An EDRM system is designed to manage semi-structured or unstructured content including text, graphics, image, audio and video content. The content can be managed as individual content objects or brought together to form documents. Simple documents are made up of one content object (a text file or an image file). Compound documents are made up of two or more content components.

A subset of the documents managed in an EDRM system can be declared to be records and are then managed as records using a more stringent set of business rules which are designed to preserve the integrity, content and context of the record.

A simple definition of an EDRM (Electronic Document and Records Management) system is that it is a system designed to manage electronic content, documents and records and support four key functions:

input (creation/capture)
management (content, documents, records)
collaboration/process management
output/delivery.

In other words an EDRM system represents a combination of an active electronic content and document management system and an electronic records management system.

You will find a historical guide to the evolution of these systems in stage one, step one (link to Historical background) below. Then sub section Deciding which functions you need (link to Deciding which functions you need) provides you with some advice on how to decide which functions you need.