Peer Review Process

The peer review process at the Applied Journal of Digital Innovation (AJDI) is a fundamental step in ensuring that published articles meet the highest standards of scientific quality, originality, and relevance within the fields of digital innovation, artificial intelligence, technology management, and applied research.

All submitted manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process, where both the authors and the reviewers remain anonymous. This process guarantees impartiality, academic rigor, and adherence to ethical principles established by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

Reviewer Selection and Responsibilities

The evaluation of manuscripts is entrusted to external reviewers, recognized experts in their respective disciplines, unaffiliated with the authors or each other.
Reviewers collaborate with the Editorial Committee to verify:

  • The originality and methodological quality of the manuscript.

  • Its relevance to AJDI’s thematic focus areas.

  • Compliance with the journal’s formatting and ethical standards.

  • The significance of its contribution to the international academic and professional community.

Reviewers are expected to maintain a critical yet constructive attitude, providing clear, evidence-based feedback to help authors improve their work.

AJDI maintains an international panel of reviewers composed of specialists with doctoral degrees or equivalent research credentials, giving preference to scholars with publications indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.

All materials submitted for evaluation are strictly confidential. Reviewers must not disclose, share, or use any part of the manuscript for personal advantage or third-party benefit. If a reviewer requires expert advice or verification of data, they must first inform the editorial team.

Steps and Timeline of the Review Process

  1. Submission and Acknowledgment:
    Once the article is received through the online platform, the author receives a confirmation email with a unique tracking ID.

  2. Initial Editorial Screening (within 72 hours):
    The Editor-in-Chief or a designated Section Editor evaluates whether the submission fits the journal’s scope, quality standards, and ethical requirements. Manuscripts that fail to meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage.

  3. Assignment to Reviewers:
    Submissions passing the initial screening are assigned to at least two independent reviewers under a double-blind review system.

  4. Review Period (4 weeks / 28 days):
    Reviewers have a maximum of 7 days to accept or decline the invitation. Once accepted, they are granted 4 weeks to complete their evaluation.

  5. Editorial Decision (30–45 days average):
    After receiving reviewers’ reports, the Editor makes one of the following decisions:

    • Accept without revision

    • Accept with minor revisions

    • Major revisions required

    • Reject

  6. Revisions and Author Response:
    Authors will receive the reviewers’ comments along with detailed feedback from the Editor. The revised manuscript and a response letter must be submitted within 15 days.

  7. Final Evaluation and Acceptance:
    The Editor-in-Chief reviews the revised version and, if necessary, consults the original reviewers.
    In case of conflicting recommendations, a third independent review will be requested.

  8. Online Publication:
    Once accepted, articles are published online within approximately 15 days, assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), and indexed or submitted to relevant databases.

Interaction and Traceability

All communication between reviewers, editors, and authors is handled through the AJDI OJS platform to ensure complete traceability of the review process.
This system preserves the transparency, integrity, and documentation of every editorial action.

Reviewer Ethics and Confidentiality

Reviewers must:

  • Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.

  • Declare any potential conflicts of interest.

  • Refrain from contacting authors directly.

  • Base evaluations on scientific merit, not personal views or affiliations.

The editorial team monitors adherence to these ethical guidelines and may replace reviewers who do not comply with AJDI’s standards.

Final Decision

The final acceptance or rejection of a manuscript lies with the Editor-in-Chief, based on the reviewers’ recommendations and the manuscript’s contribution to the journal’s mission:
to foster innovation and responsible technology development through high-quality academic research.