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Global component shortages are putting embedded projects under pressure. As a leading global System on Modules (SoMs) developer and manufacturer, we keep our customers’ development timelines on track by applying a supply chain strategy built on buffered inventories, in-house production, established relationships with multiple suppliers, and more than two decades of operational experience.
As AI-driven demand accelerated through 2025, memory chip shortages developed as semiconductor manufacturers shifted capacity to large-volume buyers, leaving many sectors, including medical, industrial, edge/IoT, and robotics poorly served. Climbing prices and lengthening lead times, exacerbated by knock-on effects across other SoM components, have created two clear pressure points. SoM vendors relying on outsourced manufacturing have limited flexibility when availability drops, leaving customers facing the same delays. Separately, product developers who chose chip-down architectures over SoM-based designs must procure components on their own. Those buying in smaller quantities are routinely pushed down supplier priority lists, and in many cases cannot get supply at all.

Variscite is expanding its SMARC-compliant product family with the upcoming VAR-SMARC-MX95 – a new System on Module built around NXP’s iMX95 applications processor and designed to serve safety-critical, AI-enabled industrial, medical, and other applications.

Variscite will present a new product lineup built around the Smart Mobility Architecture (SMARC) form factor standard during Embedded World 2026, running March 10-12 in Nuremberg, Germany. The debut will feature the first public reveal of the VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS, running on NXP’s i.MX 8M Plus processor. Visitors can find Variscite at booth 4A-342 in the Exhibition Centre.

Variscite, a global leader in System on Module design and manufacturing, is introducing a new series of modules conforming to the Smart Mobility Architecture (SMARC) standard. The VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS marks the debut of this portfolio, powered by the NXP i.MX 8M Plus processor.

We are proud to announce that we have achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, a globally recognized information security management systems standard. This achievement confirms that Variscite follows best security practices for safeguarding the information and intellectual property of our customers and partners from breach, unauthorized access, or loss.

Variscite has formed a strategic partnership with Memfault to bolster device management capabilities across its System on Module (SoM) portfolio, including modules based on DART-MX95, VAR-SOM-MX93, DART-MX8M-PLUS, and VAR-SOM-AM62P. This collaboration equips engineering teams with advanced tools for remote monitoring, troubleshooting, and secure software update deployment.
Advanced monitoring and over-the-air (OTA) updates for embedded devices
The integration with Memfault’s platform adds advanced diagnostic capabilities to Variscite’s solutions. Development teams gain access to valuable data from end devices such as performance metrics, system events, and operational statistics without requiring physical access. This visibility enables proactive maintenance, allowing engineers to detect and resolve issues without relying on end-user feedback.

Variscite now offers the Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS) on its System on Modules (SoMs), providing a modern, scalable solution for embedded and IoT projects. Zephyr is currently supported on Variscite’s iMX93 and i.MX8M Plus modules, with plans to add support for more i.MX9-based modules, including the DART-MX95. FreeRTOS will continue to be available alongside Zephyr, giving customers multiple Real-Time operating system options for their embedded projects.
About Zephyr real-time operating system
Zephyr is an open-source project led by the Linux Foundation, built around a compact kernel for use in devices with limited resources. Its architecture draws on established Linux concepts such as Kconfig, driver models, and especially the device tree system, which streamlines hardware integration. While Zephyr is often used with microcontrollers like the Arm® Cortex®-M, it is also compatible with general-purpose processors such as the Cortex-A53 and A55, supporting deployment across a wide range of hardware.

Variscite has extended its collaboration with QNX to offer QNX® OS 8.0 support for Systems on Module (SoMs) powered by the NXP i.MX8M Plus processor, providing developers with a secure and reliable operating system for applications that demand precision, stability, and long-term performance.
 
A reliable embedded solution for critical applications

At Embedded World 2025, Pierluigi Passaro presented an overview of the company’s diverse System on Module portfolio. From cost-effective solutions like the VAR-SOM-AM62P to high-performance platforms like the DART-MX95, Variscite’s comprehensive range addresses varied embedded computing needs across multiple industries. The presentation showcased both established products and the latest additions to Variscite’s growing product family.
 

At Embedded World 2025, Ofer Austerlitz spoke with Robert Thompson from NXP to discuss the expanding i.MX9 processor family. This conversation explores how the i.MX91, i.MX93, and the newly introduced i.MX95 processors address various industrial applications with their distinct performance profiles and capabilities. As longtime development partners, Variscite and NXP continue to collaborate on delivering scalable embedded solutions that meet the requirements of engineers and system designers across multiple sectors.