Emerald Publishing serves researchers and institutions worldwide through their comprehensive digital gateway, Emerald Insight. The platform provides access to an extensive collection of more than 400 journals, 7,000 books, 3,000 case studies, and a continuously expanding library of open access content that reaches a global audience.
The publisher has built its reputation on a foundation of curating and publishing high-quality research, with a particular emphasis on applied research that creates tangible real-world impact. At its core, Emerald Publishing operates with a clear mission centered on sustainability, inclusion, and community engagement. These values drive every decision the company makes, from content curation to technology partnerships, as they work to serve the diverse needs of the entire academic research community.
The challenge
As the academic publishing landscape evolved rapidly, Emerald Publishing found itself facing multiple interconnected challenges that threatened their ability to serve their research communities effectively.
Evolving Customer Expectations created the most pressing challenge. Researchers and institutions were demanding more than just access to content—they wanted intuitive, flexible, and genuinely user-friendly experiences that could seamlessly integrate into their research workflows.
Operational Complexity posed an equally significant internal challenge. Emerald’s teams were spending a disproportionate amount of time managing the complex technical workflows of their in-house platform rather than focusing on what they did best: identifying, curating, and publishing exceptional research. This misalignment of resources was preventing the company from maximizing their core strengths and delivering the highest possible value to their communities.
The broader Industry Pressures added another layer of complexity. Academic publishing was grappling with ongoing tensions between traditional subscription models and emerging open research approaches. This required unprecedented flexibility in how content could be delivered, accessed, and monetized.
Looking toward the future, Emerald also recognized critical Innovation Limitations in their existing infrastructure. Authors were increasingly interested in publishing multimedia content, interactive data, and various innovative text formats that went far beyond traditional articles. Additionally, ensuring genuine accessibility and inclusion across their diverse global research community required specialized expertise and continuous attention that stretched their internal resources thin.
The process
The transformation journey began with Emerald’s groundbreaking decision to integrate sustainability criteria into their vendor selection process for the first time. This approach reflected their commitment to values-driven partnerships and set the stage for finding a collaborator who truly aligned with their organizational principles.
The partnership selection process involved comprehensive evaluation of potential partners based not only on technical capabilities but also on environmental responsibility, inclusion commitments, and employee wellness practices. The process revealed natural synergy that extended far beyond platform capabilities to encompass fundamental organizational values and vision for the future of academic publishing.
Emerald partnered with Silverchair to stay true to their vision: launching a new platform built on community-driven development and prioritizing configuration over customization. Silverchair constructively challenged requests that strayed from industry standards, while remaining receptive to feedback on areas needing improvement. This collaborative approach enabled co-development of functionality with benefits that extend beyond Emerald to the wider community.
The solution
Silverchair provided Emerald with a transformative solution that addressed every aspect of their complex challenges while positioning them for future success. The partnership delivered immediate improvements while establishing a foundation for continuous evolution and growth.
Enhanced Research Experience
The most visible transformation came through split-view functionality that revolutionized how researchers interact with scholarly content. Users can now read main articles alongside references, figures, and tables simultaneously, eliminating the frustrating back-and-forth navigation that had been disrupting research momentum.
The platform’s intuitive interface aligns with modern industry expectations, creating a more natural and efficient research environment. Personalized content recommendations deliver tailored experiences that help researchers discover relevant materials more efficiently, while real-time metrics like “most read” and “most cited” provide immediate insight into content impact and relevance.
Seamless ORCID integration has enhanced trust and credibility while improving author discoverability across the academic community. The platform’s flexibility extends to supporting multimedia content, interactive data, and various text formats, opening new possibilities for authors who want to publish beyond traditional article constraints.
Working with Silverchair as a platform partner also freed their team from complex technical management responsibilities. Automated workflows handle routine technical operations, while Silverchair’s experienced teams manage critical considerations like security, SEO, and accessibility. This shift enables Emerald to operate more effectively as a publisher rather than struggling to function as both a content company and a technology provider.
The continuous improvement model means that Emerald benefits from ongoing platform enhancements driven by Silverchair’s client-led roadmap, publisher working groups, and market-facing teams. This collaborative approach ensures that the platform continues evolving to meet emerging needs rather than becoming a static solution.
Perhaps most importantly, the partnership positions Emerald for success in a rapidly evolving industry. The platform’s built-in support for open research practices, including data accessibility statements and research supplements, empowers authors to share knowledge with unprecedented transparency, while the Silverchair AI Lab offers a variety of innovations that the Emerald team can test, co-develop, and adopt.
The partnership represents far more than a technology upgrade—it embodies a strategic collaboration that positions both organizations to drive meaningful change in the academic publishing landscape, creating a more dynamic, inclusive, and impactful research ecosystem that will benefit the global research community for years to come.
“As the industry navigates ongoing pressures to balance subscription and open research models, we recognize the growing need for flexibility. Our priority is to cater to the entire academic research community, delivering the tools and options they need. The new Emerald Insight is just the first step—we’re continuously evolving our offerings to meet future demands.” —Natalie Jacobs, Chief Product Officer, Emerald Publishing