From one journal to global impact
Emerald is committed to making positive change happen.
It’s been that way since the very beginning. Emerald’s founder, Dr Keith Howard OBE, held a firm belief in the real-world difference that applied research could make.
He and his colleagues began with a single journal, Management Decision, bought for just £1. Emerald has since flourished into a digital-first, global publisher. Its portfolio includes over 400 journals and 2000 books, centered on the social sciences.
“I often talk about the business studies context,” says Tony Roche, Chief Officer of Publishing and Strategic Relations. “Strategy, entrepreneurship, leadership—that’s Emerald’s home.”
Targeting a great author experience
Tony works out of the company’s Leeds HQ. His brief is a broad one. On an average day, you’ll find him involved in everything from community outreach to funder policies. But he’s always chasing the same goal: To make publishing as accessible and inclusive as possible.
“We’re really focused on equity. Equity in terms of participation—not just the ability to read content, but also to become an author wherever you are in the world.”
Emerald’s digital offering plays a big role here. Because, historically, researchers have had to use clunky systems that make the publishing journey overly complicated.
Emerald’s authors were sometimes left confused about where they could publish without running the risk of being non-compliant. They didn’t always know where to find Emerald’s deals and weren’t aware of the differences between open-access routes.
“We need to be on the pulse of what our authors need, what they’re being challenged to deliver, and how we demonstrate value for them. Then we need to give them basically the simplest and most seamless experience possible.”
And as Tony makes clear, “the trick here is that it’s seamless in their eyes. Under the hood, it’s pedaling very hard and very complex.”
Choosing partners that share Emerald’s values
Emerald takes a pragmatic approach to technology.
“Our strengths lie in content acquisition, great publishing, and great experience,” Tony explains. While some solutions are developed in-house, external partners are brought on board when it makes sense.
These businesses aren’t just chosen for their technical bona fides. They need to align with Emerald’s equity agenda too.
“We’ll only work with partners who we believe are doing things in a fair and equitable way—who look after their people as well as their customers. Because if they don’t do that, that basically undermines our own offer and brand as well.”
Simplifying post-acceptance with ChronosHub
Emerald began using ChronosHub in 2022. Specifically, our License Management and Billing of Author Charges modules.
After researchers have submitted their paper, these modules guide them through accepting a suitable license for their work and paying any outstanding charges, with automated recognition of potential waivers, discounts, vouchers, and Read & Publish agreements. It can take researchers mere minutes to complete.
Looking back on the deal, what most impressed Tony from the outset was ChronosHub’s simplicity.
“The market is getting more complex. There are challenges around things like open-access models and APC workflows. And ChronosHub is brilliant at helping authors navigate that, in a way that makes it as painless, frictionless, and easy as possible.”
To learn more about ChronosHub for publishers, hit the button below to visit our dedicated page.
For publishers
Learn more about ChronosHub for publishers
ChronosHub takes a fresh approach to scholarly publishing tech, with a focus on flexibility, design, and integrations. Choose from our modules that tackle different stages of the publishing journey. Each one transforms those core workflows, letting you automate time-consuming admin, catch errors early, and give your authors a branded experience that will make them want to submit again.
