Aries Systems Corporation

Authors are often eager to hear updates on the status of their submitted manuscripts. Traditionally, Authors rely on email notifications from the journal regarding their pending papers or frequently check the status within the online submission system. Although this process is standard, it is important for the scholarly publishing industry to explore ways to optimize communication by considering factors such as location, accessibility, technology advancements, and cultural preferences. For example, the use of email in China has significantly dropped over the last decade through the introduction of WeChat.

WeChat, the Chinese social and eCommerce mobile application, reaches over 1.38 billion monthly active users globally. Known as China’s “super-app,” WeChat’s extensive functionality has transformed how individuals and businesses connect. As the research landscape in China continues to evolve, it is critical for publishers to increase their visibility and communicate effectively with researchers and institutions. With a presence on WeChat, publishers in China are better positioned to adapt to changing needs in the Chinese research market, promote their journals, and engage directly with key stakeholders at scale.

Recognizing this shift, Aries Systems and Charlesworth have partnered to facilitate notifications to Authors in the WeChat app from Editorial Manager® (EM). Through the Charlesworth WeChat Gateway plug-in, publishers can link their official WeChat account to their EM sites, enabling  two-way messages on manuscript status updates. After a one-time registration for the WeChat paper notification service to their associated journal(s), Authors can receive real-time push notifications or perform self-checks on their manuscripts directly within WeChat. With the convenience of checking the status of submitted articles from their mobile phones, this powerful integration helps Authors feel informed and empowered. This in turn reduces the number of incoming support queries from Authors, improving Author satisfaction and reducing the administrative burden on editorial office staff. The Gateway includes a metrics dashboard that allows publishers to measure the number of notifications sent and self-checks made. The EM/WeChat Gateway connection can help publishers grow their WeChat channel following and increase their visibility on the app which can result in increased submissions and readership within the Chinese research community.

Whether it be a large publisher with their own WeChat account, or a small-to-medium sized publisher leveraging the Charlesworth account, the paper notification service boosts transparency with Authors in China. The partnership and integration with the Charlesworth WeChat Gateway is one of many workflow enhancing features available for Editorial Manager users through our expansive ecosystem of connected tools and services.

To learn more about how to take advantage of this connection, visit https://www.charlesworth-group.com/charlesworth-gateway or contact Andrew Smith, Product and Marketing Director at Charlesworth, at Andrew.Smith@charlesworth-group.com.