Final answer:
The correct answer (a) to the question of what is not a cost of EDI is entering data only once, as EDI systems are specifically designed to reduce data entry requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked which of the following is not a cost of electronic data interchange (EDI): A) entering data only once, B) training employees, C) buying and leasing hardware and software, and D) reengineering affected applications. The correct answer is A) entering data only once. This is because EDI is designed to eliminate the need to enter data multiple times, thereby reducing the potential for errors and saving time. In contrast, training employees, buying or leasing hardware and software, and reengineering affected applications are indeed costs associated with the implementation and maintenance of an EDI system.
Integrating EDI usually requires significant upfront investment in hardware and software, as well as costs related to employee training and reengineering business processes to accommodate the new electronic workflows. Therefore, these are considered direct costs of implementing EDI in an organization.