Initial conversation
Understand the business goal, intended users, current situation, expected outcome and whether SmartLink is the right fit, without requiring confidential technical disclosure.
How we work
A controlled path from question to outcome.
We organize complex product work into clear decisions, responsibilities and deliverables, while protecting confidential information and keeping the customer in control.
Before technical disclosure
Confidentiality starts at the beginning.
The first conversation stays at a practical, high level: what the product should achieve, who will use it, its current stage and the main commercial or technical challenge. Before sensitive drawings, source files, architecture or business information are disclosed, we can sign a mutual NDA.
NDA & protected information review
Sign a mutual NDA where required, then review the available product, drawings, samples, software, market requirements and commercial constraints through an agreed confidential channel.
Product & system specification
Define product functions, hardware, firmware, software, communications, server requirements, mechanical interfaces, user workflows, operating environment and measurable acceptance criteria. Target markets, intended use, expected compliance pathways and documentation responsibilities are identified before the design is locked.
Scope, ownership & responsibility map
Agree what SmartLink develops or coordinates, what the customer supplies and approves, which files are delivered, who owns each result, what is excluded and where formal decisions are required.
Commercial proposal & project agreement
Confirm milestones, estimated effort, payment structure, external costs, assumptions, confidentiality, ownership and change control rules before execution.
Collaborative development or sourcing
Execute the agreed work with visible milestones, regular communication and customer participation in key technical, commercial and approval decisions.
Review, test & improve
Validate the result against the approved specification, share findings, resolve issues and manage revisions together without losing control of the agreed baseline. Where required, preliminary compliance work, formal laboratory testing, findings, corrective actions and retesting are coordinated through the agreed project path.
Handover or production transition
Deliver the agreed files and documentation, or coordinate the move into a controlled production path.
Optional lifecycle support
Continue with maintenance, server and application updates, product improvements and supply coordination.
Security, data & customer control
Your infrastructure follows your policy, not our location.
SmartLink does not require a customer’s production server, cloud account or product data to be hosted in China. The customer selects the provider, account owner and permitted geographic region.
Customer assurance
Our role is to specify, build and support the required system. Your role in ownership and control remains explicit: infrastructure location, credentials, access rules, backups, source delivery and ongoing responsibilities are documented for the chosen engagement model.
Account owned by the customer
Cloud infrastructure can sit in an account and location selected and controlled by the customer.
Billing ownership, administrator access and the primary account can remain with the customer. SmartLink receives only the access needed for the agreed work and support period.
Selected country or region
Hosting can be chosen for latency, policy, contractual or data residency requirements.
The architecture can be planned around the location approved by the customer, including a provider and geographic region aligned with internal policy or customer obligations.
Hardware controlled by the customer
Where suitable, we can specify requirements for a server the customer purchases and controls.
For private or on premises deployment, we can define practical compute, storage, operating system, network and backup requirements for equipment procured by the customer.
Defined access & handover
Access, credentials, backups, updates and operational responsibilities are agreed for the engagement.
We separate development convenience from production control. Privileges, credential ownership, recovery, support access and final handover are treated as project decisions, not left to assumption.
Flexible commercial structure
Choose the model that fits the product.
Development Owned by the Client
You fund the agreed development and receive the deliverables created for the project and ownership rights listed in the contract.
- Source and design files as agreed
- Documentation and technical handover
- Infrastructure controlled by the customer where applicable
- Optional support after launch
Development Through Production Commitment
For suitable standalone products, reduced or deferred development cost may be negotiated against a substantial minimum order commitment.
- Commercial terms agreed case by case
- SmartLink retains source and design files
- Products supplied through SmartLink
- Best suited to standalone products
Existing Product Modification
Upgrade an existing product with new functions, improved electronics, updated software, better usability or adaptation for a new application.
- Review of the existing product and constraints
- Targeted hardware, firmware or software changes
- Prototype, verification and production update
- Ownership defined for the agreed scope
A clear first step
Let’s understand the requirement before prescribing the solution.
Tell us what you are trying to create, improve or source. We will help define the right next step.