China has published a new retail enterprise digitalisation standard aimed at measuring the information technology and digital maturity of retail businesses.

The “Retail Enterprise Informatization Level Evaluation Indicators” standard (SB/T 10375-2025) replaces the previous version and came into force on 1 January 2026, establishing a formal framework for assessing how well retail companies adopt and use digital systems across their operations.

The new standard responds to broader commercial and regulatory efforts in China to monitor and guide digital transformation in the retail sector, reflecting the growing emphasis on retail digital transformation, retail technology standards, and measurement of digital capability in a fast-evolving market.

Background and scope of the retail digitalisation standard

The SB/T 10375-2025 standard was developed under the auspices of China’s National Technical Committee for Standardisation of Wholesale and Retail Markets (SAC/TC 438), with the Ministry of Commerce responsible for its oversight.

It was drafted by a consortium of industry bodies and technology firms, including the China General Chamber of Commerce and several digital services providers, indicating a multi-stakeholder process.

This standard is recommended for use by retail enterprises themselves as well as by information technology service vendors and third-party specialists conducting assessments.

It provides retail firms and evaluators with a consistent measurement framework for retail digitalisation and information technology adoption.

Among its purposes is to offer an objective yardstick for comparing digital maturity across enterprises, supporting benchmarking and planning for retail IT investment and digital retail strategy.

How the standard fits into broader digital policy

China’s market regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), plays a central role in overseeing market standards and competition, including digital market practices across sectors.

SAMR was formed in 2018 by consolidating multiple regulatory agencies and now serves as the key agency for market supervision, antitrust enforcement and standards implementation in China’s economy.

While the retail digitalisation standard itself does not impose regulatory penalties, it complements other national policies aimed at digital transformation and data-driven commerce.

Broader regulatory initiatives and draft frameworks impacting digital platforms and e-commerce have been under discussion in recent years, reflecting authorities’ interest in shaping how digital and retail markets evolve.

Standards such as SB/T 10375-2025 can support data maturity assessment, help inform compliance efforts with future regulatory expectations, and serve as reference for digital readiness benchmarking across the retail industry.

Implications for retail businesses and technology providers

For retail organisations, the adoption of a unified digital maturity assessment framework offers a way to benchmark performance not only against peers but also against national expectations for technology adoption.

Using the standard’s measurement indicators can assist companies in identifying gaps in retail digital transformation, IT infrastructure, and information systems integration.

Technology and service providers working with retail clients may also use the indicators to design services aligned with defined evaluation criteria, enabling clearer definitions of deliverables in areas such as point-of-sale systems, inventory technology, and customer-facing solutions.

By formalising how digital capability is assessed, the new standard contributes to more transparent evaluation practices in China’s retail sector at a time when digital technologies are increasingly central to operational performance.