The OpenWater Blog

OpenWater Q1 2025 Product Update: New Features and What’s Coming Next

As we move into the second quarter of 2025, we’re excited to share some of the latest updates and upcoming improvements to OpenWater. Our goal is to continually enhance user experience, improve efficiency, and provide our customers with powerful tools that streamline their workflows. Here’s a look at what’s new and what’s on the horizon.

New Features in OpenWater

SendGrid Domain Authentication in OpenWater

We have introduced self-service domain authentication with Sendgrid, allowing admins and OpenWater staff to authenticate domains without requiring support assistance. If additional help is needed, admins can still submit an escalation for support.

For more details, visit our updated documentation in the Help Center: Authenticate a Domain with OpenWater

Adjustable Width Ratio for the Evaluation Form

Previously, the standard OpenWater Evaluation Form maintained a fixed 50/50 width ratio. However, based on customer feedback, we now offer the ability to adjust the width ratio. This update enables customers to widen the Submission Form (left-hand) portion, making it easier for judges to review assigned submissions with greater comfort and efficiency.

Enhanced “Judge Has New Assignments” Email Options

To improve communication and flexibility for judges, we’ve introduced two options for the “Judge Has New Assignments” email:

• One email option that notifies judges every time they receive a new assignment.
• Another option that sends an email only if the judge has no incomplete assignments when a new one is added.

This ensures judges receive the right level of notification without overwhelming their inboxes.

What’s Planned for 2025?

OpenWater UX Overhaul with 100% Backwards Compatibility

One of the biggest initiatives on our roadmap is a complete overhaul of the OpenWater user experience. Our current UX was designed in 2012, and this update aims to refresh the entire platform with modern web design patterns while ensuring 100% backwards compatibility.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A more visually appealing, intuitive, and mobile-friendly interface.
• Improved performance, making navigation and task completion faster.
• A design that will remain relevant and effective for the next decade.

To ensure a seamless transition, we will continue to support the current UX for at least five more years, so customers can upgrade at their own pace.

Incremental Feature Updates: “Voice of the People” Initiative

To enhance productivity and usability, we are rolling out a series of small but impactful feature updates based on customer feedback. These updates fall into three main categories:

• Productivity Enhancements: One-click installers, streamlined change management, and automation.
• Fewer Steps: New wizards and shortcuts to simplify complex tasks.
• Quality of Life Improvements: More customization options, such as show/hide fields and grid views across multiple screens.

Major Integration Initiatives: OpenWater Integrations Hub

While we are upgrading the core platform, we are also expanding our Integrations Hub—an industry-transforming initiative aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of integrating OpenWater with other systems.

We have already achieved zero-cost integrations with iMIS and Salesforce, and we are now working to expand this functionality to additional AMS/CRM systems. Our ultimate goal is to make OpenWater seamlessly connect with any platform our customers use.

These updates and initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible experience for our customers. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to evolve and improve OpenWater!

Debbie Willis

Debbie Willis is the VP of Global Marketing at ASI, with over 20 years marketing experience in the association and non-profit technology space. Passionate about all things MarTech, Debbie has led countless website, SEO, content, email, paid ad and social media marketing strategies and campaigns. Debbie loves creating meaningful content to engage and empower association and non-profit audiences. Debbie received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Information Systems from James Madison University and a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing from The George Washington University. Debbie is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, American Society of Association Executives and dabbles in photography.

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