This chart from EBSCO shows the typical e-journal cycle in a library.
They identify 30 steps, 24 of which are new within the e-journal
environment.  This would tend to support your assumption that it is more
time-consuming.

http://www.ebsco.com/home/ejournals/ejournallc.pdf

Rhonda Rolen, MSE, MLIS
Serials Librarian for Electronic Resources
A.C. Lewis Memorial Library, Room 254
Grambling State University
403 Main St.
P.O.Box 4256
Grambling, LA. 71245
318-274-2757