Want to know more?
Here you will find a guide to understanding Index and our services
About Index:
Index is a company specialising in editing and publishing services for scientific journals. We offer a comprehensive platform that streamlines the article review and production workflow, and we provide high value-added services (copyediting, typesetting, indexing, etc.). Our goal is to be the journal's all-round partner, so that editors, authors and reviewers can focus on the science and delegate the technical and operational management to us.
No, Index is not a traditional publisher. We are a technology and services partner that works hand in hand with the journal, without interfering in its decisions or editorial policy. Editorial control and publication decisions remain the responsibility of the journal.
No. The copyright of the articles remains with the authors or with the responsible publishing institution. Index handles the editorial and technical management, but does not acquire the rights to the content.
No. Index is Software as a Service (SaaS) that also provides complementary support, copyediting and typesetting services. The journal remains independent and keeps its own identity.
OJS (Open Journal Systems) is open-source software that the journal must install, update and maintain itself, also managing the server infrastructure and technical support.
Index, on the other hand, is a SaaS solution with maintenance and updates managed by us, which simplifies the editorial team's day-to-day work. We also provide high value-added services (editing, indexing, typesetting, etc.) that usually require additional effort in OJS. So with Index you get a platform that is always up to date and improving, backed by a team of experts in scientific publishing.
Platform and editorial workflows:
- Import of articles and metadata: We collect the manuscript information (files and metadata) directly from the review platform.
- Copyediting: Our team (or the one designated by the journal) corrects and adjusts the text according to the journal's style guidelines.
- Typesetting: We prepare the PDF, HTML and/or XML versions, ensuring they meet the technical requirements (DOI assignment, metadata standardisation, etc.).
- Validation: The author and the editor review the proofs. Here they can add comments or request changes.
5. Publication: Once the proofs are approved, pagination is assigned and the article is published in the journal's formats. Index manages the DOIs and sends the files to the databases where the journal is indexed, if requested.
Our platform lets authors upload their manuscripts, assign reviewers and track comments and corrections. It also records the change history and sends reminders when needed.
Yes. Our platform hosts the articles on a website adapted to the journal's image. This way, content is published in a format that is friendly to readers, indexes and search engines.
We generate PDF, HTML (enriched articles) and XML versions (for example, JATS for PubMed Central or SciELO). This makes indexing in multiple databases and repositories easier.
Indexing and visibility:
Yes, we provide support in preparing the documentation and meeting the requirements to apply for and maintain indexing. We have experience with publications in PubMed Central, Medline, SciELO, DOAJ, Latindex and others.
We can prepare and send the files (PDF, XML, etc.) to the repositories or platforms required by the journal. The aim is to ensure maximum visibility and accessibility of the articles.
Yes. At Index we integrate seamlessly with the journal's existing team, whether the publisher or the copyeditors. We want to be a technology ally that provides tools to optimise work and facilitate production, without displacing the professionals who already trust their process. Our aim is to complement and strengthen the editorial workflow, so the journal improves its impact and visibility without disrupting the existing dynamics.
To index a journal in databases such as PubMed or Scopus, it must meet scientific requirements (quality of articles, regular publication, peer review, etc.) as well as technical or formal requirements (article format, DOI assignment, metadata, etc.). At Index we provide the infrastructure and support needed to ensure the technical aspects are covered, so the editorial team can focus on strengthening the scientific criteria required by the indexes. This improves the chances of being accepted in the main databases and boosts the journal's visibility.
Costs and contracting:
No. Journals can contract our services whenever they wish and, if they want to cancel, there are no penalties. We do not require a minimum number of articles to work with us.
• SaaS platform: Use of our platform is paid annually (licence).
• Variable services: Copyediting, typesetting and publication are billed according to the volume of pages published. This way, those who publish more pay more, and those who publish less pay less.
Thanks to our advanced platform and our own methodology that automates communication, validation and formatting tasks. We also have digital processes that make typesetting easier and allow us to offer professional services at a lower cost than a traditional publisher. This frees the editorial team from operational tasks so it can focus on scientific quality.
1. Get in touch with Index: A member of our team will help you take the first steps to set up the platform for your journal.
2. Initial setup: We migrate or create the journal on the platform. Good news: it's easy and fast!
3. Training: We train editors and reviewers to master the tool. We share tutorials in various formats to make the migration a success.
4. Production: We start receiving and publishing articles without interrupting the journal's workflow.
Technical aspects and support:
We make regular backups and apply security protocols to prevent data loss. Our infrastructure is designed to ensure a high level of availability and protection.
We provide technical support during business hours (by email or video call) and ongoing advice on matters such as indexing, DOIs or publishing in different formats.
Yes. You can create and manage multiple journals within the same organisation, assigning different users and permissions to each journal.
Yes, with Index you can start a new publication from scratch or migrate an existing journal. Our team supports you throughout the process, from initial setup to designing the editorial workflow, ensuring your journal is ready for success. We also offer support for importing back issues, historical articles and users from other systems.