what is edp

Electronic data processing (EDP) refers to the use of automated methods to process commercial data. It involves gathering data using electronic devices such as computers, servers, or calculators, and analyzing data to summarize and record the output in a usable form. EDP provides a rapid and accurate method for data processing, data analytics, and the presentation of results. The concept of EDP has evolved from data processing (DP), which emerged in an era when most computing input was physically provided to a computing device, usually in the form of punch cards. Examples of electronic data processing systems include accounting systems, barcode scanning systems, record-keeping systems, and other systems that use a variety of software, hardware, procedures, and personnel to simplify the data sorting and processing workflows.