EDeX is event-based data exchange. An event can be any trigger that causes the system to behave in a certain fashion based on the replicable production of specific data. An event can be caused by the presence of new data. New accounts, a new order, receipt of new information are events.

Events can also be time-based. Periodic events occur at a specific time on a regular basis. The absence of something happening at a specific time can be an event trigger. A purchase order or advance shipping notice not received at a specific time is time based events. A task not acknowledged on one CRM, or messages in a management workflow on a legacy system are time-based events.