The product, which integrates with existing systems such as SagePay, will allow publishers to benefit from streamlined, automated workflows. Maney, a UK-based independent publisher of over a 100 academic journals, issued a tender looking for a system which could introduce efficiencies into their workflow and help them automatically track manuscripts and issues through the production process, as well as measure how time and resources were being used at every stage of the process.
MPS' technology team has designed the system to meet Maney's two principal requirements: reducing the time taken from the acceptance of each article to its publication, and increasing transparency with better reporting and measurement tools for each stakeholder, including authors and editors. The production tracking system not only automates functions such as metadata capture and storage, tracking, and schedule creation, but also includes issue-make up functionality, supplier turnaround time measuring, and a payment processing facility for non-subscription revenue items, such as open access payments and offprints. It also holds all production-related journal information and specifications, serving as an internal central repository and reference point for all such information.
Rajiv Seth, MD and CEO of MPS, commented: "Many publishers such as Maney are looking to re-design their production systems to better meet the needs of parallel publishing and digital-first workflows. Thanks to our investment in technology and over 35 years of production experience, we are well placed to design, develop, and implement such systems. We look forward to offering this service to other publishers later this year."
Samantha Green, Production Manager at Maney Publishing, commented: "As part of the tender process Maney thoroughly reviewed existing systems, but found that the majority did not meet all of our requirements. Co-developing the system with MPS as an experienced partner has meant that all of our needs can be incorporated. The production tracking system is a system designed in part by a publisher for the publisher. It is entirely scalable and can be tailored to specific workflows. We are confident that the system will introduce considerable efficiencies, as well as allowing for greater information and report sharing for all stakeholders." The production tracking system, which can be customized to meet the needs of any book or journal publisher, is expected to be launched in October 2011.
About MPS Limited
MPS says: “In today's digital world, content is becoming ever more sophisticated and increasingly inseparable from technology. MPS Limited, a Holtzbrinck group company with over 35 years of relevant experience serving major publishers worldwide, is helping the world navigate this new market by creating high-quality solutions designed to transform and enrich content for print, online, and mobile media."
About Maney Publishing
Maney says: “Maney Publishing is an independent publishing company formed in 1997 from a printing company established in 1900, and specializes in academic journals in materials science, the humanities, and health sciences. Maney is committed to publishing high quality journals in print and electronic formats that are international in scope and peer-reviewed. With offices in Leeds and London in the UK, and in Boston and Philadelphia in North America, Maney publishes extensively for learned societies, universities, and professional bodies around the world.”
