How the Jersey Awards Digitized 113+ Categories and Transformed Their Awards Program with RQ Platform

New Jersey Advertising Club Jersey Awards 2025

The Jersey Awards celebrate excellence in the creative and communications industries across New Jersey. The program recognizes outstanding work across more than 100 categories and culminates in a formal ceremony attended by leaders in marketing, media, and design.

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113+

Reduced administrative workload and manual coordination across 113+ categories for the Jersey Awards 2025.

350+

Enabled seamless digital submissions and reviews for over 350 applications.

4X

Through workflow automation and centralized review, Jersey Awards achieved nearly quadruple the industry benchmark for program efficiency using RQ Platform.

Introduction

Industry: STEM

Location: United States

Objective

With the program’s rapid growth and more than 350 submissions expected annually, organizers needed a centralized and secure system to simplify the application process, manage payments, and streamline multi-round judging, all while maintaining their tradition of high-quality recognition and a smooth participant experience.

Challenges

Before implementing RQ Platform, the Jersey Awards team relied on manual and email-based workflows that became increasingly difficult to manage:

Manual submissions

Applicants mailed or emailed entries, which had to be manually tracked and forwarded to reviewers.

Limited storage

Large creative files often exceeded email and storage limits.

Complex payments

Payments were processed through PayPal or mailed checks, creating reconciliation challenges.

Reviewer coordination

Distributing materials and collecting feedback via email was time-consuming and error-prone.

Limited administrative bandwidth

Organizers, all full-time professionals outside the organization, needed a simplified, automated process to save time and reduce errors.

Solution

The Jersey Awards implemented RQ Platform’s award management software to digitize and streamline the entire program lifecycle, from application to final judging.

Branded Applicant Portal

A fully customized homepage reflecting the Jersey Awards identity.

Streamlined Application Forms

Built-in eligibility screening ensured only New Jersey residents could apply.

Secure Payment Integration

Stripe integration with four pricing periods for members and non-members, plus invoice request options.

Optimized File Management

Applicants linked large creative assets via Facebook or YouTube, reducing file size issues and storage limits.

Automated Reviewer Assignment

Reviewers were automatically assigned to categories, ensuring fairness and efficiency.

Multi-Phase Review Process

Three structured judging rounds: initial scoring, top-ten ranking, and final “Best in Show” selection.

SmartTracker™ Follow-Up

Enabled post-program tracking and insights for continuous improvement.

Results

What once took weeks of manual coordination is now completed in hours, allowing the Jersey Awards team to focus on celebrating creativity instead of managing logistics.