The Innovation Dilemma Part 2: Why ChipFlow is the Solution

For years, OEMs and Tier 1s across a range of industries have relied heavily on off-the-shelf hardware solutions to drive product innovation. Layering existing hardware solutions to increase functionality has for the most part worked well. However, we have entered an era where performance and innovation gains need to be considered more carefully from a commercial point of view than before. This forces OEMs to consider their overall electronics architecture in a different light.

In order to differentiate in the modern marketplace, OEMs are realising that relying on pure software innovation with off-the shelf, generic hardware solutions just aren’t sufficient to enable a truly competitive product innovation. To drive innovation a true hardware/software co-design approach needs to be established from the outset. 

When Hardware Clutter Becomes a Bottleneck

The hardware clutter created by piling off-the-shelf chips is now causing significant inefficiencies for OEMs. In sectors like automotive, where systems need to be highly integrated, reliable, and cost-efficient, this traditional approach has proven to be a liability versus the needs of software defined vehicles.  

Multiple design pain points arise from such hardware clutter, namely, an increase in complexity from dealing with integrating components from multiple suppliers. Inefficiency has also become a problem, with legacy solutions often consuming excessive power & space. 

Lastly the lack of optimised hardware solutions for specific use-cases has stifled innovation. This has further been cemented by functional domain driven teams with limited overall view of the improvement opportunities. 

Problem: Limited In-House Capabilities and High Barriers to Entry 

While OEMs recognize the problem, they are often stuck in a cycle of inaction. Expertise in IC design is hard to come by, and most OEMs lack the in-house teams to define and deliver on custom hardware. Whilst dealing with ASIC design houses is an option, these partners often require significant upfront investment, detailed requirements and multi-year project cycles. 

The result of this problem is that OEMs know they need better solutions but are reluctant to take the first step due to these barriers. This inertia only amplifies the problem as the gap between market needs and current hardware capability continues to widen.

ChipFlow: Fast, Flexible, and Accessible Solutioning

ChipFlow provides a game-changing approach by offering OEMs a fast, flexible, and accessible way to address their hardware challenges. Our unique solution spans both hardware and software, enabling OEMs to take incremental steps toward resolving their cluttered hardware landscape.

Here’s how our process works:

1  Consultancy: ChipFlow begins with expert guidance to help OEMs define project requirements, and explore design options across software and hardware. The engagement can be as simple as a couple of meetings to outline key FPGA options.

2  FPGA Prototyping: Rapid prototyping in hardware (via FPGA) allows OEMs to see results in just 1-2 months.

3  Test ASIC: Once validated, we move to test ASIC designs and have them manufactured by our Supply Chain partners. Given ChipFlow’s unique in-house design platform, turning the FPGA into test ASIC adds only months, not years (and most of it goes to manufacturing).

4  Production ASIC: Finally, once OEM is ready to move to manufacturing quantities with the ASICs, ChipFlow service and platform provide a seamless transition leveraging the earlier created HW asset.

This phased approach makes it easier for OEMs to engage with custom hardware design and start addressing their challenges without committing to huge upfront costs or long project timelines. The key is to allow the OEMs to learn across multiple options before making the big business decision. The ChipFlow approach significantly reduces costs compared to traditional ASIC design houses, particularly for legacy nodes, while still delivering optimized performance.

How ChipFlow Stands Out

When comparing ChipFlow to traditional alternatives, our advantages become clear: 

While ASIC houses are our closest competitors, ChipFlow offers a faster, more affordable and easier alternative to a custom hardware solution. Through our hardware/software co-design approach, we are able to guide OEMs on the path to custom silicon. Further, ChipFlow gives the OEMs the option to start themselves managing their own HW asset - this is something that Services led organisation would not be keen to do.

ChipFlow isn’t just an EDA tool provider. We provide end-to-end services that go beyond design to include prototyping, testing all the way to full manufacturing. The services also include architecture level guidance when thinking about different software vs hardware options.

Conclusion: The Future of OEM Hardware Design

ChipFlow is transforming how OEMs approach hardware development, offering a clear path to de-cluttered, optimized solutions that address the limitations of off-the-shelf chips. By lowering the barrier to entry and accelerating the development cycle, we help OEMs not only meet today’s demands but also prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. ChipFlow is your partner for faster, easier, and more cost-effective custom hardware solutions.