ABSTRACT
In most current EDC systems, the site is online with a central computer and the data is stored only on a central computer. These systems work like, and feel like, the familiar websites we visit to shop for books or shoes. As soon as we make a selection and provide payment information, the order is known to the vendor. Some EDC vendors do provide systems that also allow sites to work ofœine. These store the data locally until the site initiates a connection. This approach is much like the one used when we enter information on our smartphone and then synch it up with our personal computers later via special applications. There are pros and cons to both of these approaches that we will discuss later in this chapter.
