Apps bring bigger paychecks

Thanks to Internet technology that matches freelance workers, such as housekeepers and manicurists, with demand for lifestyle services, the online-to-offline industry has become a well-paid sector with salaries topping those of white-collar professionals, says a recent report.

A report released in early January by classified ad website ganji.com showed that the average monthly salary for O2O freelancers, who offer services after receiving orders online, reached 8,300 yuan ($1,333) in 2014 compared with the average of 7,200 yuan for white-collar workers in Shanghai, the nation's business hub.

A growing number of entrepreneurs and investors are betting on a rosy future for O2O business in China, creating all kinds of mobile applications answering various demands, ranging from pet grooming to food delivery.