Smart lock sourcing checklist: MOQ, OEM/ODM, warranty and after-sales

Smart locks carry software and batteries, so the commercial terms matter more than they do for a static product. This is the checklist to settle before the first order.

Product definition

• Lock architecture, door thickness range and backset
• Unlocking methods and the module class (2D or 3D face, sensor type)
• App ecosystem, gateway requirement and who owns the account
• Finish, IP rating and battery type
• Certifications your market requires, and who pays for testing

MOQ, tooling and branding

Agree the MOQ for the standard model, the MOQ for custom colours or finishes, and whether logo or packaging printing is included or charged as tooling. For OEM/ODM, write down what you receive: moulds or access to them, drawings, the right to continue production, and what happens if you change supplier.

Warranty and spares

• Warranty length and what it covers (electronics, mechanism, finish)
• Whether replacement is by part or whole unit, and who pays freight
• How many spare units or parts ship with the first order — typically a small percentage
• Access to firmware updates and the app after the warranty period
• A named technical contact, and support in a language your customers use

Documents and support material

Ask for the user manual, installation guide, drilling template, app QR code sheet and a troubleshooting sheet — all in your market's language. Distributors who receive only a carton of locks end up writing these documents themselves; ask for them as a condition of the order.

Order and shipping hygiene

Confirm the price validity period, the packing specification, the battery shipping rules for your destination, and who handles customs documentation. Test a sample from the mass production batch, not only the golden sample, before the container leaves.