FAQs
Getting Started
All five of our awards programs – The Cloud Awards, The SaaS Awards, The A.I. Awards, The Security Awards, and The FinTech Awards – are annual online-only awards.
Each program has three stages:
Stage 1 – Shortlist: All entries are reviewed, with up to 25 successful nominees in each category named on the shortlist.
Stage 2 – Finalists: All shortlisted entries are judged a second time, with typically up to 10 entries taken forwards as finalists in each category.
Stage 3 – Winners: From the finalists, one winner is chosen per category.
There are typically 3-4 weeks between each stage.
Step 1: Choose the awards program, and categories you would like to enter.
Step 2: Download, and complete the entry form.
Step 3: Submit the completed entry form via our website.
Each awards program has its own ‘Simple Form’ you must complete and submit for your nomination.
Only one form needs to be completed per platform/solution being nominated, even if you are entering it into multiple categories.
Please note that the ‘Best UX / UI Design in a SaaS product’ category in The SaaS Awards has its own form. If you intend to enter this category, please complete this form.
There are three entry types:
Single Category – Enter one solution/platform into one category, in one awards program of your choice
Unlimited Categories – Enter one solution/platform into as many categories in a single awards program of your choice
Success Suite – Same as Unlimited Categories, plus advertising placements and feedback on your submission
Entry fees vary depending on the entry type you select, and the deadline you enter your chosen awards program by (earlybird, standard, or late).
Your entry fee includes:
- Entry to the chosen awards program
- Access to all digital assets (e.g. badges and logos) earned as you progress through the awards
- All other benefits earned as you progress, including article publication, and winners interview (if you win)
- Trophy (if you win)
For more detail, visit our WHY ENTER page.
Entry fees are paid by card. A receipt and invoice will be emailed to you upon successful payment.
We can also accept payment via bank / wire transfer. To enter and pay via this method please CONTACT US.
Please note that your nomination will not be entered into the awards until payment is received.
Deadlines & Submissions
Standard entries for each program close on the penultimate (second-to-last) Friday of the following months:
The FinTech Awards – January
The Security Awards – March
The SaaS Awards – May
The A.I. Awards – July
The Cloud Awards – October
Earlybird Entries
Earlybird deadlines offer an opportunity to submit your nomination early, securing a $100 discount on a ‘Single Category’ or ‘Unlimited Categories’ entry. Earlybird deadlines are typically around 8 weeks before the standard deadline.
Late Entries
Each program usually runs an extended or late deadline, typically running for two additional weeks after the standard deadline has passed. ‘Single Category’ or ‘Unlimited Category’ entries submitted during this window carry an additional $100 late entry fee.
Any existing product or service is eligible for entry. While we highlight innovations and updates made within the past 18 months, you do not need to have launched a completely new product during this window to qualify.
Yes, we welcome participation in several awards programs.
There are likely to be categories across most of our awards programs that align to your area of expertise.
Past winners are also welcome to re-enter an award they have won the previous year.
Yes, you may. Please note that each distinct solution/platform nominated must:
- Have its own completed ‘Simple Form’
- Be submitted separately, including its selection of entry type, categories, and entry fee
Yes. You can email modified applications to us at enter@cloud-awards.com, until the relevant deadline has passed.
All provided information will only be viewed by the judging panel and Cloud Awards employees, and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
We advise completing your nomination as thoroughly as possible.
Judging & Results
Judges score all nominations against the same five key criteria:
- Innovation
- User Experience
- Scalability
- Relevance (to the category)
- Impact
We recommend reviewing the category page of each category you are entering thoroughly for further guidance on what is likely to make a strong nomination.
Updates are sent via email.
A schedule detailing the dates by which you should receive an update on your progress is shared once your entry is received.
Please ensure our email domain @cloud-awards.com is on your organization’s ‘allowed list’ to avoid the possibility of missing out on important updates.
Winners in each program are typically announced in the following months:
The FinTech Awards – April
The Security Awards – June
The SaaS Awards – August
The A.I. Awards – October
The Cloud Awards – January
No. All of our awards programs are online-only.
Detailed feedback is provided only to entrants that select ‘Success Suite’ as their entry type.
Promotion
Digital badges and logos are provided at each stage of the awards program you progress to.
In your email notification you will be invited to visit the Shortlist/Finalist/Winners hub, where you can download your promotion pack, and gain ideas on how to promote your achievement.
Winners will be contacted shortly after their win is confirmed to arrange delivery of their trophy.
- One trophy per category won is provided
- A delivery address in USA, Canada, or Mexico must be provided – regrettably we can not currently ship to any other country
- A recipient name must be provided
Please allow up to six months from the announcement of your win for the trophy to be delivered.
We provide a draft press release in your promotion pack. You may edit the content as you see fit, including the quotations provided – however please do not alter the meaning of the piece.
Nominees reaching the shortlist stage, or better, in an awards program are invited to submit content for publication in our News Center.
Content must be in a ‘thought-leadership’ style, and must not be overtly self-promotional.
Winners are invited to submit a recording of a nominated spokesperson answering some interview questions about their awards win. The questions are included in our recording guidelines.
The recording is then edited by us into an interview-style video, and published to our YouTube channel.
Success Suite
Success Suite is an entry option, alternative to a ‘Single Category’ or ‘Unlimited Category’ entry. It includes:
- Entry of one platform/solution into as many categories in your chosen program as you like
- Expert feedback on your submission from our judges
- Placement of an advertising banner, or your logo, on a category page of your choice
- Publication of up to two advertorial pieces in our News Center
A Success Suite entry does not guarantee progress in our awards.
However it does guarantee publicity and exposure for your organization on our awards website, regardless of your nomination progresses in the awards.
The expert feedback from our judges should help you with the writing of any future awards submissions you put together – increasing your chances of further progress.
The judge’s feedback gives you invaluable insight on where improvements in your submission could be made. It includes:
- Overall comments and feedback on the submission
- Detailed category-by-category comments on areas for improvement
- Benchmarked scores against the category average, and the eventual winner
We aim to provide feedback within three months of the winners being selected.