How Elsevier’s article transfer services transform the author experience

What Is Article Transfer and Why Does It Matter?

Every year, millions of research articles face rejection from journals. About half of these manuscripts eventually find a home elsewhere, often after significant delays and duplicated effort. Article transfer services aim to bridge this gap by recommending more suitable journals and seamlessly transferring manuscript files and metadata, saving time for authors, editors, and reviewers.

“Article transfer is a big part of the solution,” said Dr. Stuart Bland, director of publishing strategic initiatives at Elsevier. “If we can both find the right journal for authors and move their information across, that’s a great combo.”

Two Core Workflows: Resubmission Assistant and ATS Classic

Elsevier’s ATS operates via two main workflows:

1. Resubmission Assistant (AI-Powered):

   After a rejection, an AI algorithm suggests alternative journals to the author, who receives an automated email with tailored recommendations. Authors can review journal metrics, such as impact factor and acceptance rates, and transfer their manuscript with a single click. The process is fully automated and requires no additional editorial effort.

2. ATS Classic (Editor-Led):

   Editors can manually recommend one or more journals at the point of rejection. The author receives a personalized letter with transfer options. This workflow also allows for the transfer of reviewer comments when available, further expediting the peer review process.

Proven Benefits for Authors and Journals

Articles that receive a transfer offer are 1.5 times more likely to be published in an Elsevier journal. Transferred articles also move from submission to acceptance about two weeks faster than new submissions. Authors report high satisfaction, with some calling it “the best rejection letter” they’ve received.

For journals, especially new or society-owned titles, ATS provides a vital content stream. “Transfers can help build and strengthen the community that the journal serves,” Stuart noted. “It’s really about building a great service for authors and developing important content streams.”

The Role of AI and the Future of Article Transfer

While editor-led transfers remain the most successful, AI-powered recommendations are improving rapidly. “We’ve had quite a rapid growth in the success of the AI route over the last 18 months,” Bland said. As large language models evolve, the expectation is that AI will play an increasingly significant role in matching manuscripts to the right journals.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are reviewer comments transferred?

  Currently, reviewer comments are only transferred via ATS Classic. Integration for the resubmission assistant is on the roadmap.

• Can transfers occur across all Elsevier journals?

  Transfers are possible between any journals using Editorial Manager, and in some cases, across different submission platforms.

• How are transfer connections decided?

  Connections are based on editorial discussions, data analysis of rejected manuscript destinations, and AI-generated recommendations.

A Seamless Experience for Societies and Authors

For societies with multiple journals, ATS can be tailored to facilitate transfers within journal families, leveraging close editorial relationships for even smoother transitions. Authors benefit from reduced resubmission effort and faster publication timelines.