Make awards judging effortless, fair & secure
Running an awards programme is a fantastic way to celebrate your members' achievements. But let’s be honest - managing the judging process can quickly become a headache.
Spreadsheets, endless email chains, and manual scoring not only slow things down but also leave room for errors, inconsistencies, and security risks.
A smoother, more secure approach saves time, ensures fairness, and makes life easier for everyone involved. Here’s how to streamline your awards judging and keep everything on track.
The problem with manual judging
Many membership organisations still rely on outdated methods like spreadsheets or paper-based scoring. The result?
Inconsistent scoring – Judges may interpret criteria differently.
Security risks – Entry data and scores can be accessed or altered.
Slow, error-prone processes – Tracking progress manually leads to delays and mistakes.
As submissions grow, so do these challenges. But there’s a better way.
How to streamline your awards judging
1. Automate judge assignments
Manually distributing entries takes time and can lead to mistakes. An automated system assigns submissions based on pre-set rules, ensuring fair workload distribution.
2. Use a structured scoring system
Standardised scoring reduces subjectivity and ensures judges apply the same criteria. A digital platform guides judges through evaluations, preventing misinterpretations.
3. Track progress in real time
A judging dashboard shows which judges have completed reviews and highlights outstanding tasks. This helps administrators spot delays and keep the process on track.
4. Automate score calculations
Manually tallying scores increases the risk of errors. An automated system instantly calculates results, eliminating mistakes and ensuring accuracy.
How to improve awards security
1. Control access to entry data
Not all judges need full access to every submission. A secure system restricts access based on roles, protecting confidential data.
2. Use a centralised digital platform
Storing entries, scores, and feedback in one secure, cloud-based system prevents data loss and unauthorised changes.
3. Keep an audit trail
A digital system records who accessed and modified scores, ensuring full transparency and accountability.
How ReadyMembership improves awards judging

Automated, secure and transparent
With ReadyMembership you can easily assign categories to individuals and send automated invites. Your chosen judges can declare conflicts of interest on whole categories or individual award entries.
ReadyMembership awards centre
Automated judging invite emails
Simplified judging & scoring
Set standardised scores for your judges to mark out of and easily collect their feedback on award entries. They can declare whether they have a conflict of interest judging a category or entry.
Automated score calculation, easy progress tracking
Track judging for each entry and send automated reminders to your judges. See all scores at a glance on your dashboard.
Simple & scalable awards management
With ReadyMembership it’s easy to manage local, regional and national awards - whether you have a few categories or large regional heats.
The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s annual awards have 12 categories which receive entries from businesses across the Birmingham region.
Their platform allows them to manage category scoring and collate feedback from their 12 judges - making it easier to reward excellence and celebrate success with the wider business community.
Want to see how ReadyMembership can help you deliver amazing awards experiences? Book a demo or get in touch to find out more.
