In the modern age, no matter the size of the organization, immense amount of information is generated every day that require Electronic Data Processing. This data ranges from the obvious (documents and invoices) to the less obvious, and often uncollected (phone conversations, brainstorming meetings). Whether your organization collects and manages every bit of information generated during the day or just a selected set of data, it could benefit from a robust Electronic Data Processing strategy.
Advantages of EDP
Electronic Data Processing (EDP) is the digital management of databases, typically stored on a shared server and allow simultaneous access to all parties. There are several distinct advantages to employing EDP:
- Speed. Information stored and managed via EDP can be retrieved almost instantly on a well-maintained internal network or even the Internet.
- Efficient. Summary documents and related materials such as invoices, reports, and statements can be automatically and quickly generated via EDP.
- Economic. Once an Electronic Data Processing system is created and implemented, over time it reduced the costs of managing data by a significant margin.
- Reduced Labor. Duplication of effort and repeated entries due to mistakes in manual data entry are reduced or eliminated by EDP.
 Elements of Electronic Data Processing
A well-designed and implemented EDP system in a data processing company will generally be composed of four basic elements:
- Hardware: The servers and desktops or terminals used to enter and store data.
- Software: Spreadsheets, custom applications, databases, and other pieces of code used to manage and collect the data.
- Procedure: A coherent and agreed-upon system for entering and manipulating data, designed to eliminate duplication of entry and data corruption.
- Personnel: The staff trained to work with the EDP, ranging from the entire work force to a select group.
EDP Cycle
In its simplest form, EDP goes through a three-stage cycle:
- Input: The data is collected by the system, via keyboarding, file upload, or other workflow.
- Processing: The data is manipulated in some way, usually automated. This can include translation, formula or code application, or encryption.
- Output: The data is then output in transformation, either as part of a report or as a translated and modified form.
EDP Equipment
In the broadest sense, any equipment used to input, process, output, or display the data can be considered EDP Equipment. This would include:
- Desktop, laptop, tablet computers, terminals or dedicated data input equipment.
- Network equipment, wired or wireless, used to transmit data.
- Servers used to store data.
- Projectors, printers, and any other device used to output processed data.
Example of EDP
One of the most common examples of EDP in the modern age is warehouse stock monitoring and logistics. As orders come in, the data is input into the system and processed, transformed into a picking order and transmitted to the warehouse. The stock is picked from the shelves (manually or via automated system) and the item is deducted from the database to reflect the new reality in the warehouse itself.
– Data Czar @ DEO
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