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What is OpenWater and how does it help organizations?
What is OpenWater and how does it help organizations?

Quickly see and share light demos for how various use cases work in OpenWater

Zack Schwartz avatar
Written by Zack Schwartz
Updated over 8 months ago

OpenWater is a comprehensive software platform that streamlines award, grant, and scholarship management for organizations. It offers robust tools for submissions, application assessment, and process oversight, enhancing efficiency. With OpenWater, organizations optimize award programs, automate tasks, and gain valuable insights. Additionally, it supports abstract management for events, simplifying submission, review, and selection processes. Ideal for academic and professional gatherings, OpenWater is trusted by associations, foundations, and private entities for its pivotal role in orchestrating successful events.

OpenWater operates through a user-friendly interface that facilitates the seamless management of awards, grants, scholarships, and abstracts. Here's a simplified breakdown of how the software typically functions:

  1. Setup and Configuration: Users begin by configuring the software to align with their specific program requirements. This includes setting up submission forms, defining review criteria, configuring workflows, and establishing deadlines.

  2. Submission Phase: Participants submit their applications or abstracts through an online portal provided by OpenWater. The platform allows for customizable submission forms, which can capture relevant information such as applicant details, project descriptions, supporting documents, and abstract content.

  3. Review and Evaluation: Once submissions are received, designated reviewers or judges access the platform to evaluate and score each application or abstract based on predefined criteria. OpenWater facilitates the review process by providing tools for reviewers to assess submissions, leave comments, and assign scores.

  4. Selection and Decision-Making: After the review phase concludes, administrators or decision-makers use OpenWater to analyze reviewer feedback, compare submissions, and make informed decisions regarding award recipients or accepted abstracts.

  5. Communication and Notification: Throughout the process, OpenWater facilitates communication between applicants, reviewers, and administrators. Automated notifications can be sent to applicants to acknowledge receipt of their submissions, provide updates on the status of their applications, and notify them of final decisions.

  6. Reporting and Analytics: OpenWater offers robust reporting and analytics features that enable users to gain insights into the performance of their programs. Administrators can generate reports on submission statistics, reviewer feedback, and overall program effectiveness, empowering them to make data-driven decisions for future iterations.

  7. Customization and Integration: The platform is highly customizable, allowing organizations to tailor the user experience to their specific needs. Additionally, OpenWater can integrate with other systems and tools, such as CRM software or payment gateways, to streamline processes further.

Overall, OpenWater simplifies and centralizes the entire lifecycle of managing awards, grants, scholarships, and abstracts, enabling organizations to efficiently administer their programs and facilitate impactful events.

Try out OpenWater

We have prepared light demos for a variety of our use cases to help you better understand how OpenWater works.

Use Case: Awards (Achievement Award, Leadership Award, 40 under 40, etc)

Use Case: Abstracts (Call for Papers / Presentations / Posters)

Additionally, you can see the submission and judging portal in action by going to https://try.openwater.com.

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