A System on a module (SoM) also known as a Computer on Module(CoM) for x86 and RISC On Module(RoM) for ARM is an ideal alternative to custom engineering. With the SoM approach, you get the best of buying an Off-The-Shelf Single Board Computer (SBC) and a Custom Engineered solution. With Off-The-Shelf standard components such as a generic carrier board and SOM module, it is possible to start development on your software applications before the custom carrier board is complete; thus offering a reduced time to market for your system.

A System on Module (SoM), Computer on Module(CoM), or RISC On Module(RoM), is a small processor board built with a processor, memory, and hardware to start basic functions in the processor and provide standard I/O functionality. The SoM module does not have any connectorization and is designed to be plugged into a Carrier Board, (also known as a development board or Base board). The Carrier Board contains the I/O connectors as well any other I/O requirement not provided on the SoM itself. The SOM approach with a Computer on module offers a reduced risk of an End-of-life product due to a memory, flash, chipset, CPU or other components going end-of-life. With the ability to swap in another CPU SOM or Computer on Module board, the system can be running just as it was with no or minimal changes to the carrier board. This also offers scalability by offering a range of processor speeds and features in the same packages. These features offer scalability to allow a company to offer the same carrier board with multiple speed cores for similar products, allowing the economy of scale to bring down per-unit pricing.