With a rise in digitalization in almost every walk of life, the use of electronic data-capture systems has transformed the way data used to be collected and managed in the healthcare and research fields. Real-time data collection, validation, and integration have emerged as game-changing elements for every healthcare professional, research institution, and data analyst around the world.
Heading into the new year, we have created for you an update about the best EDC systems for 2025: those that simplify data collection and meet high regulatory requirements, while also offering actionable insights.
Electronic Data Capture (EDC) Systems Digitalization
The paper-based survey era is over, giving place to a much more streamlined, quick, and efficient electronic process as far as clinical trials are concerned, with the advent of EDC systems. These platforms bring speed, accuracy, and security to the data management landscape, which was hitherto unseen, by the electronic capture of patient and research participant data.
Besides the pure convenience of digitization, EDC systems provide multimedia element inclusion in capturing data without a hitch, provide for interactivity in forms for better engagement, and create automatic checks regarding the quality of the data—all contributing to and enhancing trust in the data and providing a much better research experience.
What is Electronic Data Capture (EDC) Systems
At the very root, EDC systems are datasets that are full of complex features and functionalities for making health professionals' and data analysts' jobs easier. Herein, we break down what the inner mechanism of EDC is and how it translates to a more effective and rewarding data analysis process.
What You Need to Know About EDC Systems
EDC systems are complex software designed for clinical trial data collection. They are all-in-one platforms into which one can enter, save, store, and retrieve information securely from various sources. This growth in EDC systems has been a strong driver in assuring that clinical research studies are still being worked on. Some of the most basic features and benefits provided by these systems include.
- Real-Time Capture: Capture patient information at the point of care, thus minimizing the risk of errors and fastening the research process.
- Advanced reporting tools for generating complex reports and analytics to create insights that are critical for decision-making.
- Audit Trails: All entries or edits to data are tracked to facilitate more traceability and integrity of the data collected.
The benefits of the new EDC systems over the traditional ones are unequivocal: they provide for faster identification of adverse events, enable changes on the fly to the protocol, and drastically reduce the time and costs of clinical trials.
Selecting the Best EDC System: What to Look for in 2025
With every passing year, the number of EDC systems available in the market increases; therefore, it could be quite a complicated and really a difficult task to choose the right one for your organization. There are some factors which always have to be in the foreground in order to make sure that the chosen EDC system will not satisfy the current needs of the client but be able to grow with the future requirements of the organization.
Security and Compliance
When choosing an EDC system, the protection of the data about patients and participants is not something to be compromised. International standards for the protection of personal data, like GDPR and HIPAA, should be followed. Effective security measures should, therefore, be implemented, such as data encryption and access controls based on roles.
User Interface and Usability
The usability of the EDC system is vital, given that the involved healthcare professionals and researchers may not be technology-savvy. A clean and intuitive UI with well-thought-out navigation would reduce the learning curve for an end-user to a large extent, hence increasing speed of adoption and user satisfaction.
Integration Capabilities
An EDC system does not operate in isolation but within the extended ecosystem of healthcare and research platforms. Integration with EHR systems, laboratory information management systems, and other health informatised digital tools should be provided for in view of seamless data flows and operational synergies.
Customization and Flexibility
Your organization's needs in data collection are unique and will evolve over time. A highly customizable EDC system—one that is able to deliver on your unique requirements in collection protocols, study design, and data analysis—is very critical. Look for systems that offer flexibility without any compromise on the ease of use or security.
A Peek Into the Leading EDC Systems of 2025
The EDC market is flush with formidable contenders, each vying for the top spot. In our in-depth review, we highlight the key features, pricing models, and user testimonials of the best EDC systems in the current year.
REDCap:
REDCap is a secure web application designed for data collection and management in research studies. It offers a user-friendly interface for building and managing online surveys and databases, primarily used in academic and clinical research settings.
Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design that allows users to create and manage data collection tools without extensive programming knowledge.
- Customizable: Supports complex data structures, branching logic, and automated data exports.
- Secure and Compliant: Meets data security standards and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA and 21 CFR Part 11.
- Cost-Effective: Often provided at no cost or low cost through institutions, especially in academic settings.
- Support for Multiple Sites: Facilitates multi-site and multi-center research with centralized data management.
Cons:
- Learning Curve: Initial setup and advanced features may require a learning curve for users unfamiliar with the system.
- Limited Built-in Analysis Tools: Primarily focused on data collection; lacks advanced statistical analysis and visualization tools.
- Customization Limits: While customizable, it may have limitations compared to fully bespoke solutions or specialized data capture systems.
- Dependency on Institution: Often requires institutional support or affiliation to access the system, which may limit availability for independent researchers.
Medidata RAVE:
Medidata RAVE is a comprehensive clinical trial data management system designed to streamline the data collection, management, and analysis processes for clinical trials. It is part of the Medidata Clinical Cloud, which integrates various tools for clinical research and data management.
Pros:
- Integrated Platform: Combines EDC with other Medidata tools.
- Advanced Features: Real-time data access, robust data management, and quality control.
- Regulatory Compliance: Meets major standards like FDA 21 CFR Part 11.
- Scalable: Suitable for various trial sizes and complexities.
Cons:
- Costly: High expense can be a barrier for smaller studies.
- Complex: Requires significant training and expertise.
- Customization Needs: Tailoring can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
- Support: Steep learning curve and potential need for extensive support.
Di-EDC: Collect, Manage & Share your data in a secure Electronic Data Capture system
Di-EDC is a powerful Electronic Data Capture (EDC) system designed by researchers, for researchers. It simplifies data collection, management, and sharing, providing a secure and compliant platform for clinical research.
With an intuitive interface, Di-EDC makes it easy to create forms, manage projects, and ensure data integrity—all while meeting regulatory standards. Whether you're running a small study or a large multi-site trial, Di-EDC streamlines your workflows, so you can focus on breakthroughs, not admin.
Elevate your research with Di-EDC—the smarter, faster way to handle your data.
DI-EDC features:
Excel-like sheets for data management:
Excel is by far the most accessible and used data management system in the world. But it is not enough, your research study and clinical trial data deserve a better-streamlined data collection. Our electronic data capture EDC Software collects data and is intuitive to use on top of that, it provides a secure environment for capturing data and its validation, access control, and secure compliance
Intuitive forms-editor and data filling using our EDC system:
You no longer need an IT background to create and customize modern forms. Make the transition with our Web-based EDC Solution from a paper form to an electronic one with Di-EDC forms-builder, creating electronic forms, adding validations rules on the data entry, or showing a field when a pre-defined condition is met, becomes at the hand of any researcher
Protect your sensitive data with access rights:
Fully control the access rights with multiple roles and permissions over each project, confidential data is important in our electronic data capture systems and that's why you can assign a “sensitive data” tag to specific fields for more protection, granting optimal database management and security without requiring any DiData team intervention.
Get your research institute ready for certification
DiData applications are fully compliant and use the latest security protocols to avoid any threats. Additionally, they meet all data privacy and data protection policies and regulations.
And Much More Features:
- Blazing-fast rendering with proven usability on large data sets
- Share surveys with the Form public link.
- Create and customize new features and modules using plugins.
- Create Printers and Printer templates.
- Use filters, Edit columns, and Highlighter to make the best view of your data.
- Control permissions and roles for each project independently.
- Generate QR codes for entities and public links to share forms.
- Detect internal links with the link detector.
- Create new projects with dedicated user access rights and configuration.
- A customized user interface with specific columns and filters is applied for the user.
- See your data and your field statistics with simple charts.
- Using Excel export/import capabilities, REST-API, or direct database access, DiData is the best solution for data shoring.
- A fully customized module that enables you to shape it according to your needs.
- Tracking of all changes applied to your data: What, Whe,n and Who.
- Two steps authentification will offer you an extra layer of protection for sensitive environments,
- DiData allows you to export your selected data to different file types such as CSV, Excel, or SPSS.
- Easily integrate with your current systems/instruments thanks to available libraries and REST-API
- DiData is carefully designed to meet the best user experience with its intuitive interface.
- Add your languages with dedicated translations and apply them to any user profile.
OpenClinica:
OpenClinica is a versatile clinical trial data management platform designed to streamline data capture, management, and reporting for clinical trials. It offers a user-friendly interface and is known for its robust compliance with regulatory standards like 21 CFR Part 11 and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
Pros:
- Ease of Use: The intuitiveness of the interface of the platform is such that it makes the management of data in such trials far easier to handle, both for technical and non-technical users (Capterra).
- Compliance with Regulations: Some of the more critical ones involve standards like 21 CFR Part 11 and GCP for maintaining data integrity and security (CompareCamp.com).
- Affordable Price: Scalable options depending on the size of the trials and budget constraints (Capterra).
- Flexible Integration: Can be integrated with different systems, including EHR, for more flexibility in data management (CompareCamp.com).
Cons:
- Limited Customization: There is some limitation in flexibility regarding user roles and permissions (Software Finder).
- Browser Incompatibility: There are periodic complaints of incompatibility with different browsers (Capterra ). Additional Costs: Advanced features may require additional investment, beyond the reach of smaller settings. Software Finder.
Oracle Clinical:
Oracle Clinical is a comprehensive clinical data management system designed to manage the complexities of clinical trials. It integrates clinical data management (CDM) and remote data capture (RDC) within a single application, offering a robust platform that supports global standardization and data consistency across multiple sites and studies. This system is particularly well-suited for large-scale, multi-center trials, enabling the efficient management of clinical data and adherence to regulatory requirements.
Pros:
- Comprehensive Functionality: Offers a broad set of tools for study setup, data capture, validation, and reporting.
- Scalability: Suitable for large, complex, and global clinical trials with extensive multi-center support.
- Integration: Provides seamless integration with other Oracle applications, enabling a unified clinical data management experience.
Cons:
- Learning Curve: The system can be complex and may require dedicated training to master.
- Cost: High initial and potential ongoing costs due to the need for training and customization.
Castor EDC:
Castor EDC is a user-friendly, cloud-based electronic data capture (EDC) system designed for clinical trials and research studies. It enables researchers to easily build, manage, and analyze data without extensive technical knowledge. Castor EDC supports compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, making it suitable for use in various types of clinical research across different sectors, from academic to commercial.
Pros:
- Ease of Use: Castor EDC is intuitive and simple to set up, allowing users to design studies and databases without needing advanced technical skills. It's especially valued for its user-friendly interface and flexibility, which makes it suitable for multi-center trials involving multiple collaborators.
- Comprehensive Support: The platform offers extensive customer support, which is highly rated by users. The helpdesk is responsive, and the system includes detailed documentation that addresses most user queries.
- Affordability: Compared to other EDC systems like Oracle Clinical, Castor EDC offers a cost-effective solution, especially for smaller research teams and academic studies.
Cons:
- Limited Mobile Compatibility: Castor EDC is not fully compatible with mobile phones and tablets, which can be a limitation for researchers who need to access data on the go.
- Complex Data Exports: Exporting and reshaping data can be cumbersome, and the process of setting up user rights is considered a bit clunky.
- Performance Issues: Some users report occasional lag times, particularly when working with large datasets or complex study designs.
ClinCapture:
ClinCapture is an Electronic Data Capture (EDC) platform designed to streamline data collection and management in clinical trials. It offers a cloud-based infrastructure that provides flexible, user-friendly solutions for data entry, monitoring, and reporting. The platform is particularly appreciated for its ease of use and support for mid-sized and large enterprises. ClinCapture aims to simplify clinical research processes, making study setup and data management more efficient for research teams.
Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface: ClinCapture is praised for its simple, intuitive design, which makes it easy to navigate and operate, even for users with limited technical experience.
- Customizable: The platform allows customization to meet specific research needs, making it adaptable for various types of clinical trials.
- Cloud-Based Access: The cloud-based infrastructure facilitates easy data access and collaboration across different locations, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Good Customer Support: Users have reported positive experiences with the support team, noting their effectiveness in resolving issues quickly and efficiently.
Cons:
- Limited Advanced Features: As a smaller company, ClinCapture may lack some advanced functionalities that larger, more established systems offer.
- Tedious Form Setup: Setting up forms can be cumbersome, especially when trying to arrange fields side by side. Adding tables to the form can make the process time-consuming.
- Transition Issues: Switching from Build to Production mode requires recreating the entire setup, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming.
In Conclusion: The Data Revolution Must Be EDC-Driven
Healthcare and research organizations across the globe are recognizing the indispensability of electronic data capture systems in their data management processes. The quest for the best EDC system isn't merely about selecting the most technologically advanced platform; it's about choosing a partner for innovation, security, and sustainable growth.
To those in search of the perfect EDC, remember that the best system is one that seamlessly integrates your workflow, prioritizes data security, adapts to your needs, and propels your research forward (in other words...Di-EDC😉). It's time to harness the power of EDC systems to realize the full potential of your data.
For a more in-depth analysis or consultation on electronic data capture systems, reach out to our team. We're committed to helping healthcare professionals, research institutions, and data analysts unlock the true value of their data.