Designing a journal submission platform is a critical step for any academic institution, scholarly society, or research body looking to streamline peer-reviewed publishing. Whether you are building from scratch or upgrading an existing system, several key considerations can determine the success, sustainability, and usability of your platform. In this blog, we explore what you should think about before starting the design process.

Define Your Goals and Audience

Start by identifying the primary goals of your journal platform and who it is meant to serve. Ask yourself:

• – Is the platform for a single journal or multiple journals?
• – Is your primary audience local, regional, or global?
• – What are your publishing priorities—speed, visibility, impact, open access?

Choose the Right Technology

Selecting the right journal management system is essential. Common options include:

Consider whether you will self-host or use a managed hosting service.

Plan the Submission Workflow

Map out the editorial process from manuscript submission to publication. Consider:

• – How authors will submit and track manuscripts
• – How editors assign reviewers and make decisions
• – How peer reviews are submitted and communicated
• – What post-acceptance stages (copyediting, production) are involved

Consider Indexing and Metadata Requirements

If your goal is to be listed on platforms such as Google Scholar, PubMed, or DOAJ, you will need:

• – Support for structured metadata formats (e.g. JATS XML)
• – Integration with ORCID, Crossref for DOI assignment
• – Open Archives Initiative (OAI-PMH) protocol for metadata harvesting
• – Clear licensing and open access statements

Think About User Roles and Access Control

Your system should define roles clearly, including:

You should also consider user onboarding, support, and training.

Design for Usability and Accessibility

Make sure your platform is easy to use and accessible to all users. Best practices include:

• – Responsive design that works on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices
• – Clear navigation and calls to action
• – WCAG 2.1 accessibility compliance for users with disabilities
• – Fast page loads and minimal technical barriers for users

Budget for Long-Term Maintenance

Designing the platform is just the beginning. Plan for:

• – Regular software updates and plugin upgrades
• – Data backups and server maintenance
• – Technical support for users
• – Training and documentation for editors and admins

How Mamba Technologies Can Help You

At Mamba Technologies, we build user-friendly, scalable, and standards-compliant journal submission platforms using tools like OJS and WordPress. We support universities, colleges, research institutions, and scholarly societies to digitise and grow their journals.

We offer:
– Complete OJS setup and configuration for single or multi-journal platforms
– Seamless editorial workflow setup tailored to your needs
– Integration with ORCID, Crossref, DOAJ, and PubMed
– Metadata formatting, JATS XML setup, and OAI-PMH configuration
– Responsive frontend design and accessibility compliance
– Post-launch support, training, and platform maintenance

Let us help you bring your academic publishing project to life.

To get started:
– Call us on 0721651572
– Email us at info@mambatechnologies.co.ke
– Visit www.mambatechnologies.co.ke