by Katia Ernst | Feb 17, 2026 | Feature focus
Managing an awards program can sometimes feel like playing a high-stakes game of Jenga. Each new category, judging round or regional shortlist adds a block to the tower, and one misstep can lead to delays, errors, or chaos.
For awards administrators, judges and organisers, the challenge is clear: How do you scale programs while keeping processes smooth, fair and error-free?
The answer lies in using the right combinations of features. When thoughtfully paired, they work together to reduce manual effort, minimise mistakes and make your program more enjoyable for participants and judges alike.
In this article, we explore some of the most effective feature combinations in Award Force and practical tips for putting them to work.
Growth is a positive sign for any awards program. But as entry numbers rise, so do the operational demands behind the scenes. Coordinating judging rounds, communications and compliance workflows requires precision to ensure fairness and transparency remain intact. Common challenges can include:
Trying to manage all of this manually is stressful, time-consuming and leaves room for mistakes. Even when moving to a digital platform, having so many options and features can feel daunting and it’s not always obvious which combinations are most effective for your program.
A little guidance on how to strategically use the tools at your disposal can make the difference between working harder and working smarter.
Award Force is designed with integration in mind. Its features are built to complement one another, creating efficient and reliable workflows at scale. Below are 8 of some of our most-used feature combinations that consistently save time and reduce errors.
Automated notifications are simple, yet powerful. Pairing them with tagging or moderation workflows allows program managers to automatically alert the right people at the right time.
For example, when an entry is submitted, automated notifications can prompt program managers to review it, and automated tagging rules (based on submission events) can then apply tags to route it to the correct judging panel.
Many programs use a qualifying round followed by a more rigorous scoring round. Layering in a public vote at the same time allows programs to gather multiple perspectives efficiently. Judges see only the relevant entries for scoring, while public votes run in parallel without manual coordination.
Collecting multiple documents from participants—whether for verification, signatures, or sign-offs—can create bottlenecks. Using review flow together with the documents feature lets program managers:
This keeps the process organised, while keeping all records in a secure, accessible location: entrants upload files, judges review them in context, and completed documents are automatically routed back. The workflow is transparent, which can reduce errors and follow-ups.
Sometimes participants need to resubmit entries due to missing information or updates. Combining resubmission with broadcast messaging lets program managers notify only the affected participants, saving time and preventing confusion.
Regional awards or segmented competitions can be managed without extra manual work. A selection field (e.g., a dropdown list with regions) plus auto-tagging allows you to automatically assign an entry to the correct judging panel. Filtering by tag can instantly reveal top regional finalists or winners.
When entries are priced differently—such as member, non-member or student rates—the right combination ensures correct awards fees, automatically. A selection field captures the entry type, and a price variant applies the appropriate fee without manual oversight, preventing errors and ensuring fairness.
For more complex scenarios, formula fields can act as a bridge between multiple conditions. For example, a conditional field may only appear if Field A and Field B both meet certain criteria. A hidden formula field evaluates the logic and triggers the conditional display, reducing manual verification and potential mistakes.
For programs that charge entry fees, incomplete or unpaid submissions can create administrative overhead and revenue risk. Combining payment settings with automated notifications helps ensure entrants complete outstanding transactions without manual follow-up. Instead of chasing payments individually, program managers can rely on system-triggered reminders to keep the process moving.
These examples show how strategic feature use creates automated, error-resistant workflows, freeing program managers to focus on the quality and integrity of their awards.
To make these feature combinations work in practice:
By thoughtfully combining Award Force features, you create a foundation that scales. Complex program management no longer needs to feel like building a precarious tower. Instead, each automated workflow, targeted notification and structured judging process acts as a stabilising block, so you don’t have to worry about it all tumbling down.
Award Force is here to empower awards professionals by providing the tools and flexibility needed to scale programs with confidence and integrity. When features work together, your program not only functions smoothly—it thrives, setting a standard for excellence that participants, judges and organisers can trust.
Articles
Feature focus
How-to-guides
Press releases
Product updates