China Sourcing Agent Needed for Ultra-Slim AI Voice Recorder OEM/ODM Manufacturer

We are developing our own AI-powered note-taking application and cloud platform. We are looking for an experienced China-based hardware sourcing agent to identify and qualify reliable OEM/ODM manufacturers for an ultra-slim, magnetic voice-recording device. The target product is similar in form factor to PLAUD Note, Plord, and other card-style AI voice recorders. This is not a standard white-label sourcing project. The selected device must be capable of integrating with our own mobile application. We do not intend to depend on the manufacturer’s consumer application as the primary application. We need a sourcing partner who can combine: - Genuine factory identification - Technical qualification - Firmware and BLE protocol verification - Commercial negotiation - Sample coordination - Factory inspection support Target Product: The preferred device should include most of the following features: - Ultra-slim, credit-card-style design - Magnetic attachment to the back of a smartphone - Dual MEMS microphones or a comparable high-quality microphone configuration - Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity - Local audio recording and storage - Rechargeable battery - Physical recording button or slider - Mobile application connectivity - Reliable recording for meetings, interviews, lectures, and phone-call scenarios - Custom logo, branding, packaging, and product documentation - OEM, ODM, SDK, API, BLE protocol, or firmware-customization support The product may be based on an existing manufacturer platform, provided the manufacturer owns or controls the hardware and firmware and can support integration with our application. Critical Technical Requirement: This is the most important qualification condition. Before we purchase samples, the manufacturer must provide meaningful technical documentation in English for review by our engineering team. At least one of the following must be available: - BLE communication protocol document - BLE command specification - Mobile integration SDK - API documentation - Audio-file transfer protocol - Firmware integration documentation - Sample Android or iOS integration code Our engineering team must be able to verify that our mobile application can perform most or all of the following actions: - Discover the recorder through Bluetooth - Connect and disconnect from the recorder - Start and stop recording - Read recording status - Check battery level - Check available storage - List stored recordings - Retrieve or transfer audio files - Delete or manage recordings - Synchronize device time - Support firmware updates, where available A marketing brochure, product catalogue, application screenshot, product video, or verbal confirmation is not sufficient. Factories that refuse to provide meaningful technical documentation before sample payment should not be recommended. The factory may require an NDA before sharing confidential documentation. We are open to signing a reasonable NDA. Scope of Work: The selected sourcing agent will be responsible for the following: 1. Manufacturer Research - Identify genuine OEM/ODM manufacturers capable of producing this category of device - Search relevant manufacturing regions, including Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Guangzhou, and nearby electronics hubs - Identify manufacturers through direct industry contacts, local databases, exhibitions, supplier networks, and verified marketplace research 2. Supplier Verification - Confirm whether each supplier is a genuine manufacturer, ODM design owner, contract manufacturer, trading company, or white-label reseller - Verify the supplier’s legal company name, registered address, factory address, business licence, and manufacturing capabilities - Confirm whether manufacturing is performed in-house or outsourced -Determine whether the supplier owns or controls the product design, firmware, BLE protocol, tooling, and mobile application 3. Technical Pre-Qualification -Communicate directly with factory sales and engineering teams in Chinese - Verify whether BLE protocol documents, SDKs, APIs, firmware documentation, and sample source code are available - Confirm whether the manufacturer can support integration with our own Android and iOS applications - Collect chipset, microphone, storage, battery, firmware, and communication details - Arrange technical meetings between our engineering team and shortlisted manufacturers when necessary 4. Commercial Qualification Collect and verify: - Standard-product MOQ - Customized-product MOQ - Sample cost - Estimated unit pricing - Tooling cost - Firmware customization cost - SDK or protocol-access cost - Mechanical customization cost - Logo and packaging cost - Payment terms - Sample lead time - Production lead time - Monthly production capacity 5. Samples and Negotiation - Recommend the strongest two to four manufacturers - Help arrange approximately two samples from each finally selected manufacturer - Negotiate sample pricing, MOQ, customization fees, and production pricing - Coordinate sample preparation, payment, shipping, and documentation - Ensure the sample model matches the technical specifications provided by the factory 6. Verification and Inspection - Support factory visits where required - Conduct or arrange factory audits - Conduct or arrange sample-quality inspections - Support pre-production and pre-shipment inspections if the project proceeds to manufacturing Manufacturer Information Required: For every recommended manufacturer, the report should include: - Legal company name - Factory location - Website - Business contact details - Business licence or registration details - Manufacturer, ODM, contract manufacturer, trading company, or reseller classification - Main products manufactured - Number of years in business - Experience with digital voice recorders, AI recorders, Bluetooth products, audio devices, mobile accessories, or smart wearables - Whether the hardware is developed in-house - Whether the firmware is developed in-house - Whether the mobile application is developed in-house - Ownership or control of the product design - Availability of BLE protocol, SDK, API, or firmware documentation - Documentation available before sample payment - SoC or chipset used - Bluetooth version - Microphone configuration - Supported audio format and recording quality - Storage-capacity options - Battery capacity - Estimated continuous recording time - Estimated standby time - Product dimensions - Product thickness - Product weight - Charging interface - Standard-product MOQ - Customized-product MOQ - Sample price - Estimated unit price at different quantities - Custom logo options - Custom packaging options - Firmware customization capability - SDK customization capability - Mechanical customization capability - Tooling requirements - Sample lead time - Production lead time - Monthly production capacity - Available certifications, such as CE, FCC, RoHS, BIS, REACH, UN38.3, MSDS, or IEC 62133 - Existing export markets - Existing customer references or similar products manufactured - Main risks, limitations, or unresolved technical questions Expected Deliverables 1. Qualified Manufacturer Comparison Provide a verified comparison of approximately 5–10 technically and commercially suitable suppliers. Clearly classify each supplier as: - Genuine manufacturer - ODM design owner - Contract manufacturer - Trading company - White-label reseller Quality and verification are more important than the number of suppliers. 2. Recommended Shortlist Recommend the best 2–4 manufacturers for: - Engineering review - Technical discussions - Sample ordering - Commercial negotiation - Factory inspection, if required For each recommendation, explain: - Why the factory is suitable - Which technical documents were verified - Whether it controls the firmware and BLE protocol - Commercial advantages - Key risks - Recommended next step 3. Sample Coordination Support the sample-ordering process, including: - Final specification confirmation - Sample configuration - Price negotiation - Payment and shipping coordination - Technical-document collection - Sample-quality checks Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate should have: - Proven hardware-sourcing experience in China - Access to Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Guangzhou, or nearby electronics hubs - Experience sourcing Bluetooth, audio, wearable, IoT, mobile-accessory, or consumer-electronics products - Ability to communicate with Chinese factory sales and engineering teams - Experience verifying genuine manufacturers and technical ownership - Understanding of BLE protocols, SDKs, APIs, firmware, and chipsets - Strong negotiation experience for MOQs, tooling, samples, customization, and production pricing - Experience supporting international buyers - Ability to arrange factory visits and third-party inspections Experience with AI voice recorders, digital recorders, Bluetooth audio devices, smart wearables, or SDK-enabled electronics will be strongly preferred.