How Emerald bridges equity and efficiency in publishing

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 more intuitive publishing experience for authors

Tony works out of the company’s Leeds HQ. 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, inclusive, and efficient 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 had to use legacy systems that were not built for the expectations of today’s research communities.

Emerald’s authors were sometimes left confused about where they could publish without running the risk of being non-compliant. And they weren’t aware of the differences between open-access routes.

When workflows are fragmented, authors experience friction and editorial teams absorb the operational cost.

“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.”

Designing post-acceptance for modern research with ChronosHub

Emerald began using ChronosHub in 2022, introducing a single-step license signing without disrupting the systems authors already trust.

After researchers have submitted their paper, ChronosHub’s license management and billing modules guide them through accepting a suitable license for their work and paying any outstanding charges. The system automatically recognises potential waivers, discounts, vouchers, and read and publish agreements, reducing the need for manual intervention. It can take researchers mere minutes to complete.

Looking back on the deal, what most impressed Tony from the outset was ChronosHub’s flexibility and its responsiveness to the needs of modern publishing.

“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.”