OpenWater Blog

Abstract Management Software: 10 Conference Planning Picks

Written by Timothy Spell | 3.16.2026

Although many different activities go into planning a successful conference, abstract management is among the most dreaded. From collecting submissions to ensuring fair review to transferring abstracts to event agendas, it’s an entire process within a process that requires effective communication and close attention to detail to get right.

Fortunately, the right technology can help your organization overcome the challenges of abstract management and build a slate of conference presentations that attendees will find valuable. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about abstract management software, including:

Before we take a look at the best abstract management solutions on the market, let’s ensure we’re on the same page about what exactly this software can do for associations, higher education institutions, and any other organizations that plan large-scale informational conferences.

Abstract Management Software: Frequently Asked Questions

What is abstract management software?

Abstract management software is technology that helps conference and event planners collect and organize formal proposals from prospective speakers. The best abstract management solutions unify all essential elements of this process—from application to evaluation—in a single, user-friendly platform.

When your association or higher ed institution planned its first conference, you may have managed abstracts using a combination of spreadsheets, email, and your association management system (AMS) or constituent relationship management (CRM) software. However, as your events become more complex, you’ll likely find that you need to add a dedicated platform to your tech stack to manage abstracts at scale.

Why use an abstract management platform?

Investing in abstract management software has numerous benefits for everyone who touches abstracts at your organization—not just administrators and reviewers, but also prospective speakers and event attendees. Some of these advantages include:

  • Streamlined workflows. When you consolidate every step of abstract management into one system, you ensure all interested parties can access the information they need at any given time. Plus, you can move abstracts through the decision-making process more quickly and prevent important information and tasks from falling through the cracks.
  • Quality control. By standardizing review forms and procedures with technology, you can more easily identify the best speakers for your event, which leads to a better participant experience. Making informed decisions about how to improve your abstract management efforts over time is also easier with consolidated reporting and analytics.
  • Applicant satisfaction. Prospective presenters are more likely to submit their abstracts if you provide a straightforward application form, review their proposals efficiently and fairly, and communicate regularly—all of which are more possible if you use dedicated abstract software.

Your organization will only fully reap these benefits if you invest in the right abstract management software to meet your needs and develop effective administrative procedures that allow you to make the most of your chosen platform.

What features are essential to look for in an abstract management system?

There is a wide range of software options on the market to support your organization’s abstract management needs. To help you assess your top picks, we’ve put together an interactive checklist of features and characteristics to look for.

The baseline features you’ll want to look for in your abstract management platform include:

  • A drag-and-drop application form builder that lets you customize entry fields and rules, accept various types of attached files, and embed the form into your website (or even into an abstract submission microsite you build within your software!)
  • Standardized review procedures and the ability to efficiently conduct multi-round judging to minimize bias.
  • Communication tools to spread the word about submission opportunities, update prospective speakers on their proposals’ status, and keep your internal team informed every step of the way.
  • A conference schedule builder so you can easily move approved abstracts to your event agenda, group related presentations, and prevent double bookings.
  • Reporting and analytics that clearly show you what is and isn’t working in your abstract management process, allowing you to capitalize on strengths and improve on weaknesses over time.
  • Integrations with your organization’s AMS, CRM, and other essential software (such as payment gateways or member engagement tools).

As with any software purchase, you should also consider user-friendliness, data security measures, customer support offerings, and pricing. Scheduling demos of your top two to four options allows you to see how each solution works in practice and ask questions of a platform expert before making your final decision.

Top Abstract Management Software Options

Now that you’ve gotten the lay of the land, let’s dive into our top picks for abstract management solutions across the association and higher ed sectors. Feel free to browse the full list or use the table below to jump to a specific platform.

OpenWater iMIS Cadmium Oxford Abstracts SurveyMonkey Apply
Submittable Reviewr AwardForce Evolato Judgify

OpenWater: Best End-to-End Abstract Management Software

OpenWater is a comprehensive solution that streamlines the administration of many application and review activities for associations and higher ed: awards, grants, scholarships, fellowships, and—of course—abstracts! More than 750 organizations trust OpenWater’s top-rated platform to help them grow these programs more efficiently and effectively.

OpenWater’s platform has everything you need for abstract management in a user-friendly interface, including:

  • Abstract website, form, and schedule builders that have drag-and-drop functionality and don’t require any coding.
  • Built-in multi-round review that’s centralized and customizable for each application process.
  • Branded email templates and automated sending with the OpenWater Email Wizard.
  • Secure data storage, even with multiple upload and download file format options.
  • More than 65 integrations with popular solutions across the sector, including iMIS, Salesforce, and Higher Logic.

OpenWater’s customer support also stands out for its personalized service and timeliness. The team’s average response time is 10 minutes, and they’ll always get back to you within one business day. If you’re still considering whether OpenWater is the best solution for your organization, you can check out some client case studies to see how the platform has worked in action for real abstract management teams!

iMIS: Best AMS for Abstract Management

If you’re in the market for a new AMS as you’re working to improve your abstract management efforts, iMIS is your best bet! This engagement management system supports abstract administration through features like:

  • A robust member database to help you segment abstract-related communications and track which members have previously submitted proposals.
  • Event planning tools that streamline the rest of your preparations, freeing up time to focus on managing abstracts.
  • Reporting and analytics so you can see how abstracts fit into the bigger picture of member management and engagement.
  • 200+ integrations with abstract management tools and other essential solutions to unify your association’s tech stack.

Cadmium: Best Abstract Software for Content Management

Cadmium is an event management software provider that serves associations, higher ed, and healthcare organizations. Its Eventscribe platform includes essential abstract management features focused on curating event content, so users can:

  • Unify abstract approval, scheduling, and attendee engagement planning.
  • Customize the submission process to collect necessary information for event agendas and books of abstracts.
  • Automate internal and external notifications to spend less time on communication and more time on content planning.

Oxford Abstracts: Best Abstract Software for Academic Conference Management

Oxford Abstracts specifically focuses on academic conference management, and its abstract solution is an integrated part of that larger platform. Organizations in more than 100 countries trust Oxford Abstracts for its:

  • User-friendly review forms that are perfect for beginners or judges who are stretched thin.
  • One-click submission status update system designed by conference organizers, for conference organizers.
  • Built-in ticketing so attendees can register for a conference and view planned presentations all in one place.

SurveyMonkey Apply: Best Abstract Management Software for Automation

SurveyMonkey Apply (formerly FluidReview) prioritizes efficiency in managing abstracts and other similar application processes (scholarships, grants, etc.). Some of its key features include:

  • Application pre-screening to validate adherence to requirements and automatically narrow down the pool of applicants before abstracts go into judging.
  • Applicant collaboration capabilities so potential speakers who want to present together can work on submissions at the same time on different devices.
  • Drag-and-drop report creation for efficient analysis of specific abstract data points.

Submittable: Best Abstract Management Software for Corporations

Submittable serves some of the less conventional customer bases, most notably businesses, that may still use abstract software. If you’re looking for presenters at a corporate event, Submittable’s defining characteristics include:

  • Custom user permissions for reviewers to keep sensitive information secure and allow submission annotation that doesn’t compromise the process.
  • Fast launch times—89% of Submittable customers say they can create a new initiative within the solution in two weeks or less.
  • Prompt customer support for all users, including administrators, applicants, and judges.

Reviewr: Best Abstract Software for Streamlined Applicant Experiences

Reviewr specifically aims to boost applicant engagement while increasing operational efficiency in managing abstracts for associations, higher ed, and healthcare. Reviewr users see an average increase in participation for calls for entries of 31% with these features:

  • Applicant profile creation for keeping all submissions and communications with individual presenters organized.
  • Supplemental forms that allow applicants to request external information directly from a Reviewr landing page.
  • Review auto-assignments to minimize bias and speed up decision-making.

Award Force: Best Abstract Software for Custom Submission Needs

Award Force prides itself on the flexibility of its platform, especially when it comes to designing unique application management processes. Its submission and evaluation solution comes with features that are especially useful for managing diverse calls for entries, such as:

  • Category and criteria configuration that supports both traditional abstracts and less conventional submissions like videos or portfolios.
  • Intuitive applications with auto-save functionality and the option to allow post-submission changes.
  • A scoring audit matrix for visibility into review data and reassurance of fairness. 

Evalato: Best Mobile-Friendly Abstract Management Software

Evalato’s platform focuses on ease of use, allowing applicants, reviewers, and administrators to access its many abstract management features from any device. Besides mobile-friendliness, other standout characteristics of Evalato are its:

  • Next-generation submission portal that allows for efficiency and process customization on both sides.
  • Multiple voting types to accommodate any judging scenario while minimizing bias.
  • Clear internal ranking system so you know exactly where every submission stands as compared to the full field.

 Judgify: Best Abstract Management Software for Integrated Marketing 

Judgify’s abstract management software is built for “dynamic event experiences,” which, in the team’s view, includes optimizing promotion for every aspect of an event. In addition to its typical application and review features, Judgify includes specific tools built for marketing calls for entries, such as:

  • Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager integrations for collecting abstract submission landing page data.
  • Customizable form and email templates that internal teams or third-party conference planners can use.
  • Built-in social sharing to meet potential applicants where they spend their time online.

Wrapping Up: Additional  Resources on Application

Management Software

By selecting the right abstract management software and implementing it effectively, your association or higher ed institution can save time, conserve resources, and reduce stress associated with this particular aspect of conference planning. This way, you’ll be better equipped to provide the best possible experience for event attendees and speakers alike year after year!

For more information on abstract software and related tools, check out these resources:

 
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