Services
DEAS serves as the central infrastructure for the DEAL agreements, providing a comprehensive portfolio of services that effectively supports open access publishing for each participating institution and its authors. DEAS offers a comprehensive range of services, including contract design, invoice management, data analysis, and community support. These services help scientific institutions streamline their operations and manage their finances more efficiently. The company fosters transparency, efficiency, and legal certainty, empowering researchers to focus on their core competencies. All participating institutions benefit equally from the shared expertise.
Contract and Participation Management
The central agreements with major publishers Springer Nature, Wiley, and Elsevier are negotiated collectively through a network of librarians and researchers. DEAS has successfully implemented these negotiation results and has established participation agreements with over 500 research institutions. In doing so, the company implements flexible cost models that gradually transition from subscriptions to publication-based fees, accommodating both large universities and small research institutes. DEAS represents the interests of German research in its dealings with publishers, ensuring legal certainty and transparency.
Publication Reporting and Data Analysis
Each year, DEAS reviews over 36,000 scientific publications under the DEAL agreements. The company utilizes automated processes and specialized data analysis to ensure that only eligible articles are billed and all publication data are correctly captured. These validated article reports form the basis for transparent billing to institutions and enable them to monitor their publication volume. DEAS collaborates continuously with publishers to optimize data quality and develop standards for scientific publication reporting.
Invoice Management and Billing
DEAS is responsible for all financial transactions among publishers and institutions. These transactions include reviewing publisher invoices, calculating individual participation fees, and issuing over 5,500 invoices per year. In doing so, the company takes into account complex pricing models, consortium-internal discounts, and different payment terms. DEAS's central position allows it to quality-check billing in advance, significantly reducing the verification effort for individual institutions. The "pay-as-you-publish" principle ensures transparent, demand-oriented costs and fair distribution.
Vendor Management and Workflow Optimization
As the central intermediary between publishers and institutions , DEAS oversees all operational and strategic aspects, including technical access setup, workflow optimization, licensing inquiries, and data protection. Through regular coordination at various levels, the company ensures that contracts are met and continuously improved. DEAS intervenes on behalf of all participating institutions when problems arise, such as with article verification or technical interfaces. This collective representation of interests allows for more effective negotiation and the implementation of sustainable improvements.
Customer Support, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
DEAS handles over 1,500 customer support inquiries annually, making it the primary point of contact for research institutions. The company provides a range of services, including answering questions about contract participation, resolving issues in the publication process, and assisting with article verification. DEAS’s client base is diverse, spanning from large university libraries to small research institutes. DEAS fosters an active community of practice and disseminates knowledge about the DEAL agreements through webinars, workshops, newsletters, and informational materials. The objective is to empower all institutions to maximize the benefits of open publishing.