If you run clinical trials and work in data management or clinical operations at a sponsor or CRO, you know your clinical trial technology can make or break a study. Your technology stack directly affects timelines, data quality, and budget.
Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems are no longer simple data entry tools for clinical sites. They now need to handle faster studies, more data sources, and higher operational complexity. The system you choose must support how trials actually run today—not how they ran five years ago.
In this post, we break down what to look for in an EDC built for modern clinical trials, including:
- Efficient study builds
- Proven partnership
- Friendly user experience
- Clear pricing value and transparency
- Consistent product development
- Robust integrations
- Comprehensive reporting
Want to learn more about what to look for in an EDC? Grab the EDC Buyer’s Guide.
Efficient Clinical Study Build
Overly complicated database builds can slow a study down before it’s even begun. CROs and sponsors need an EDC that supports fast study builds with electronic case report forms (eCRFs) based on industry standards, efficient protocol amendments, and proactive data quality checks.
To achieve greater speed, choose an EDC with an intuitive design and flexible functionality that make your study build and start-up processes easier.
To move forward faster, leverage EDCs that allow you to skip programming while unleashing the power of automation and built-in logic. An EDC with standard forms, reusable templates, and seamless mid-study updates means you can move to UAT sooner.
Study Build Key Takeaways
Choosing an EDC that streamlines setup and updates ensures your trial starts strong and stays on track.
– Fast study builds require standardized eCRFs and efficient protocol amendments.
– Intuitive design and flexible functionality simplify database setup.
– Automation, built-in logic, and reusable templates reduce programming needs.
What Medrio Customers Say: Study Builds
Here are what Medrio customers are saying about their experiences with study builds in Medrio CDMS/EDC.
“The primary factor was Medrio’s system being highly configurable, allowing [our team] to build and adjust their own clinical trial databases efficiently without requiring a separate data management team.” – VP of Clinical Affairs, Medical Device Company
“Our database developers enjoy building in Medrio. Medrio has a really easy user interface. We like Medrio’s drag-and-drop capability. Their build is very easy.” – Clinical Data Manager, Medical Device Company
“The ability to reuse study pages has significantly shortened build times and reduced costs.” – Director of Clinical Operations, CRO
Learn about Medrio’s Clinical Trial Data Services, including our eCRF and database build services.
Proven Partnership
Study teams aiming to innovate and move quickly need more than a standard vendor-client relationship. A true partnership goes beyond contracts and support tickets—it’s about collaboration and responsiveness.
Rigid vendor relationships can slow progress and limit flexibility. Teams benefit most when their EDC vendor understands the nuances of their studies and can adapt to fit specific workflows.
A clinical trial technology partner that empowers sponsors and CROs to tackle complex trials with confidence. This kind of partnership ensures an EDC can support a study as it scales, supporting both operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.
Partnership Key Takeaways
Choosing a vendor as a true partner keeps your study agile, efficient, and poised for success. Look for an EDC provider with a proven track record of supporting studies similar to yours.
– Flexible, adaptable vendors help teams navigate study-specific workflows.
– Accessible tech partners enable sponsors and CROs to tackle complex trials confidently.
– Responsive partners support scalability.
What Medrio Customers Say: Partnership
Here are what Medrio customers are saying about their partnership experiences.
“I appreciate being able to rely on [Medrio’s] expertise as we develop our own in-house studies. It’s important for us to leverage that expertise, that consultation, and that advice of Medrio” – Data Manager, Medtech Company
“With Medrio, the main reason we chose [them] was the team—they asked all the right questions, came prepared, and were easy to work with” – Associate Director, Clinical Operations, Biopharma Company
“Everybody on the calls from Medrio had a lot of experience, decades worth, in different realms of clinical trials… the experience in terms of who would be helping us execute was a big factor” – Project Coordinator, Medtech Company
Want to learn more about how Medrio partners with CROs? Check out The CRO’s New Playbook to Improving Clinical Trial Operations.
Friendly User Experience
A user-friendly experience is critical when selecting an EDC. The right solution should be intuitive and easy to navigate, even for non-technical users. Responsive customer support further smooths onboarding and helps teams stay productive.
Simple implementation is another key advantage to look for in an EDC. Study teams need to be able to adopt the platform quickly, without complex setup or a long learning curve. Teams should be able to use it effectively without coding or programming expertise.
User Experience Key Takeaways
A user-friendly EDC with strong customer support empowers teams to get started quickly and stay productive throughout a study’s lifecycle.
– An intuitive design allows teams to work efficiently without technical or programming expertise.
– Simple implementation enables fast adoption with minimal setup or training.
– Responsive support improves onboarding and ensures ongoing user confidence.
What Medrio Customers Say: User Experience
Here are what Medrio customers are saying about their user experiences in Medrio solutions.
“I find [Medrio] pretty intuitive. It can do everything we want, and it’s not overpowered, and it’s still easy to use.” – CEO, Medtech Company
“[Medrio’s] software was user-friendly and didn’t require any coding experience… [Medrio] is more user-friendly than other [vendors].” – Director of R&D, Biotech Company
“[Medrio’s] customer service is the best that I’ve seen. The customer service provided by Medrio is exceptional, with a dedicated representative checking in quarterly and offering prompt support when needed.”—Clinical Database Manager, Global Medical Device Company
Want to learn more about how ease-of-use makes a difference? Read Visby’s success story.
Clear Pricing Value and Transparency
When comparing EDC options, pricing transparency is just as important as functionality. Hidden fees, add-on modules, and usage-based pricing can quickly inflate total study costs.
EDC vendors should be able to explain exactly what you are paying for and why. Clear, upfront pricing helps sponsors and CROs evaluate true value and avoid budget surprises.
Pricing Key Takeaways
Clear pricing enables sponsors and CROs to make informed decisions, control budgets, and focus on running efficient, successful trials.
– Transparent pricing makes it clear what you are paying for and why.
– Hidden fees and add-on costs can quickly increase total study spend.
– Upfront pricing helps sponsors and CROs assess true value and avoid surprises.
What Medrio Customers Say: Pricing
Here are what Medrio customers are saying about their experiences with EDC pricing.
“Medrio was something like half the price of [a large legacy vendor]. Medrio’s pricing was clear and fair, with no hidden costs, which contributed to a positive perception.”—VP Clinical, Biotechnology Company
“You get the most bang for your buck for what they charge and what they offer. When you look at the features [Medrio offers] for the price model, you get some premium features that a lot of companies haven’t even started yet. With the monitoring and their dashboards alone, I feel like those two things are stellar.” —Clinical Trial Manager, Clinical Research Company
“The reason we stay with Medrio is absolutely the value. What we get for what we pay for it is the most important aspect. I never feel like I’m overpaying for something when I work with Medrio.”—Team member, Clinical-Stage Biopharmaceutical Company
Want to learn more about selecting a strategic EDC partner? Check out What Small Teams Need in a Strategic CDMS/EDC Partner.
Consistent EDC Product Development
Regular product updates and new features provide ongoing value to electronic data capture systems. These updates ensure the platform keeps pace with evolving clinical trial requirements and regulatory expectations. They also help streamline workflows and improve usability for sites, sponsors, and data managers.
By continually addressing gaps in product releases, EDC vendors demonstrate commitment to their clients’ long-term success. Choosing a vendor with a strong product roadmap reduces risk and supports smoother trial execution.
Product Development Key Takeaways
Consistent product development provides confidence that an EDC will scale with growing studies and adapt to changing business needs.
– Regular updates keep the EDC aligned with evolving trial requirements and regulatory expectations.
– New features improve usability and streamline workflows for sites, sponsors, and data teams.
– A strong product roadmap signals long-term commitment and supports study scalability.
What Medrio Customers Say: Product Development
Here are what Medrio customers are saying about their experiences with product development.
“I really like Medrio’s updates that they add to the product, [and] I like that they do quarterly updates to the actual database system and that they keep rolling out new features. They always communicate what’s coming on their pipeline, [and] knowing that they are always doing work on the product is a big value-add for [us].”—Clinical Database Manager, Global Medical Device Company
Robust Integrations with Clinical Trial Technologies
Data connectivity and integration are essential for modern study teams. Choose an EDC that offers integrations with other in-house solutions, such as eCOA, ePRO, RTSM, and eConsent. Look for a vendor that can streamline data transfer, improve quality review, and optimize data collection.
Prioritize strong documentation for third-party API integrations to further enhance data integrity and visibility. Avoid adding technology piecemeal since this can create risks and inefficiencies if integration isn’t considered upfront.
Integration Key Takeaways
Effective integrations ensure data flows smoothly and give study teams confidence in trial accuracy and efficiency.
– API integrations should be considered upfront and not as an afterthought
– Connectivity between other technologies (e.g., RTSM) is key
– Well-documented integrations improve data integrity, visibility, and streamline collection and quality review.
What Medrio Customers Say: Integrations
Here are what Medrio customers are saying about their experiences with integrations.
“Their API [from Medrio] was incredibly well documented, which was actually important to me.”—Director Clinical Affairs, Emerging Clinical-Stage Medical Device Company
“The full integration between the EDC and the CTMS was important. We wanted the systems to be fully integrated so we could be efficient in managing our studies.” – Clinical Trials Data Management Specialist, Academic Research Center
“One of the biggest strengths [of Medrio] is that a lot of people use it. There’s also a lot of ability to integrate additional things such as RTSM with patient randomization, eConsent, those kinds of things. So those are things that we were considering for the future. Those were definitely pluses in [Medrio’s] column.” – Senior Clinical Trial Manager, Biopharma
Comprehensive Reporting
Strong reporting features turn trial data into actionable insights. In-platform reporting reduces delays and eliminates reliance on external tools.
Customizable reporting modules and dashboards allow teams to tailor views to their study needs. Meanwhile, self-service report generation empowers data managers and clinical teams to answer questions without vendor intervention.
Reporting Key Takeaways
Robust, customizable reporting ensures teams can access timely insights, make informed decisions, and keep trials running smoothly.
Key takeaways:
– The right reporting tools support actionable insights
– Customizable reporting allows teams to tailor views to their study needs.
– Self-service report generation empowers teams to answer questions without vendor support.
What Medrio Customers Say: Reporting
Here are what Medrio customers are saying about their experiences with reporting in Medrio CDMS/EDC.
“[Medrio’s] reporting modules and their reporting dashboards are superior to [other competitor EDCs]. With Medrio, in particular, you can do reporting from within the system at a pretty high level. There’s not a lot of limitations when it comes to aligning the data to individualize the dashboards and visualize your data within the Medrio system, which is impressive. You don’t get that ability to customize the reports with many other systems.”—Clinical Trial Manager, Clinical Research Company
“The CRAs love Medrio because they can see the monitoring process… what sold them on Medrio was the reporting capacity. They like how you can submit the reports and graphs and manage the sites.” – Senior Director of Clinical Operations, Medtech Company
Want to know how one CRO achieved a 50% reduction from point of visit to patient data entry? Read more about How Vanguard Clinical Harnesses Medrio CDMS/EDC.
Is Medrio Right for You?
Medrio isn’t just a data collection tool—it’s a user-friendly EDC built to keep you in control from database build to final reporting. Designed for studies that need fast startup, flexibility, and minimal technical overhead, Medrio scales with trials as they grow more complex.
Purpose-built for ease of use and efficiency, Medrio combines advanced controls for data quality with built-in regulatory and compliance readiness. With industry expertise you can trust and expert support at every step, you can conduct your study confidently, knowing your data is secure and your team is empowered.
Request a demo of Medrio CDMS/EDC.
