Everything you need to manage your virtual competitions
AssistExpo makes it easy and affordable for all!
The virtual-competitions module adds several functions to AssistExpo to manage virtual competitions.
Several virtual competitions already use AssistExpo; they are all extremely pleased with the product and service they received from AssistExpo. This module has been in service since 2016.
AssistExpo was already the reference for shows and competitions. With this "Virtual Competitions module", you can easily manage competitions where the animals or exhibits are not "on site". Judging is often based on pictures or videos and production data, performance data or other information about the animals/exhibits. The judging is done online and it's possible to have one or multiple judges for each competitions. An option is also available to open the competition to "popular vote" where general public (or specific set of people) are invited to virtually judge the competition and compare their own placings with those of the official judge(s).
This module adds to everything already available in AssistExpo. Everything available in the regular AssistExpo continues to be available and is complemented with the functionality provided by this module.
Online entries, already used by hundreds of thousands of exhibitors continues to work just like before with the addition of a button at the end of the entry form where exhibitors can select photos or videos files to attach to their entries. Online payments, judging documents, prize money calculations with all sorts of deductions, cheques and many other accounting reports are available just like with the regular AssistExpo.
AssistExpo provides the documents needed for virtual shows and the quality of those documents is astonishing! And fast too! Because AssistExpo knows about livestock and homecraft shows and knows what the data means everything is streamlined and simplified to make it easy for everyone; you and for your judges. Online judging is made to be simple for the judges and the data is presented in ways that are appropriate for each specific type of virtual shows.
Don't waste your time and money on other, generic, virtual show software; if your competition is for animals or other agricultural products, what you need is AssistExpo!
- Online entries, the same system hundreds of thousands of exhibitors are using for all the other shows
- Exhibitors can provide a video file or photos files with a simple click on a button to upload their media files at the same time they complete their entries online
- Restrictions can be set on media files, minimum and maximum duration, maximum file size...
- Online payments of entry fees if applicable
- Online judging; your judge(s) can judge online! No need to send them heavy documents and AssistExpo compiles the results for you.
- Secure login for each individual judge
- You can open a "popular vote" for general public and they can compare their placings with those of the official judge(s).
- Animal / exhibits pictures available on most documents
- Animal / exhibits pictures and videos available online
- All media files (photos and videos) are stored on AssistExpo's secure servers, no need for external storage
- Winners presentation documents in several graphical and video formats
- PowerPoint presentations for winners announcement
- Video presentations for winners announcement
- Documents pre-formatted for "magazine" layouts
- Prepare "Certificates" or "Diplomas" for winners (with pictures)
- Multiple layouts, templates and styles for most documents.
- Easily share these documents with exhibitors, judges or others; no need to use external file sharing service
- Documents are print-quality (hi-resolution)
- Multiple lists and reports specific to virtual competitions
- All functions available in regular AssistExpo continues to be available
There's nothing else like it!
When you need to manage a virtual or remote livestock or agricultural product competition, AssistExpo is better than anything else!
The online entries system allows your breeders or exhibitors to enter online. For them it's really easy because they've already been using the system for many years. AssistExpo knows about livestock and the entries are connected to most breed registries to make sure the data is accurate. The online entry form has a button to select media files to be uploaded with the entry. If entry fees are applicable, the exhibitors can pay online with a credit card.
You can easily configure various restrictions on the media files, minimum and maximum durations for video files; and maximum file size for videos and photos.
As entries are received, several documents are available to you to keep track of everything. All the usual reports from AssistExpo used to manage regular shows are also available for "virtual" shows.
AssistExpo provides true "online judging", unlike other systems that force the judges to vote in a PDF or Excel file sent by email, along with a huge PDF file showing all entries. Unlike some other systems made for generic virtual shows, AssistExpo knows about livestock shows and other agricultural shows; AssistExpo knows a dairy calf, a sheep, field crops and flower arrangements are not judged the same way. The online judging screen can be configured for each specific show.AssistExpo brings true online judging. All you need to send the judges is a link to the page where they can judge online; no need to send them heavy documents. When they open the link, they get detailed instructions, they can see the classes, the entries in each class, and they can enter their placings directly. All feedback is positive; people did not think it could be made to be so easy and intuitive.
When judges submit their placings online, you get notifications by email, and when you connect to AssistExpo you see the compilations of all the judges. AssistExpo automatically calculates the points (average or total) and shows you the winners automatically. It's also possible to exclude some judges for some classes they can't judge (judges can be assigned to specific classes if required).
When it comes to preparing documents, there's nothing like AssistExpo! The quality of the AssistExpo documents is amazing! And it couldn't be simpler. You select the document you want and you select in which format you want it and AssistExpo downloads the file to your computer. Most documents with pictures are available in PDF, Word and PowerPoint formats. AssistExpo also knows the typical layouts used in livestock magazines so AssistExpo can save PDF files in that format directly. With just a few clicks, you get a file you can send directly to the magazine editor, and many organisations send those files directly to Staples or similar printing services.
AssistExpo will also create the PowerPoint for the awards gala! Just a few clicks and you get the PowerPoint file. Some organisations use that file directly on the awards gala where they present the winners. And if you prefer, you can edit the file in PowerPoint and add anything you'd like to the presentation. Several templates and styles are available for the PowerPoint documents.
AssistExpo will also do "diplomas" and "certificates" for the winners and nominees. They look so great many organisations send the file directly to Staples for printing. Or you could decide to edit the files before printing them. It's really easy, just a few clicks and AssistExpo downloads the file to your computer. Several templates and styles are available for the certificates and diplomas.
Fully bilingual. Once the information is entered, AssistExpo can generate the documents in English, in French or bilingual (both languages in same document).
There really is nothing like AssistExpo and with the "virtual show module", you could save a lot of time. AssistExpo will simplify your work because AssistExpo knows exactly what you need and it's been designed, tested and supported by people from the industry. Ask anyone already using it and they'll confirm anything you read here.
Online entries with AssistExpo: used by hundreds of thousands of exhibitors each year!
Even if your show has never used AssistExpo yet, there's a very good chance some of your exhibitors are familiar with AssistExpo online entries already. Each year, hundreds of thousands of exhibitors use AssistExpo to make their entries online.
All feedback is positive.
Simple entry form
Here's a sample entry form for a needlework entry where the show decided to request a single photo of each entry. The entry form is mostly the same as a regular show with the exception of the "Select File" button where exhibitors can upload their photo.
Multiple photos and document
Here's a sample entry form for a baking entry where the show decided to request a minimum of 4 photos and up to 6 allowed and also require a document with each entry. The document is typically used to upload the recipe; or in other classes, in can be used for poems or other written creations.
Livestock entry form
Here's a sample livestock entry form for a beef entry where the show decided to request a photo of each animal. The entry form is mostly the same as a regular show with the exception of the "Select File" button where exhibitors can upload their photo(s).
Livestock with video
Here's a sample entry form for a beef entry where the show decided to request a video for each animal. The entry form is mostly the same as a regular show with the exception of the "Select File" button where exhibitors can upload their video. Restrictions can be configured on the duration and size of the video file.
Contact information
Here's the contact information form. Same contact information form the exhibitors are used to for regular shows.
Online payment
Here's the online payment form (if required). Same form as regular shows.
Truly online judging with AssistExpo!
Below are some sample screenshots of the screen the judges see when they judge online.
In addition to what the see on the judging page, they can also have access to a presentation document of your choice (one entry per page, two entries or six entries per page, you decide which document they can see).
All feedback is positive; people did not think it could be made so to be easy and intuitive.
Welcome and list of classes
When judges open their online judging link, they get a page like this with simple instructions and the list of classes. More detailed instructions are available too. Classes marked with a green checkmark have been judged already (by this judge). And classes marked with a red X are not available to this judge.
Judging a class
When a class is selected, the entries in the class are displayed with simple instructions. The judge can place the entries by drag and dropping them.
There's a button to open a document showing all entries in the class in a format of your choice (1, 2 or 6 per page).
Judges can click a photo to see details of an entry. Level of details visible by the judge is configurable.
All feedback is positive.
There's a button to open a document showing all entries in the class in a format of your choice (1, 2 or 6 per page).
Judges can click a photo to see details of an entry. Level of details visible by the judge is configurable.
All feedback is positive.
Zoomin
Judges can click a photo to see details of an entry and a higher-resolution photo. If you enabled videos, clicking on the photo will start the video. You can decide which information is available to the judge. Here the animal name, date of birth, registration number and results of the show season are listed.
Zoomin
Judges can click a photo to see details of an entry and a higher-resolution photo. If you enabled videos, clicking on the photo will start the video. You can decide which information is available to the judge. Here the animal name, date of birth, registration number and results of the show season are listed.
Not just for animals
The virtual competitions module is also for non animals competition. In this example, a tomato class where exhibitors had to submit 4 photos of their tomatoes at various stages of growth.
Completed classes
Judges can easily see which classes they have completed; a checkmark is shown next to the classes the judge has completed.
Locked classes
You can decide which classes are available for each judge and you can lock out some classes for specific judges (usually because they are related to the owner or breeder). Judges can see those classes but cannot judge them.
Confirmation email
Once the judges are done with their judging, they receive a confirmation email with all their placings. You also receive a copy of those emails. And, the results are automatically compiled in AssistExpo.
Everyone can be the judge with AssistExpo!
You can easily setup a popular vote or people's choice and restrict that to only your exhibitors; or your members or even open it to everyone. People will have access to an online judging screen similar to the one for the official judges and they'll be able to make their selection.
AssistExpo will automatically compile all the votes for you.
If you want, people will be able to compare their votes with the official results.
This is a great feature to get people to feel "connected" or "involved".
Below are some sample documents.
Clicking an image will open the full-resolution document in a separate window. Due to the quality of the documents, some may take a while to open. The samples provided here were generated from AssistExpo with the "virtual show module" with just a few clicks in the interface. It could not be simpler! Some of those documents are "magazine ready"; they can be saved to PDF files and sent to the magasine editor directly.
Thank you to Ontario-Holstein and Holstein-Quebec for providing these sample files (documents are generated by AssistExpo).
Production or Performance Data
Most documents can include production or performance data. For dairy competitions, this is the BCA, milk production and number of lactations. For beef, this can be EPD's or other weight data. For sheep, this can be GenOvis index.
Nominees document - 1 per page
This document shows the nominees in each class; one entry per page. For each entry, the animal name, date of birth, registration number and show results can be included (or hidden depending on what you want the judges to see). This document can be used for verifications or if you prefer not to use online judging.
Nominees document - 2 per page
This document shows the nominees in each class; two entries per page. For each entry, the animal name, date of birth, registration number and show results can be included (or hidden depending on what you want the judges to see). This document can be used for verifications or if you prefer not to use online judging.
Nominees document - 6 per page
This document shows the nominees in each class; six entries per page. For each entry, the animal name, date of birth, registration number and show results can be included (or hidden depending on what you want the judges to see). This document can be used for verifications or if you prefer not to use online judging.
Simple list of entries (nominees)
This is a simple list of entries in the competition, listed by class. Shows the animal names with their owners.
Magazine layout with awards overlay - top 3
This magazine layout includes rosettes overlay to present the winners in the class. The description includes production or performance data, the results at the various shows of the season and the owner and breeder names.
Magazine layout with awards overlay - top 6
This magazine layout includes rosettes overlay to present the winners in the class. The description includes production or performance data, the results at the various shows of the season and the owner and breeder names.
Souvenir book layout
The souvenir book layout is a one class per page format where more space is used for the winner of the class. Also includes the reserve and honourable mention and the other nominees in the class.
Results list with judges scores
This documents shows the scores from the different judges and the totals for each class. The names of the judges can be included or hidden. The winner in the class is highlighted in bold.
Results list
This documents lists the winners for each class. The winner in the class is highlighted in bold.
Winners announcement PowerPoint
The winners announcement PowerPoint shows the nominees in a class first, then the honourable mention, the reserve and finally the winner of the class. The PowerPoint is animated with smooth transitions and blank pages between entries to allow for comments during the presentation. Sponsors can be added to the file. In this sample, just one class is included but the file usually includes all classes.
Winners announcement PowerPoint
The winners announcement PowerPoint shows the nominees in a class first, then the honourable mention, the reserve and finally the winner of the class. The PowerPoint is animated with smooth transitions and blank pages between entries to allow for comments during the presentation. Sponsors can be added to the file. In this sample, just one class is included but the file usually includes all classes.
Certificates and Diplomas
Certificates and diplomas are available with multiple templates, layouts and styles. And we'll be happy to add your own style to the list! Can include sponsors logos. The documents are high resolution and print ready.
Certificates and Diplomas
Certificates and diplomas are available with multiple templates, layouts and styles. And we'll be happy to add your own style to the list! Can include sponsors logos. The documents are high resolution and print ready.