While it has served us well for over 10 years, the time has come to retire the CompetitionSuite Windows software.  There are many factors that contributed to this decision some of which I will outline below.

The Internet is (Almost) Everywhere

A large majority of CompetitionSuite events are hosted in the US and Europe.  Everyone is "connected".  There are definitely spots around the US and Europe that internet access is slow or spotty, but overall there are very few locations that don't have internet.  There may be a few competitions that don't have internet, but this is a risk I'm willing to take.

Technology has Advanced

Back when CompetitionSuite was first created, tablets and smart phones were in their infancy.  They were slow, didn't have much disk space, and internet access was expensive.  It was easier and faster to input all of the scores and commentary into a single computer and have it upload everything to the cloud.  Not anymore!  Groups expect their commentary to arrive as they walk off the stage, field, or performance area.  Inputting all of the commentary and scores into a single computer for upload adds a significant delay getting the groups their commentary.

CompetitionSuite has Evolved

This is probably the biggest reason to retire the CompetitionSuite Windows software.  CompetitionSuite continues to evolve with new features, new processes, and better support for custom scoring systems.  Every new feature introduced for scoring systems would have to be implemented on the server and in the Windows software.  Development of features including custom columns and tie breakers has slowed significantly because I've had to implement them twice!  It's also caused multiple "bugs" in either the server or the software, only to be realized after the release (which isn't good).  Having a single system that handles all of the scoring system calculations on the server means it's easier to implement new features and fix any issues that arise.

I'm sure there will be questions with this announcement and there may be some frustration, but the ability for me to focus on other parts of CompetitionSuite will bring exciting enhancements that I can't wait to share!

Now that many organizations are running Virtual Events, I thought it would be a good idea to list out some recommendations for successfully running virtual events.  You know what's best for your organization, so don't view this list as required.  CompetitionSuite operates the same way it always has, we just added a few additional features to make your life easier.

Switch Commentary Release to Manual Mode

In the commentary area, there is a toggle that allows you to switch Commentary Release to "Manual".  This will prevent groups from accessing commentary until you are ready.

Why?  Let's say you have 3 judges, one of the judges is a night owl and decides to do his judging at 3 AM.  The other 2 judges are procrastinators and wait until the last day to do their judging.  The groups would be notified that commentary is available at 3 AM with the first judge and you may get questions like "Where is my commentary from the other judges?".  By using the "Commentary Release" feature, you get to decide when commentary is released to the groups.  You're able to confirm that all of the commentary is in before you release it.

Quick Tip: While you can release each group individually, I'd recommend switching the Commentary Release mode to "Automatic" when you're ready to release it.  No need to release every group individually.

Event Dates

You should set the event date to the date the scores and commentary will be released (the last day the judges should be judging).

Why? Judges have access to enter scores and record commentary through the day of the event.  If you have the date of the event listed as before the judges need to have their judging complete, they won't be able to access the event in the app.

Submissions Close Date

Make sure the submission close date is a few days before the date of the event (see item above).

Why? Judges get access to the submissions at the submission close date.  They will need time to view the submissions, record commentary, and enter their scores.

Two devices for Judges

Judges will need 2 devices when judging, one for viewing the submissions, one for entering scores and recording commentary.

Why? Phones and Tablets don't allow you to watch a video and record audio at the same time, so the judge will need to view the submission via the CompetitionSuite website and enter their scores/record commentary via the CompetitionSuite Judge app.

Releasing Scores

You can use the new "Release Group Summaries" option to release scores to the groups, but not the public.  This will release the group summaries without releasing the scores to the public (via Bridge or Pages).

Why? Lots of organizations are utilizing ratings for virtual events and don't want those ratings being posted publicly.  This allows you to release the summaries without the general public having access to the results.

Microphone Test

You should still set up a mic test for the judges.  They can record their test, then check their CompetitionSuite account to confirm their recording is coming through clearly.  It's probably smart for judges to periodically check their recordings via the CompetitionSuite web site to make sure their recordings are good.

Why? There can still be microphone issues, even virtually.  Having a mic test allows the judges to confirm they are being heard clearly and won't have to re-record their commentary.

Quick Tip: Competitions are allowed 1 mic test group and you aren't charged for this group.  The group must have the word "test" in the name for the system to know it's a mic test group.

Sometimes you may want your board to vote on things, but they aren't part of a group (or you want them to be independent of a group).

In the CompetitionSuite Voting System, you can set up a new group ("Treasurer", for example), add the treasurer's email address to the group, then add the new group ("Treasurer") to the vote delegation.

Reach out to support if you have questions!

Over the past few years, I've been contacted by a few organizations asking if CompetitionSuite allowed online submissions. The organizations were typically looking for a way to upload a photo, a piece of art, or a business proposal that could be judged online. I had turned most away, apologizing that CompetitionSuite was really designed for in-person events.

Not anymore!!

I'm delighted to announce that CompetitionSuite now allows you to accept Online Submissions!

I've tried to make the process as simple and as familiar as possible for organizations that already utilize CompetitionSuite. You can set up an event as you normally would, then you can configure what Submissions you'd like to accept, and when those submissions "close." You can collect video, audio, images, and documents, and you're not restricted to only 1 submission. If you want to receive a video from the press box and a video of the pit, you can! You can read about the setup process on the CompetitionSuite Help web site.

The process for groups is even more straightforward. They can log in to their group, go to Upcoming Events, and (assuming they are registered) they can upload the appropriate files from their computer. If any problems arise while processing the submissions, we'll send them a message letting them know.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions/suggestions for Submissions or anything else in CompetitionSuite.