LitFlow: An Integrated, AI-Augmented Systematic Literature Review Platform

Näscher, H., Strohmann, T., & vom Brocke, J. (2026). LitFlow: An integrated, AI-augmented systematic literature review platform. In Design for Better Futures: Beyond the Science of the Artificial. Prototypes and Research-in-Progress (DESRIST 2026) [in press].

Systematic literature reviews (SLRs) are central to rigorous research but remain resource-intensive and dependent on fragmented toolchains. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI)-based support for review tasks often lacks transparency and limits researcher control. This paper presents LitFlow, a web-based platform for AI-augmented SLRs developed following the echeloned design science research (eDSR) methodology. LitFlow integrates multi-database search, criteria-based screening, structured data extraction, and audit-trail generation within a single workspace. Its augmentation approach provides AI recommendations with confidence scores, justifications, and source references, while final decisions remain with the researcher. The platform is built on a community-extensible architecture. A formative evaluation with five researchers confirmed the perceived value of the integrated workflow and the augmentation-oriented design. Participants also raised socio-technical concerns, including potential anchoring effects from AI recommendations, which inform directions for future iterations. LitFlow contributes a working demonstration of transparent, researcher-controlled AI support across the full SLR workflow.

@inproceedings{naescher2026litflow,
  author    = {N{\"a}scher, Hans and Strohmann, Timo and vom Brocke, Jan},
  title     = {LitFlow: An Integrated, AI-Augmented Systematic Literature Review Platform},
  booktitle = {Design for Better Futures: Beyond the Science of the Artificial. Prototypes and Research-in-Progress (DESRIST 2026)},
  year      = {2026},
  note      = {in press}
}