	Applies to mobile apps providing internet information services in China. A website filing alone does not complete the filing requirements for an accompanying app.
Personal information and data transfers	SaaS solutions also need to be in compliance with local data laws. Data assessments should cover how customer data is collected, used, stored and transferred overseas. The applicable transfer procedures depend on the data, its volume and available exemptions.

To find out what your solution needs to become compliant in China, contact us for a free compliance assessment. 

Does Your SaaS Product Need Hosting in Mainland China?

Mainland hosting can improve performance by keeping application requests and database traffic within China, reducing reliance on cross-border connections. It is particularly relevant to SaaS products that make frequent requests to their servers.

Mainland hosting is not a universal requirement for every SaaS product. Mandatory local storage requirements depend on the service, the data and the rules applying to its operator. Hosting overseas also does not automatically remove Chinese regulatory obligations.

For deployment options and migration considerations, read our cloud hosting in China guide.

How Do You Open a Cloud Account in China?

The requirements depend on the provider. AWS China and Azure China, for instance, are separate from their global platforms, so an existing global account does not give you access to their Mainland China environments.

• AWS China: Requires a separate China account and a Mainland Chinese legal entity, with a business licence or another accepted registration certificate.
• Azure China: Operates through 21Vianet, with separate subscriptions and a Chinese legal entity requirement for commercial customers.

A company without its own eligible Chinese entity can work with a local partner, such as AppInChina, that holds and manages the account. Other providers, such as Alibaba Cloud or Tencent Cloud, have their own registration and verification rules. 

To learn more about China’s top cloud providers, our Cloud Provider Index introduces the main providers, their market share, and approximate annual revenue. 

What SaaS Publishing Services Can AppInChina Provide?

AppInChina helps international SaaS companies put these requirements into practice:

• Local publishing: Publish eligible products through our Chinese entity and support distribution of accompanying mobile apps.
• Compliance applications: Identify required approvals and coordinate ICP, PSB, MLPS and other applicable compliance work.
• Technical localisation: Identify incompatible services and help integrate local login, payment and other service providers.
• Cloud deployment: Configure the China environment and assist with migration, application integration and testing.
• Account management and billing: Open and manage supported local accounts, coordinate cloud-provider payments and invoices. 
• Payments and invoicing: Help integrate WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay and electronic fapiao services.
• Ongoing support: Communicate with local providers, troubleshoot technical issues and provide customer support.

Read more about our publishing services and China cloud services to learn how AppInChina can support your China entry. Contact us to get started with your SaaS deployment in China.