Shanghai Household Service Association announced on Tuesday that it is offering a free housekeeper-reservation application for smartphone users, according to the city's Oriental Morning Post.

The app allows smartphone users to choose an ayi, or nanny, among 40,000 housekeepers from 460 domestic agencies.

People can enter their address and desired appointment time, and the app will offer a selection of suitable candidates.

The app aims to decrease illegal agencies and address public complaints of ayi shortages, according to a spokesman for the association.

The Shanghai Women's Federation is also building an online domestic service information database. It is expected to launch by October.