Can You Buy a Soft Drink with Digital RMB? FreshUp Brings Smart Vending into a New Era of Cross-Border Payments

When people think of vending machines in Hong Kong, the first thing that often comes to mind is the familiar process of tapping an Octopus card, pressing a button and waiting for the drink to drop.

Today, however, vending machines are no longer limited to selling bottled drinks and snacks. They now support multiple electronic payment methods, real-time inventory monitoring and cloud-based restocking management, becoming intelligent retail stations that operate around the clock.

FreshUp is now taking this smart retail experience one step further.

We are delighted to announce that FreshUp has officially partnered with Bank of China (Hong Kong), or BOCHK, becoming one of the first vending machine networks in Hong Kong to support Digital RMB, also known as e-CNY. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in cross-border smart retail.

What Is Digital RMB? A New Cross-Border Shopping Experience without Manual Currency Exchange

Digital RMB, also known as e-CNY, is a digital form of legal tender issued by the People’s Bank of China.

For consumers, one of its greatest advantages is that it simplifies the process of making cross-border purchases.

In the past, Mainland visitors who wanted to buy a drink from a vending machine in Hong Kong might have encountered situations such as not having an Octopus card or being unfamiliar with the available payment methods.

With Digital RMB now supported by FreshUp vending machines, these small inconveniences can be greatly reduced.

At participating FreshUp vending machines, customers can simply use the Digital RMB section in BoC Pay+ or the e-CNY App to complete their payment and purchase products quickly.

This is the most practical value of smart retail: making everyday purchases feel more natural, convenient and seamless.

Partnering with BOCHK: The First 1,200 Vending Machines Upgraded

During long public holidays, Hong Kong welcomes large numbers of visitors from Mainland China.

A notable example was the National Games jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao at the end of 2025. As one of the host cities, Hong Kong welcomed a large number of Mainland visitors and sports enthusiasts.

To make cross-border spending more convenient during major events and peak holiday periods, FreshUp has already upgraded its technology and services.

Seamless Conversion, Scan and Pay

Mainland visitors only need to open the Digital RMB section in BoC Pay+ or use the e-CNY App to scan and pay. The system automatically converts the payment into Hong Kong dollars in real time.

Phased Expansion across the Network

In the first phase of the project, Digital RMB payment was successfully activated across 1,200 FreshUp vending machines.

The service will gradually be expanded to more FreshUp locations across Hong Kong, covering the everyday routes and high-traffic destinations of both visitors and local residents.

A Win-Win Upgrade for Visitor Experience and Property Image

When FreshUp smart vending machines are installed in high-traffic locations such as shopping centres, tourist attractions, hotels and office buildings, they create meaningful value for both consumers and venue operators.

For Mainland Visitors

When visitors need drinks, snacks or daily essentials, they can use a familiar payment method to complete their purchases quickly. This significantly improves their travel and business experience while staying in Hong Kong.

For Property Owners and Businesses

Vending machines have become an extension of a venue’s customer service offering.

By supporting Digital RMB, properties and businesses can demonstrate their commitment to innovative technology and user experience while further enhancing the modern image of the venue.

FreshUp Provides a Complete Smart Retail Solution

Installing a vending machine may seem simple, but maintaining efficient operations requires professional support behind the scenes.

FreshUp specialises in vending machine solutions across Hong Kong and provides comprehensive services for businesses and government organisations.

Site assessment ➔ Machine configuration ➔ Product selection ➔ FreshUp manages all vending machine operation needs

From site planning and machine selection to product configuration and daily operations, FreshUp takes care of the entire vending machine service.

Supporting Digital RMB payment is another important step in FreshUp’s ongoing development of smart retail.

The future of retail is not only about placing products in front of consumers. It is also about enabling customers to complete purchases in the most convenient, familiar and natural way possible.

Contact FreshUp today to learn more about our Digital RMB-enabled vending machine services and upgrade the retail experience at your venue.

Media Coverage

BOCHK Expands Digital RMB Payments to Circle K and FreshUp Vending Machines, with HK$1 Million in National Games Consumer Rewards

Read the related media report