New advances in technology have now made the e-discovery process non-linear and more flexible, faster and more cost efficient. Traditionally, e-discovery has been conducted as a linear process: 1. Identify relevant potential evidence; 2. Preserve; 3. Collect; 4. Process; 5. Review and analyze; and 6. Produce and present (see the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) framework at edrm.net for details).
The EDRM framework was never intended to be a linear process but limitations in technology in the past prevented it from being more flexible and cost effective. Taking a linear approach because of technology limitations made e-discovery both expensive and time consuming because all steps had to be essentially completed in sequential order and usually outsourced to third-party service providers at a per gigabyte price.
