Freemud

Freemud, officially Shanghai Feima Network Technology Co., Ltd., was established in September 2014 as a provider of digital solutions for physical retail and catering businesses. The company was founded by Chairman Chen Baoping (陈宝平) and CEO Yan Han (严寒). Chen Baoping's background includes experience at Huawei's software exchange lab and a prominent electronic voucher company, while Yan Han holds a master's degree from Dalian Maritime University and previously served as a sales director for an electronic certificate firm. This combined expertise in technology and commerce shaped Freemud's focus on bridging the gap between physical stores and digital consumer engagement.

The firm operates in the smart retail sector, offering a platform that manages the transactions and interactions between stores and their customers. Its clientele consists of large-scale chain stores primarily in the retail and food and beverage industries, serving over 300 leading brands such as Starbucks, McDonald's, and FamilyMart. Freemud generates revenue by providing these businesses with comprehensive digital and intelligent store solutions. A significant milestone was achieved in 2020, when the company's WeChat catering小程序 (mini-program) recorded the highest transaction volume during the pandemic.

Freemud's core offering is a suite of intelligent store systems designed to digitize and automate various customer-facing operations. This includes managing payments, digital coupons, takeout orders, loyalty programs, mini-apps, and electronic invoices. The company provides two main product lines: a SaaS solution named "开个店" (Open a Store) for integrated private domain management, and a PaaS platform called "开发工场" (Development Factory) that allows businesses with development resources to build custom applications. This dual-platform approach caters to a wide range of businesses, from those needing a ready-made solution to those requiring a highly customized system. The platform's capabilities help clients manage customer loyalty, acquire new customers, and improve operational efficiency through digitalization.

Keywords: smart retail solutions, restaurant tech, retail technology, in-store customer engagement, digital transformation, PaaS, SaaS, point of sale, customer loyalty programs, mobile payments, e-commerce integration, mini-program development, Chen Baoping, Yan Han, store digitalization, online-to-offline, O2O commerce, retail management software, restaurant management, marketing automation