Adjudication involves an independent third party who considers the claims of both sides and makes a decision. The adjudicator is usually an expert in the subject matter in dispute. Also, adjudicators are not bound by the rules of litigation or arbitration. Their decisions are often interim ones, i.e., they can be finalized using arbitration or another binding process.
Adjudication decisions are usually binding on both parties by prior agreement. In other words, adjudication is generally binding for an interim period of time in order to resolve a dispute quickly, but the specific issues settled may be arbitrated at a later time at the request of a party for a definitive binding solution.
Adjudication offers immediate, binding and affordable relief, win or lose, with the opportunity of later revisiting contested issues in arbitration.