In the world of embedded systems and hardware design, businesses are constantly faced with the decision of how to bring their products to life. Two primary options often arise: using System on Modules or going for custom development. Both approaches offer distinct advantages and challenges, but which one is more cost-effective for your business? In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between SoMs and custom development, and how choosing the right option can affect your budget, timeline, and overall product quality. We will also take a closer look at how companies like Geniatech are simplifying this decision for manufacturers with their range of SoM solutions.
What is a System on Module?
A System on Module is a compact, pre-integrated circuit board that contains the essential components of a computing system, including the processor (CPU/SoC), memory, storage, and sometimes even AI accelerators and networking interfaces. SoMs are typically designed to be integrated into a larger system, or carrier board, where they connect with additional peripherals like sensors, displays, and cameras.
SoMs are widely used in embedded applications because they reduce the complexity of hardware design. Rather than starting from scratch, developers can focus on creating the application, while the SoM handles much of the hardware design and integration.
What is Custom Development?
On the other hand, custom development involves designing a product from the ground up, including selecting individual components such as the processor, memory, connectivity interfaces, and power management systems. In custom development, the hardware and software are often tightly integrated, offering complete control over the system’s functionality and performance.
Custom development allows manufacturers to create a highly specialized solution that meets very specific requirements. However, it requires more time, effort, and expertise to design, test, and optimize the system.
- Development Costs
One of the most immediate considerations for businesses when deciding between SoM and custom development is the initial development cost.
SoM Cost-Effectiveness:
SoMs offer a significant reduction in development costs by providing a pre-integrated solution. Developers do not need to design the core system from scratch, which eliminates the cost of PCB design, component sourcing, and integration testing. The plug-and-play nature of SoMs means that businesses can focus on their application and peripherals, rather than investing extensive resources into hardware development.
Additionally, SoM manufacturers typically offer development kits and technical support, which help businesses get started quickly and avoid costly delays.
For example, Geniatech offers SoM modules like the RK3588, which include pre-configured AI accelerators and interfaces for industrial IoT applications, saving developers the cost of designing and integrating these features themselves.
Custom Development Costs:
Custom hardware development is inherently more expensive because of the amount of time and expertise required to design the entire system. Companies will need to invest in hardware engineers, design software, and testing facilities to ensure the system works as expected. Additionally, sourcing individual components and ensuring their compatibility can lead to unforeseen costs and delays.
The design and prototyping phase in custom development can be particularly costly. Even after the initial design is completed, companies will likely need to spend additional time debugging and fine-tuning the hardware.
- Time-to-Market
In today’s fast-paced tech world, time-to-market is a crucial factor. The sooner your product reaches consumers, the sooner you can generate revenue and gain market share.
SoM Time-to-Market Advantage:
SoMs are designed to be quick to deploy and easy to integrate. With a plug-and-play approach, developers can focus on building their application rather than spending time on hardware integration. As a result, businesses can accelerate development and speed up product launch.
Custom Development Time-to-Market:
Custom development can take significantly longer to complete. From design and testing to optimization, the process of creating a custom solution often involves multiple iterations before a functional product is ready. This extended timeline can lead to delays in bringing a product to market and can impact a company’s cash flow.
The added development time is a critical consideration, especially if the market demand is high or there is a need to deploy products quickly.
- Scalability and Flexibility
As your business grows and your products evolve, scalability and flexibility become essential.
SoM Scalability and Flexibility:
SoM solutions provide built-in scalability. Most SoM platforms allow businesses to upgrade the processing power, AI capabilities, or storage options by simply swapping out the module. This flexibility allows businesses to quickly adapt to changing market demands or technological advancements without overhauling the entire system.
Geniatech’s SoM modules offer different performance levels, such as Multi SoCs Rockchip, NVIDIA, Renesas, and NXP, so businesses can select the SoM that meets their current needs and easily upgrade as requirements grow.
Custom Development Scalability:
With custom development, scalability is more challenging. Each new version or upgrade of the hardware requires a complete redesign of the system. This can be both time-consuming and expensive. While custom systems can be highly specialized, they often require extensive rework when you want to scale the product or modify its functionality.
- Long-Term Costs
When considering the overall financial impact, businesses must take into account not just the upfront costs but the long-term maintenance and support costs.
SoM Long-Term Cost Savings:
Since SoMs are mass-produced, they benefit from economies of scale, which means lower prices as production volumes increase. Additionally, technical support and driver updates are typically provided by the SoM manufacturer, reducing the need for businesses to maintain large in-house engineering teams for ongoing product support.
For example, Geniatech’s SoM products come with long-term support, including firmware updates and software tools, reducing the risk of obsolescence and ensuring that your product remains competitive over time.
Custom Development Long-Term Costs:
Custom-developed solutions require ongoing investments in maintenance, debugging, and upgrades. The need to develop and maintain custom drivers, troubleshoot hardware issues, and integrate new technologies can drive up costs over time. As the system ages, businesses may also face obsolescence risks if components are discontinued or no longer supported.
- Risk and Reliability
Custom development offers complete control over the design, but it also comes with the risk of design flaws or integration issues. Extensive testing is required to ensure reliability, and unforeseen issues can lead to product recalls or delays.
SoMs, on the other hand, are pre-tested and have a proven track record of reliability, reducing the risk of failure. Since SoMs are often used in various industrial applications, their reliability is already vetted and optimized for long-term use.
Conclusion: Which is More Cost-Effective for Your Business?
Ultimately, the choice between SoM and custom development depends on your business’s needs, timeline, and budget. SoMs offer significant cost savings in terms of both development costs and time-to-market, while providing scalability, flexibility, and long-term support. Custom development may be appropriate for highly specialized applications that demand complete control over the hardware design, but it often comes with higher initial costs, longer timelines, and ongoing maintenance requirements.
For most businesses looking to deploy AIoT solutions, edge devices, or industrial systems, SoM modules offer the most cost-effective and efficient path to market. Geniatech provides a wide range of SoM solutions that cater to industries like smart cities, industrial automation, and AI-driven applications, offering a proven, reliable solution to help businesses scale faster and more affordably.
So, if you’re looking to reduce costs and accelerate your product development cycle, SoMs are the best choice for your business.