ZKTeco is forging a new path, expanding beyond biometrics into AIoT and cognitive computing to redefine security and human-tech interaction.

ZKTeco’s journey of transformation, resilience, and innovation continues as the company ventures into new areas beyond traditional biometrics-based access control, proving its agility in seizing emerging opportunities.

As Security 50 offers major players like ZKTeco a chance to reflect on their progress, the company, a sponsor of this year’s Tech Trends Maturity and Suitability Index Survey, celebrates two decades of success.

“We began as a pioneer in biometric identification, and today, we are a global technology company leading the convergence of biometrics, AIoT, and cognitive computing,” says Swift Wu, General Manager of ZKTeco Business Group.

The year 2025 marked a turning point for the industry, spurred by AI-driven technological advancements, creating new possibilities across various sectors. For ZKTeco, the most significant trends were the convergence of physical and digital security and the expansion of security beyond its conventional boundaries.

“Technologies once considered niche—such as biometrics, AI analytics, and IoT integration—have become essential infrastructure,” Wu stated, adding that technology-driven expansion beyond security was one of the main market drivers in 2025.

“Over the past year, the global market has shown strong momentum in smart access, digital identity authentication, and AIoT-driven operational intelligence, indicating that the industry’s growth is now driven by intelligence, not merely by hardware,” Wu says.

Three Core Principles for Future Success

ZKTeco is focused on innovation, trust, and respect to ensure its success.

“Innovation has always been the engine of our growth,” Wu says. “Trust defines our relationship with partners. Respect reflects how we treat our partners, employees, and communities.”

“As we expand beyond traditional access control into smart offices, smart spaces, digital identity systems, and brain-computer interface applications, we are inviting customers to join us on a journey — one that redefines how humans interact with technology,” he adds. “For partners and distributors, this expansion means greater opportunity — a broader portfolio, stronger margins, and alignment with the next wave of security innovation. For end users, it means solutions that are more adaptive, seamless, and intuitive.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Wu anticipates converging trends such as AI-driven multimodal biometrics, cloud-edge integration, and the emergence of emotional and cognitive intelligence, positioning ZKTeco as a proactive leader in innovation and expansion.

Global Expansion Underway

ZKTeco maintains a balanced global presence across both mature and emerging markets, uniting leading brands. Its forays into new technologies are supported by a global network of hubs, reflecting its ambitious goals.

In the US, a forthcoming manufacturing and R&D center, Wu says, “will address demand through localized production and innovation tailored to regulatory standards such as data residency and origin certification.”

In Saudi Arabia, a new ZKTeco manufacturing hub is under construction—“designed to serve as a regional engine for rapid customization and delivery.”

In Southeast Asia—“one of our most dynamic markets”—it operates a supply chain base focused on strengthening ZKTeco’s presence in smart offices, SaaS-based security, and SME solutions. New sites are also being developed in Brazil, South Africa, and Egypt. “Local production plus local service equals global trust,” Wu says.

Rethinking Technology

ZKTeco’s global expansion is driven by a vision of deeper integration. Known for its access control terminals with a strong biometrics foundation, ZKTeco is redefining its technology’s potential. It aims to transform its products from simple security tools into central nodes of cognitive systems. These systems will integrate diverse IoT functionalities and provide actionable insights for operators, setting ZKTeco apart in a competitive market.

“The access control market today is more competitive than ever—and that is precisely what makes it exciting. While many companies compete on price or hardware, ZKTeco differentiates itself by integrating intelligence, design, and experience into everything we build,” Wu explains. “Our approach blends cutting-edge engineering with human-centric design, turning access control into a gateway for broader digital transformation.”

With recent releases like the MarsLume AI and RS3 platforms, which enable AI cognition and orchestrate IoT responses across various scenarios, and the all-integrated Zophon-S1000 access control module, ZKTeco meets the evolving needs of its customers and partners.

“ZKTeco’s brand is defined by a powerful duality—we are both a technology innovator and a human-centered enabler. Over the years, as the security industry has evolved from physical protection to digital intelligence, ZKTeco’s identity has remained grounded in one enduring belief: technology must serve humanity, not the other way around,” he says. “In 2025 and beyond, we see ZKTeco not just as a manufacturer, but as a creator of ecosystems. Our technologies—biometrics, AIoT, cloud-edge systems, and soon brain-computer interfaces—are all interconnected under one guiding vision: to empower organizations and individuals to live and work securely, intelligently, and confidently in a rapidly changing world.”

With the shift from isolated solutions to integrated ecosystems, the stakes of handling sensitive data increase significantly.

“In the biometric and identity industry, where technology interacts directly with personal data, maintaining trust is not optional — it is existential,” Wu states. “We believe trust must be earned continuously through transparency, compliance, and value creation.”

“Ultimately, our goal is to move beyond traditional security into intelligent, empathetic technology that enhances daily life,” Wu says. “We believe the next revolution in security isn’t just about protection—it’s about understanding people and creating a future where technology and humanity coexist harmoniously.”

Personal Mission

For Wu, this vision is more than a corporate strategy—it’s a personal mission. By integrating trust and empathy into every system, he envisions ZKTeco not just as a technology provider, but as a partner that inspires confidence, respect, and emotional engagement for its customers and employees.

“On a personal level, my aspiration is to lead ZKTeco into becoming a company that is both respected and loved—admired for its technological innovation and trusted for its integrity. I believe the future of leadership lies in emotional intelligence—the ability to inspire people, not just manage them,” Wu adds. “By 2026, I hope to see ZKTeco stand as a symbol of what modern technology companies should be: globally responsible, locally rooted, emotionally intelligent, and endlessly innovative. We are not just shaping the future of access control—we are building the architecture of intelligent life itself.”

For more information about ZKTeco, please visit https://www.zkteco.com.