Variscite, a leading global designer, developer and manufacturer of System on Modules (SoMs), today highlighted the supply chain strategy keeping its customers’ projects on track during the continuing global component crisis, built on buffered component inventories, in-house manufacturing, multi-source supplier relationships, and a 20-year track record.
As demand for AI processing accelerated in 2025, shortages of memory chips occurred as manufacturers shifted to supplying large customers with high volumes of product, leaving the broader market, including edge/IoT, robotics, industrial devices, and medical equipment underserved. Rising prices and extended lead times, compounded by a trickle-down effect on other components within SoMs, have created two distinct pressure points. SoM manufacturers that outsource their production have little ability to adapt quickly, leaving their customers exposed to the same shortages and delays. Meanwhile, product manufacturers that opted for chip-down designs rather than SoM-based solutions must source components independently. They, particularly those purchasing in lower volumes, are routinely deprioritized by suppliers, with many finding that suppliers will not sell to them at all.
While industry supplies have tightened, Variscite’s proactive supply chain strategy has included buffered component inventories and a vertically integrated supply chain to offset component availability challenges impacting other SoM providers. With more than 20 years in business, the company has built strong direct relationships with multiple suppliers, giving Variscite the volume access and flexibility to source from multiple suppliers. As an NXP Platinum Partner, Variscite also benefits from priority procurement and early access to new NXP components – an advantage that keeps its portfolio options ahead of the broader market.
Equally important is Variscite’s end-to-end production control. Its in-house manufacturing not only allows it to maintain SoM component inventories, but also extensive customization options, including selectable memory configurations that allow multiple RAM options per module. If a customer’s preferred combination of features, processor architecture, interfaces, performance, and price point is not available, Variscite can offer validated alternatives – eliminating the wait for components and allowing projects to move forward. Variscite’s in-house production is fully certified to ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and ISO 27001 standards, covering quality management, medical-grade manufacturing, and information security, ensuring that supply resilience never comes at the expense of quality.
This level of preparedness is not new. During the global COVID pandemic, Variscite strategically increased its production and warehouse facilities by 25 percent, delivering industry-leading lead times across its full portfolio while other manufacturers faced setbacks and delays. That same infrastructure remains in place today, and when the current crisis emerged, Variscite was already prepared.
“We have always believed in investing ahead of the problem,” said Ofer Austerlitz, VP, Business Development and Sales at Variscite. “We maintain buffered component inventories, invest in our in-house production facilities, and work directly with multiple key suppliers – so that when industry-wide shortages hit, our customers enjoy manageable lead times and stable supply, rather than watching their projects grind to a halt. As a result, our existing customers can secure their development and production schedules, while customers currently experiencing supply difficulties with other vendors have a ready alternative in Variscite’s SoM portfolio.”
For Variscite’s customers, the impact is tangible: reliable shipping schedules and supply continuity even when the broader market cannot deliver. Combined with a 15-year supply commitment that absorbs long-term component sourcing risk on the customer’s behalf, Variscite offers a level of supply continuity that outsourced manufacturers find difficult to match.
For customers already designing with SMARC-compliant SoMs, Variscite’s SMARC portfolio offers a direct migration path if their current provider is struggling to maintain supply continuity. Because SMARC defines a standard mechanical and electrical interface, switching to a Variscite SMARC module requires no redesign effort – keeping transition risk low and timelines short. Variscite’s portfolio includes an NXP i.MX 8M Plus-based module with quad-core processing and integrated AI/ML acceleration, and an upcoming i.MX 95-based module with a six-core architecture and advanced edge AI capabilities. Both feature an on-SoM TPM for hardware-level security out of the box.
