One size fits all

One size fits all.  Not good if you're looking for clothes, but good if you're talking about electronic data capture systems.  EDC is great because it has the potential to streamline the data collection process, bringing data collection about as close to real-time as is possible right now.  However there are many different EDC systems out there today and while many are private systems like PhaseForward or Medidata, some are sponsor designed/utilized (such as GSK's RDE system or QDS's data capture system).  Competition is good to a certain degree because it no doubt keeps costs down for sponsors, but it really can create headaches for sites.  There are too many passwords, too many guidelines, and too many different ways to access the various EDC systems.  If only there was one system utilized by the whole industry that every site could use for every study, allowing for seamless transitioning from one protocol to another once logged into the master system.  Impossible?  I don't think so.  Just consider the following scenario:

-As the market becomes ultra-competitive and bidding wars ensue, EDC systems start to cannibalize each other, leaving the small companies to be swallowed by up the more powerful ones (notice I didn't say the "best" ones)

-The market narrows, leaving only a handful of viable data entry platforms and sponsors align themselves with one company over another.

-Gradually as the industry continues to have large numbers of mergers/aquisitions, some platforms are eliminated from the market by virtue of company buyouts until one EDC system remains

Every research site by this time will be familiar with this one EDC system and will be completely familiar with the system, allowing for less stressful data entry procedures, database locks, and investigator signature procedures.  Each EDC user will have one global username/password to enter a system and from there he/she will have specific passwords for each study within the system, thereby maintaining compliance with CFR part 11.  Furthermore investigators would only need to remember one set of passwords and only one username for every study on which he/she is working.

Sounds nice, doesn't it? I know that this situation is a long way away and a bit far fetched, but a guy can dream can't he?