The utilisation layer above the systems you already run.
DER does not replace statistical production, repositories, M&E systems, document management or BI. It connects them to audiences, approvals and impact.
DER references or synchronises authoritative systems. It does not create competing master records for data already governed elsewhere.
Your systems of record stay the source of truth. DER adds a governed evidence-movement layer: discovery, a single trusted record, audience products, approved release and measured use.
Each of these does its job well. DER does the part that is left.
Where DER sits next to seven common categories of system.
Adjacent category
What it already solves well
Typical remaining gap
DER's role
Adjacent category
Open-data portals (for example CKAN)
What it already solves well
Catalogue, publish, search and access datasets through portals and APIs.
Typical remaining gap
Does not by itself manage end-to-end audience translation and validated uptake.
DER's role
Harvest or link datasets; govern products, approvals and impact.
Adjacent category
M&E and results systems (for example DevResults)
What it already solves well
Indicators, project performance, maps, data collection and reporting.
Typical remaining gap
Learning products and public or policy dissemination may remain separate.
DER's role
Translate programme evidence and capture wider use and impact.
Adjacent category
Research repositories and CRIS
What it already solves well
Store and describe publications, datasets, researchers and projects.
Typical remaining gap
Limited policy and public product workflow and non-academic impact validation.
DER's role
Harvest records; mobilise and track evidence beyond academia.
Adjacent category
Evidence search and synthesis tools
What it already solves well
Find literature and support review and synthesis.
Typical remaining gap
Do not govern an institution's authorised record, release chain and channels.
DER's role
Operationalise selected evidence in institutional workflows.
Adjacent category
Policy-impact databases (for example Overton)
What it already solves well
Discover policy citations and trace research influence.
Typical remaining gap
Primarily external citation intelligence rather than full internal production governance.
DER's role
Combine external signals with internal products and validated cases.
Adjacent category
CMS, social and media tools
What it already solves well
Create, schedule, publish and monitor content.
Typical remaining gap
Weak source provenance, evidence sensitivity and policy-grade approval trail.
DER's role
Supply source-linked, approved products and receive channel signals.
Adjacent category
BI and dashboards
What it already solves well
Analyse and visualise structured operational data.
Typical remaining gap
Outputs may not become governed knowledge products or impact evidence.
DER's role
Turn insights into traceable products and follow-through cases.
Evidence intelligence, knowledge translation and impact management.
Each of those components exists elsewhere. The differentiation is the governed connection between them, configured for institutions where evidence credibility, release authority and public value matter.
See how DER would sit above your systems.
Tell us which repositories, portals and tools you run today and we will show the connection points.