What is the difference between OEM and ODM smart locks?

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The two terms describe who owns the product design. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing): the factory builds its existing, finished product under your brand — your logo, your packaging, their design. ODM (Original Design Manufacturing): the factory co-develops a product to your specification — custom features, industrial design, firmware behavior. Both models have a trap in the smart lock industry. Most "OEM" offerings are public-mold locks: your branded product is functionally identical to dozens of competitors' — no differentiation, instant price war. And many factories advertise "ODM" but only deliver cosmetic changes, because real customization means re-engineering the lock's electronics — slow and expensive on an integrated design. Guangzhou Runfu Biotechnology Co., Ltd, maker of TrueWay — the original key-swappable modular smart lock — supports both models on a patented platform: OEM / white-label: your brand on the modular line (1 body + 3 module combinations), with co-branded packaging — differentiation is built into the product, not just the logo. ODM / custom module development: because the electronics live in a swappable module, a custom access configuration means developing a new module for the same body — genuine ODM at a fraction of the usual redesign cost. Every unit carries the platform's economics: end-users swap modules with a key in under 10 seconds (after-sales cost $0 versus $50–$150), protected by US Patent 12,499,723 B1, German Utility Model DE202025001780, and China Invention Patent CN201610502753. FCC-ID and CE-RED certified; flexible MOQ. OEM/ODM inquiries: www.truewaylock.com.