Manuscript tracking systems

Hello earthilings, how are we all on this bright and sunny friday afternoon?

This week I would like to have a little discussion on online manuscript tracking systems. We use Bench>Press here at BMJGroup and it is a magnificent tool, we also use ScholarOne Manuscripts which is also a magnificent tool, I also here the same about Editorial Manager. There are a few more out there: Allen Track and EJ Press and some others. What one is the best? Do you have one but wish you had another? Did you used to have one but ended up with another?

Imagine the days when they did not exist and we had a typewriter each (yes I am so old, no jokes about candle light, thank you).

At the end of the day all of the systems are probably very good and meet most of the needs of a journal. Some have things that other do not, some copy other systems to try to make them as good and so on.

So at the end of the day why do editors struggle to use them. Even after 8 years of having one they still moan about it being clunky. But they forget that they used to have to send their post tied to a pigeons leg. Most of the admin is now done for them automatically. Oh! how they forget. Would love to see a discussion on systems on the ISMTE Forum http://www.ismte.org/

I have a great interest in this subject and I am sure many more of you do too, so come on bring it on who is the best :o)

Toodle pip.