As morning light falls once again upon Shenzhen Bay, this land of reform and pioneering spirit celebrates a remarkable milestone: the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. From the groundbreaking blast at Shekou Industrial Zone in 1980 to its rise as a global metropolis, Shenzhen has embodied the spirit of “daring to lead the world,” transforming from a small fishing village into an innovation hub.

Throughout this extraordinary journey, SED Initta has grown alongside the city. Since entering the payment terminal business in 1988, we have walked with Shenzhen for 37 years. With technology as our pen and perseverance as our ink, we have helped sketch the innovation path of China’s commercial equipment industry—and built a dedicated, passionate team that continues to march forward in step with the times.

Shenzhen in the 1980s

(Image source: Internet)

Tracing back to the origins of SED Initta, we find a story intertwined with the vibrant rise of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. In 1986, Mr. William Li, then an outstanding university graduate, arrived at the Shenzhen office of China’s Ministry of Electronics. It was an era when the city was opening its arms to countless dreamers and determined builders.

Inspired by Shenzhen’s trailblazing and trial-driven spirit, SED Company keenly foresaw the future of electronic information technology. In 1988, it established a dedicated POS company—marking not only the beginning of SED Initta’s journey, but a key milestone in the emergence of China’s POS industry.

Over the past 37 years, as one of China’s first-generation POS experts shaped by the reform and opening-up era, Mr. Li has consistently adhered to the philosophy of “Quality Brands, Crafted with Ingenuity.” Under his leadership, the company has focused on retail, catering, healthcare, hospitality, and digital finance—continuously meeting the multi-format needs of clients through digital transformation and product innovation.

From serving as Board Secretary and Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen SED Industry Co., Ltd. (listed as 000032 on China’s main board), to founding SED Initta and becoming its CEO, each step of William Li’s career has resonated with Shenzhen’s industrial upgrading and China’s pursuit of self-reliant innovation in commercial equipment.

For 37 years, SED Initta’s technological journey has never been walked alone. Every breakthrough at key milestones has been made possible by a team moving forward together.

In 1991, the company independently developed China’s first ECR (Electronic Cash Register), marking the birth of the domestic POS industry—a achievement built on the dedication and perseverance of an early team starting from scratch.

By 1994, SED had become a state-appointed production base for tax-controlled POS machines. It was during this period that Mr. Cheng Yongsheng, now Chief Engineer and Head of Hardware R&D, joined the company upon completing his postgraduate studies, beginning his deep dive into the commercial equipment industry.

Under Mr. Cheng’s leadership, the R&D team has consistently broken through technical barriers:

• Pioneering the development of tax-controlled and financial tax-controlled cash registers based on intelligent operating systems in China, making tax management more efficient;

• Spearheading self-service retail solutions and unmanned store systems, driving innovation in retail formats and turning the vision of “empowering business through technology” into reality.

He led the Shenzhen Municipal Science & Technology Plan project “Tax Control Systems for Large Retail Enterprises,” contributed to the national standard GB/T 18240.3, and holds over 30 patents—achievements that reflect not only his expertise but also the solid technical foundation of SED Initta.

Today, as a computer technology expert in the Shenzhen Expert Pool and an industry evaluator for the Shenzhen Mayor’s Quality Award, Mr. Cheng continues to inject professional energy into both industrial progress and the company’s innovation journey.

While the R&D team serves as the company’s “technical engine,” the production, supply chain, and service teams form the solid foundation that turns technological achievements into reality.

Mr. Zhang Peng, Vice President of SED Initta, has dedicated 25 years to production and supply chain management. Through optimized processes and a steadfast focus on supply chain stability, his rigorous management and highly efficient execution have earned him repeated honors such as “Outstanding Manager” and “Advanced Worker.”

His tenure has seen the company reach multiple institutional milestones—from achieving China’s CCC (Compulsory Product Certification) and Software Enterprise Certification in 2003, to obtaining ISO 14000 Environmental Management System certification in 2005, and more recently, being recognized as a National-Level Green Factory in 2024. Each accreditation not only affirms the company’s commitment to sustainable and well-managed production—but also stands as a testament to the dedication of Mr. Zhang and his team.

On the front lines of customer service, the story of Wang Zheng, Service Team Lead, reflects the human commitment behind the technology. Since joining SED Initta in August 1999, he has worked his way up from assembling and testing POS hosts—always putting customers first.

In one instance, to help a client meet an urgent store-opening deadline, he and colleagues worked through the night to install dozens of payment terminals. Efforts like these embody SED Initta’s principle of “customer first,” turning commitment into action—one installation at a time.

In an era of accelerating technological change, the ability to innovate and transform has been key to SED Initta’s sustained vitality. Over the past 22 years, Ji Lei from the Hardware R&D Department has remained at the forefront of product development.

In 2007, he contributed to the company’s first touch-enabled POS system, the SED8000, helping usher in the “age of touch-based interaction” in commercial POS equipment—a breakthrough that positioned SED Initta as an industry leader in human-machine interaction.

Through his involvement in overseas product development and technical support, Ji Lei also keenly observed the nuanced demands of international customers, identifying key areas for improvement aligned with global premium brands. His insights have provided valuable direction for the company’s ongoing product enhancements and international growth.

Also unafraid to challenge himself is Sales Manager Xiong Wei, whose 22-year journey with the company has seen him successfully transition from service engineer to sales professional. By stepping out of his comfort zone and embracing market challenges, he has leveraged his deep product knowledge and sincere service approach to not only advance his own career but also help expand SED Initta’s presence across a growing range of industry scenarios.

Quality is the lifeline of technology products—and a commitment SED Initta has never compromised. For 20 years, Liang Hongping of the Quality Department has upheld this principle with relentless attention to detail.

In 2009, when the company’s first capacitive touch POS model (SED8600) encountered touch-response issues, he made multiple visits to customer sites, conducting repeated tests and on-site analysis until the problem was resolved—gaining invaluable insights that informed subsequent capacitive product development.

During the National Day holiday in 2023, he adjusted his plans and returned to the factory four days early to support urgent production needs, ensuring on-time order delivery.

This persistent dedication to quality has underpinned the company’s key milestones—from being recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise in 2010, to achieving CMMI Level 3 certification in 2023 (confirming international standards in software engineering), to launching multiple products with proprietary intellectual property. Each step has been built on a foundation of excellence.

A 37-Year Journey of Growth and Innovation Alongside Shenzhen

From establishing a Sino-American joint venture in 1995—pioneering global engagement—to launching the SC series of self-service terminals in 2014 and transitioning into an integrated smart business solutions provider; from introducing face recognition payment terminals in 2018 to capturing the biometric payment market, to releasing the SilverLink IoT platform in 2020 enabling omni-channel payment and supply chain convergence; from commercializing AI-powered devices in 2022, to debuting the independently developed "SmartEye" AI Loss Prevention Solution in 2025 based on a leading AI architecture—SED Initta’s 37-year journey has unfolded hand-in-hand with the growth of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

As a pioneer and leader in China’s intelligent commercial payment equipment sector, we have witnessed Shenzhen’s transformation from a “manufacturing hub” into a “powerhouse of innovation.” In this fertile ground for industrial development, we too have evolved—from a POS equipment manufacturer into a comprehensive smart business equipment and service provider.

As we stand at the milestone of the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen SEZ, we are deeply aware that every achievement of SED Initta has been made possible by the policy support and innovative environment of the city, the trust of our customers, and above all—the dedication and hard work of generations of SED Initta employees.

Moving forward, we will continue to learn with humility, innovate with purpose, and invest deeply in technology. In supporting Shenzhen’s mission to become a “Demonstration Zone for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” we remain committed to enabling growth through technology and service, guided by our core philosophy of “Growing Together with Our Customers.”

We will persist in contributing to the development of China’s commercial equipment industry and to the high-quality growth of Shenzhen.

In step with the times, we keep moving forward.
Building dreams with technology, we embrace what lies ahead.

Here’s to the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone!
Here’s to every pioneer who shaped this remarkable city!
And here’s to every dedicated individual who has walked alongside SED Initta!