Item: Submittable
Rating: 9
Author: Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Submittable

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Submittable to take applications for fellowships and programs. We also use it for processing forms, surveys, and other various RSVPs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

allows an applicant to save an application that is in process
connects recommendations directly to the specific application
ease of uploading recommendations for recommenders

Cons

Would like to see the ability to have management edit an application on the backend, as applicants sometimes make mistakes and want us to fix them.
Needs a better way to edit a problem with a recommender's email address on an application. Currently, the only way is to open a submitted application for editing, which is not ideal after the deadline has passed.

Return on Investment

overall time savings
better applicant experience

Usability

Their recent upgrade to splitting the "project form" and "form" form is not ideal for our workflow. But, I could see why it is useful for others.

Alternatives Considered

Wufoo and Formstack Forms

WORLDS better than Wufoo - no contest. Formstack didn't suit our needs.

Likelihood to Recommend

Manages applications well. Can respond to applicants with messages via the system. Allows applicants to track the progress of their application.

Using Submittable

Users and Roles

6 - Programs, Managing Committee Administration, Finance Office, Administration in general, Fellowships and Grants, applicant tracking.

Support Headcount Required

2 - Programs Administration helps the others learn how to use it. The two of us set it up and keep the workflow.

Business Processes Supported

Taking of applications
Taking and tracking of processing forms for admitted members
Ballots and surveys sent to various groups/people/members
Having the system attach recommendations to the appropriate application
A program that allows applicants to start, stop, and save an application in-progress.

Innovative Uses

A better way to take financial information (better and safer)
Make surveys anonymous (if necessary)
Trying to create a form for "anonymous online reporting," for cases of harassment/discrimination/etc.

Future Planned Uses

An anonymous online reporting form for Personnel Policy violations in case they feel threatened to report it non-anonymously. (we do not have an HR office)
Send automatic reminders to recommenders who have not submitted by the deadline.

Likelihood to Renew

We have used it for many years now. It works well. We are fully invested in the system with MANY forms. It is also user friendly/easy to use. Looking forward to growing with Submittable.

Evaluating Submittable and Competitors

Yes - Wufoo. It did not allow applicants to start, stop, and save applications in-progress. It also did not allow recommender writers to have their letter attached to the application - we had to go search a form to find the letter then connect it with the application. It took forever and was needless complicated.

Key Differentiators

Scalability
Ease of Use
Other

Having the system automatically send out requests for recommendations, and then having that letter automatically associated with that specific application. This has saved an extraordinary amount of time for administration. It makes things more streamlined, easier to use, less chance for human error, and less steps for applications and administration.

Evaluation Lessons Learned

No change from what we are doing now.

Submittable Implementation

Implementation Rating

The program is user-friendly. No issues.

Implementation Details / Implementation Partner

Implemented in-house

Implementation Phases

Change Management Lessons

Change management was a major issue with the implementation - New people in charge and we wanted a better/more useful system. We we found room in the budget.

Implementation Issues

Learning curve. Learning a new system.

Submittable Training

Training Types Used

No Training

In-Person Training

Online Training

Ease of Submittable Training

Yes and yes.

Configuring Submittable

Product Configurability

The configurability is just right for what we need.

Configuration Lessons

No.

UI Customization

Some - we have done small customizations to the interface - Color and logo added to our forms.

Extensibility and Customization

Some - we have added small pieces of custom code - I had our IT person handle the customization.

Additional Customization Considerations

Adding our colors and logo. Nothing fancy.

Submittable Support

Support Rating

I get responses quickly when I submit a question. And the answers are always prompt and helpful. Their blogs about features also answers a lot of my questions. I rarely need to reach out to support, but when I do, it is a good experience.

Submittable Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved No escalation required Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response	None

Premium Support

We did not. We are a small non-profit. We don't have the money and we have had no issues with the program and their responsiveness/response time.

Bug Resolution

Exceptional Examples of Submittable Support

Pre-2019, we had an issue where we hit the maximum number of submissions allowed. I wasn't monitoring it and there was nothing in the program (at the time) to tell me how many submissions we had (easily). This was a problem, and I called, got someone, they fixed it immediately. I told them just to charge the account what they needed to in order to fix the problem (wasn't that expensive). We only had a problem for like an hour after I became aware of the problem. Also, now, it is easier to see if you hit your submission allowance.

Using Submittable

Usability Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using Familiar	None

Easy Tasks

creating a form for use
clicking a box to notify relevant people if a form is submitted

Difficult Tasks

I have to go to the "Project Form" and "Initial Form" in order to create on full form. It may work for some people, but it's not ideal for how we use it. But, I see the benefits of this system.