Top Features That Make Awards Management Software a Win. What should you look for?
Top Features That Make Awards Management Software a Win. What should you look for?
Awards management software is a crucial tool for any organization that wants to stay on the cutting edge. It can help with everything from managing nominations and judging criteria to collecting and distributing certificates of achievement.
The best systems are those that are customizable in order to accommodate a company’s specific needs. These systems should be able to integrate with other software so that they can be used alongside other tools as well, such as CRM or HRIS systems. Investing in awards management software can have many rewards of its own, so long as the system has the right features.
Before you start, look for these top 5 features of great awards management platforms.
Online applications
While most applications are now available online, this does not imply that the procedure is flawless. Editable PDFs require reading through each individual submission and extracting the relevant information. Simple online web forms require spreadsheet organizing, sorting, and manual manipulation. Ancillary files like as portfolios and reference letters clog email inboxes.
The program conducts all of the collection, sorting, and tracking for you with an awards management platform’s online submission portal, and your database has clean files of each applicant, all of their information, responses, files, and more.
File uploads
We already discussed how these files can wind up in inboxes, mailboxes, or being lost entirely. Look for a system that, in addition to allowing uploads and automatically storing them with the rest of the application data, allows you to request any file you require. JPEGS, EPSs, MOV.4, MP3… you get the idea. It should be possible to upload it.
The ability to make blind file requests is an added feature. This tool, which is most commonly used to request letters of reference, allows an applicant to send an email from within the application to a coworker, mentor, or professor, requesting that the individual write them a recommendation letter.
The email has a personalized URL where the individual can upload the letter. Applicants will receive notification that their letter has been received, but they will not be able to view its contents.
Automatic reviewer assignments
Automatic reviewer assignments, which assign completed applications to reviewers or reviewer teams, can save a significant amount of time. Assign submissions to reviewers based on any data obtained with the application – for example, all applicants might be sorted among reviewers depending on their geographic location, college major, or department at a corporation. When a submission is ready for review, the assigned reviewers are notified via email.
You can also schedule assignments to go through many stages of evaluation. Send all applications to initial review teams, then forwards only those who meet a particular score to a phase two review cohort.
Whitelabeling
While substance is crucial, a dash of style never hurt anyone. And when the awards program is a big push of our firm, you want it to aesthetically represent you. To provide a consistent branding experience, ensure that you can embed, or iframe, the application within your website. If you don’t want the application on your public site (maybe because it’s invite-only), make sure to include your logo and custom headers to create a unified aesthetic experience.
Custom reporting
Many of these components make the application and review process easier, but what do you do with all of the data you’re collecting?
Dashboards can be useful for tracking new applications, completions, and demographics of people applying during the program’s open period. Make graphs and charts that demonstrate how much time your reviewers spent together. Look for trends by running reports on important characteristics of your top applicants. And use it all to spread the word about the program’s impact and continue to improve it year after year.
The bottom line
Annual awards and recognition programs are more than simply a pat on the back; they are a purposeful and useful endeavor that promotes, recognizes, and honors the hard work that takes place in your community on a daily basis. They are also difficult to run and manage, especially at scale.
When the number of awards or applicants reaches a particular threshold, or the review process becomes more complicated, it’s time to explore awards management software. With the help of a platform, you may return to the “big picture” and focus on your organization’s objective, minimize time-consuming day-to-day duties, and even develop a more equitable scoring and selection process.