The Asynchronous method involves opening the database of the remote workgroup in order to transfer a single record to the remote workgroup's database and a single record from the remote workgroup's database. The data transfer is asynchronous which means that when the local OfficeTalk synchronisation server sends and receives changes, the changes are not made there and then. Instead, the synchronisation server of the remote workgroup makes the changes in it's own time.
The advantage of the Asynchronous method is that network bandwidth is considerably reduced which makes it a more suitable synchronisation strategy for slower networks or for dial-up connections.
A disadvantage of this method is that OfficeTalk needs to connect on two separate occasions in order to synchronise. The first connection transfers any data to be sent and makes a request for any data to be prepared. The second connection, made later, collects any data waiting as a result of the request.
Another disadvantage of this method is the fact that the OfficeTalk synchronisation server machine must have either direct or dial-up access to the Remote Workgroup's database.