ABC Smart

What ABC Smart does

ABC Smart (legal entity: (주)정수글로벌 / Jungsu Global Inc.) is a South Korea-based, privately held research and development company founded in 2005 that designs, manufactures, and sells library automation hardware and software. Its core platform is an IoT-and-RFID-based smart library system in which users can borrow and return books using only a national ID card, dispensed through unmanned kiosks available in four capacity variants (120, 250, 500, and 1,200 books). The company sells to university libraries, public libraries, and school libraries across South Korea, claiming deployment in more than half of all Korean libraries and cumulative production of over 2,000 book disinfection machines as of 2020.

The product portfolio spans RFID-tagged library management systems, self-service check-in/check-out machines, theft-prevention antennas, book sanitizers, reading-room seat management systems, unmanned payment kiosks, and a cloud-based Wish Book Ordering System integrated with the Doksilo (독서로) reading platform via API. ABC Smart has layered an AI-branded product line on top of this RFID core, including an AI Loan/Return Robot, AI Self-Service Lending Gate, AI Librarian Kiosk, AI Multi-function Kiosk, and AI Book Sanitizer, and holds multiple Korean patents covering laptop/tablet unmanned lending (first in Korea), school library book request automation, 1200-book unmanned smart library capacity, UHF RFID theft prevention, and the only Korean gate with IP56 waterproof certification (2018).

ABC Smart operates a direct sales model with custom quote-based pricing, no publicly disclosed price list, and multi-year contracts delivered through its Seoul headquarters (Jungnang-gu), a KakaoTalk customer channel, and presence at the National Library Exhibition. The company generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales and smart library solutions deployed domestically across education and local-government buyers, and has no disclosed international customers or external funding rounds.

Name

ABC Smart

Legal name

(주)정수글로벌

Website

https://abcsmart.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ABC Smart (주)정수글로벌) is a South Korean R&D company that designs and sells IoT- and RFID-based library automation hardware and software, including unmanned Smart Library kiosks, self-service lending machines, and AI-branded library robots, serving university, public, and school libraries across South Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library Automation Equipment

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)

Keywords

• Library automation systems
• RFID library solutions
• Smart library equipment
• Self-service kiosks
• AI library management

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Library Automation Equipment Sales: Sale of smart library systems, RFID equipment, self-service kiosks, AI-powered library devices, and library management hardware including book disinfection machines, seat management systems, and payment kiosks.
2. Smart Library Solutions: Complete smart library solutions including the Smart Library (available in 120, 250, 500, and 1200 book capacity models) that enable self-service borrowing with ID cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ABC Smart designs, manufactures, and sells RFID- and IoT-based library automation hardware and software, centered on its SmartLibrary product line that enables 24/7 unmanned library operation. Patrons can register and borrow/return books using only an ID card without a separate library card. The portfolio extends to self-service lending/return kiosks, theft prevention antennas, AI-powered lending robots, book disinfection equipment, seat management systems, and cloud-based patron book request platforms.

Product overview

ABC Smart ((주)정수글로벌) is a library automation company offering a comprehensive suite of solutions centered on its SmartLibrary platform, which provides 24/7 unmanned library access. The SmartLibrary comes in four capacity variants (120, 250, 500, and 1,200 books) and serves as the core product enabling identification-based self-service book borrowing and returns. Complementing this core are RFID-based library automation modules including self-check return machines (무인반납기), self-service lending kiosks (자가대출반납기), theft prevention antennas (분실방지 안테나), and inventory scanners (장서점검기). AI-powered ICT additions include the AI Loan/Return Robot (AI 대출반납로봇), AI Self-Service Gate (AI 셀프 대출게이트), and AI Librarian Kiosk systems. The product ecosystem also encompasses library equipment such as book sanitizers, payment kiosks, seat management systems, search terminals, and RFID consumables. A cloud-based Wish Book Ordering System (희망도서 클라우드 시스템) provides patron-facing book request functionality. The modular architecture allows institutions to deploy standalone solutions or an integrated system across university, public, and school libraries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 스마트도서관 (Smart Library): Self-service smart library system with various capacities (120권, 250권, 500권, 1200권) allowing users to borrow/return books using ID cards

Products and services

• SmartLibrary 120 Books (스마트도서관 120권) Compact unmanned SmartLibrary cabinet supporting 120 books for 24/7 self-service book borrowing and returns using ID cards, intended for small libraries and school settings.
• SmartLibrary 250 Books (스마트도서관 250권) Mid-size unmanned SmartLibrary cabinet supporting 250 books for self-service book borrowing and returns in medium-sized libraries.
• SmartLibrary 500 Books (스마트도서관 500권) Large-capacity unmanned SmartLibrary cabinet supporting 500 books for self-service library operations in public and university library branches.
• SmartLibrary 1200 Books (스마트도서관 1200권) Extra-large capacity unmanned SmartLibrary cabinet supporting 1,200 books for institutions requiring high-volume self-service library operations; introduced in 2023.
• BF Unmanned Return Machine (BF 무인반납기) Automated unmanned book return machines in compact, medium, and extra-large configurations using BF technology for high-throughput book processing.
• Reserved Book Lending Machine with Extension Module (도서예약대출기 및 확장모듈) Self-service kiosk for picking up reserved materials including night-time reservation lending via an extension module for after-hours pickup.
• Theft Prevention Antenna (분실방지 안테나) RFID-based theft prevention antennas in standard and wide-range variants supporting up to 2.0m detection width for library security at exits.
• Self-Service Lending/Return Machine (자가대출반납기) Self-service book lending and return machines in standard, children's, and barrier-free models, including AI multi-function kiosk and AI librarian variants.
• Desktop RFID Reader for Librarian (사서용 데스크탑 리더기) Desktop RFID reader for librarian use in processing library materials and patron check-in/check-out transactions.
• Shelf Inventory Checker (장서점검기) Handheld RFID scanner for library staff to scan shelves and verify collection inventory and location.
• AI Loan/Return Robot (AI 대출반납로봇) AI-powered autonomous robot that performs book lending and return operations, representing advanced automation for library services.
• AI Self-Service Lending Gate (AI 셀프 대출게이트) AI-powered self-service gate for automated library entry/exit control with integrated book lending functionality; certified to IP56 waterproof standard.
• Laptop/Tablet Unmanned Lending/Return Machine (노트북/태블릿 무인대여반납기) Self-service kiosk for lending and returning laptops and tablets, first developed in Korea by the company; serves libraries and educational institutions managing device loans.
• Library Location Information System (도서관위치정보시스템) Software system that tracks and displays in-library book locations to help patrons and staff find materials.
• SmartLibrary Notification Service (똑똑도서관 알림이) Smart library notification service that alerts patrons about library events, newly available books, and item due dates.
• Book Search Terminal (도서검색대) Patron-facing book search kiosk for looking up and locating library materials within the collection.
• Library Unmanned Payment System (도서관 무인결제 시스템) Unmanned payment kiosk for libraries to collect fines, fees, and payments for copies or replacement membership cards.
• Reading Room Seat Management System (열람실 좌석관리 시스템) Automated seat reservation and allocation system for managing reading room seats in libraries.
• Book Disinfection Machine (책소독기) Book sanitization equipment in librarian-use, AI-powered, and patron-operated (SelfClean O3, SelfClean BnB) variants, with cumulative production exceeding 2,000 units as of 2020.
• Book Truck (북트럭) Small and large book trucks used by library staff to transport and shelve library materials.
• RFID Tag (RFID 태그) RFID tags applied to library books and materials for marking and tracking through automation systems.
• RFID Membership Card (RFID 회원증카드) RFID-enabled library membership cards used for patron identification and access at self-service kiosks and gates.
• Membership Card Printer (회원증 프린터)

Quantifiable outcome

• Book disinfection machine cumulative production of 2,000 units
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 독서로 (Doksilo)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with the 독서로 (Doksilo) API for school library book request ordering automation. The Hope Book Cloud System connects to Doksilo for processing book requests from students in school libraries.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• OCLC: Global library cooperative providing cataloging, resource sharing, discovery, and library management services to over 40,000 libraries worldwide. Operates at a much larger scale than ABC Smart in library services infrastructure, with overlapping customer base across academic and public libraries.
• Ex Libris (Clarivate): Library software platform owned by Clarivate serving academic, national, and research libraries worldwide with integrated library systems, electronic resource management, and discovery services. Operates at much larger scale than ABC Smart, addressing the same library customer base with a software-led approach.
• Innovative Interfaces (Ex Libris): Established library technology vendor under Clarivate's Ex Libris Group, serving academic and public libraries with integrated library systems and discovery platforms. Broader scale and software-led focus compared to ABC Smart's hardware-centric approach, but addresses the same customer base.
• TOSHIBA RFID Solutions: Major global hardware vendor (via Toshiba Tec) producing RFID tags, readers, and library automation equipment as part of a broader retail and industrial technology portfolio. Competes with ABC Smart in the underlying RFID technology layer used in library automation.

Regional players

• AURORA: Korean library solutions company offering library management software and automation services to libraries in South Korea. Direct regional competitor to ABC Smart in the Korean domestic market with overlapping customer segments.
• FE Technologies: Australian library technology provider specializing in RFID, self-service, and library automation solutions across the Australasia region. Comparable hardware-led library automation focus to ABC Smart, serving a similar customer mix in a different geography.

Direct peers

• EnvisionWare: US-based provider of library self-service kiosks, RFID solutions, and library management hardware. Offers a product suite overlapping with ABC Smart's self check-in/out, RFID gates, and PC reservation systems across similar library customer segments.
• Bibliotheca: Global leader in library RFID, self-service kiosks, and library automation hardware, serving public and academic libraries worldwide. Directly comparable to ABC Smart's SmartLibrary, self-check, RFID gate, and theft-prevention product lines; competes in the same category with similar technology stack.
• SirsiDynix: Major library management software and automation provider serving academic, public, and school libraries globally. Comparable to ABC Smart as both deliver integrated library technology stacks combining software (ILS) with hardware automation for similar customer profiles.
• D-Tech International: UK-based provider of RFID security gates, self-service kiosks, and library automation hardware serving public, academic, and school libraries. Direct overlap with ABC Smart's RFID theft-prevention, self check-in/out, and book return machine product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ABC Smart