The roots of ZKTeco date back to 1998, when its founding team began developing proprietary fingerprint recognition algorithms and embedded biometric systems. During the early 2000s, the company expanded into facial recognition and multimodal biometric technologies.

Key milestones include:

• 1998–2002 – Developed proprietary fingerprint algorithms and embedded fingerprint systems.
• 2003–2006 – Expanded research into facial recognition technologies.
• 2007 – Official establishment of ZKTeco and expansion into international markets.
• 2011 – Introduced finger vein recognition and hybrid biometric algorithms.
• 2013 – Released palm recognition technology.
• 2015 – Launched visible-light facial recognition and ZKBio security management software.
• 2018 – Introduced visible-light face and fingerprint multimodal recognition.
• 2020 – Released contactless biometric solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2022 – Listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
• 2023 – Established ZKDIGIMAX for smart retail cloud services.
• 2024 – Introduced NGTeco smart living services and Ralvie AI cloud platform.
• 2025 – Began early-stage research into brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies. 1

ZKTeco develops technologies in five major business areas:

1. Biometric Authentication

The company’s primary business focuses on secure identity verification using:

• Fingerprint recognition
• Facial recognition
• Palm vein recognition
• Iris recognition
• Finger vein recognition
• Multi-modal biometric authentication

These technologies are used for authentication, attendance tracking, and secure access. 1

2. Access Control

ZKTeco manufactures systems that manage entry into buildings and restricted areas.

Products include:

• Door access controllers
• Smart door locks
• Turnstiles
• Speed gates
• Tripod barriers
• Swing barriers
• Elevator access control
• Visitor management systems

3. Time & Attendance

The company is one of the world’s best-known manufacturers of biometric attendance systems.

Its attendance products support:

• Employee clock-in/out
• Shift scheduling
• Payroll integration
• Cloud attendance
• Mobile attendance
• GPS attendance

4. Video Surveillance

ZKTeco provides:

• IP cameras
• AI surveillance cameras
• Network Video Recorders (NVR)
• Intelligent video analytics
• License plate recognition
• Facial recognition surveillance

5. Smart Space & AI Solutions

Recent business expansion includes AI-powered platforms for:

• Smart offices
• Smart campuses
• Smart factories
• Smart buildings
• Smart retail
• Parking management
• Visitor analytics
• AI-powered commercial management

These solutions combine biometrics, IoT, cloud computing, and AI analytics. 1

ZKTeco manufactures a broad range of security and automation products, including:

• Biometric attendance terminals
• Face recognition terminals
• Fingerprint scanners
• Palm recognition terminals
• Smart door locks
• RFID card readers
• Access controllers
• Metal detectors
• X-ray baggage scanners
• Vehicle barriers
• Parking management systems
• CCTV cameras
• Video intercom systems
• Elevator controllers
• Visitor management systems
• Smart POS systems
• Cloud management software

ZKTeco also develops software ecosystems to manage its hardware.

Examples include:

• ZKBio CVSecurity
• ZKBio CVAccess
• ZKBio Time
• ZKBio Cloud
• ZKBio Zlink
• ZSmart
• Minerva IoT Platform

These platforms integrate attendance, access control, surveillance, visitor management, and analytics into centralized management systems. 1

ZKTeco invests heavily in research and development in:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Deep Learning
• Computer Vision
• Biometric Recognition
• Edge AI
• IoT
• Cloud Computing
• Identity Authentication
• TinyML
• AI Cognitive Spatial Intelligence

The company promotes its BioCV TinyML Edge AI Model as a key technology for connecting physical and digital environments. 1

ZKTeco solutions are widely deployed in:

• Government
• Banking and Finance
• Healthcare
• Education
• Manufacturing
• Logistics
• Retail
• Transportation
• Hospitality
• Residential Communities
• Corporate Offices
• Data Centers
• Airports
• Public Infrastructure

Research is a significant focus for ZKTeco.

According to the company, it has:

• Around 1,000 R&D personnel
• Research centers in China, India, and other regions
• Development programs in AI, biometrics, cloud infrastructure, and deep learning
• Automated manufacturing facilities with quality control systems 1

ZKTeco operates through subsidiaries, distributors, and partners across:

• Asia
• Europe
• North America
• South America
• Africa
• Middle East
• Oceania

Its products are deployed in more than 100 countries, supported by approximately 48 overseas subsidiaries. 1

ZKTeco states that its mission is to deliver innovative and reliable technologies while emphasizing the principle of “Technology for Good.” Its stated corporate values include:

• Responsibility
• Integrity
• Pragmatism
• Excellence

The company says these values guide its approach to innovation, customer service, and long-term development. 1

ZKTeco is widely recognized in the biometric security market for its fingerprint and facial recognition technologies. Beyond hardware, it has expanded into integrated AI platforms for identity management, smart buildings, and intelligent spaces. The company is publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and has been recognized in industry rankings such as the Global Security Top 50 by a&s Magazine. 1

ZKTeco has evolved from a biometric algorithm developer into a global provider of AI-enabled security and identity solutions. Its portfolio spans biometric authentication, access control, attendance management, surveillance, smart building technologies, and cloud-based software platforms. With a strong emphasis on research and development and a broad international presence, the company serves organizations across government, enterprise, education, healthcare, retail, and other sectors. 1

1. Company Profile