Call for papers software is a platform that manages the end-to-end process of collecting, organizing, reviewing, and selecting session submissions or research paper abstracts for conferences, summits, and academic events. It replaces the fragmented combination of email, forms, and spreadsheets that most event teams rely on for speaker submissions. Conference organizers, association program committees, academic institutions, and marketing teams managing speaker-driven events all benefit from dedicated Call for Papers (CFP) software — particularly when managing more than a few dozen submissions or running multiple events per year.

Sessionboard manages the full abstract submission lifecycle on a single platform. You build a custom submission form with conditional logic and branching, set open and close dates, and publish a submission link. Submitters complete their abstracts online, and all session submissions flow into a central dashboard where your team can monitor progress, assign reviewers, track scoring, and communicate with submitters — all without leaving the platform. Accepted submissions move directly into Sessionboard's agenda builder and content management system, so there's no re-entry of data between stages.

Yes. Sessionboard is built to handle the complexity of abstract management for associations and academic conferences, including multi-track programs, blinded review workflows, committee-based scoring, and large submission volumes. Associations appreciate the ability to reuse speaker data across annual events, while academic programs benefit from structured abstract review with weighted scoring rubrics and AI-assisted evaluation support. Sessionboard is also compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and certified to SOC 2 Type II (System and Organization Controls) standards, meeting the data governance requirements of many academic institutions and professional associations.

Many point-solution abstract management tools stop once a session is accepted — leaving event teams to manually migrate accepted abstracts into a separate agenda builder and speaker management system. Sessionboard is built differently: submission, review, agenda building, content management, and speaker coordination all live in one connected platform. That means an accepted abstract automatically becomes a session, the speaker's bio flows into your content management system, and their speaker portal activates for material collection — all without manual data migration. This end-to-end integration enables Sessionboard customers to manage events up to 4 times faster than with traditional tools.

Yes. Sessionboard's submission forms support conditional logic and branching, meaning you can create a single submission flow that adapts based on the submitter's selections — routing a workshop proposal to different fields than a keynote pitch or a research paper abstract. You can configure separate tracks, topics, session formats, and review criteria within one Call for Papers program. Reviewers can be assigned to specific tracks, and scoring rubrics can vary by session type, giving program committees the precision they need for complex, multi-format events.

Once your submission window closes, Sessionboard's review workflow takes over. Sessionboard notifies reviewers of their assigned submissions and gives each one access to a dedicated review dashboard where they can read abstracts, apply scores, and leave comments — without seeing other reviewers' evaluations if blinded review is enabled. AI Evaluators can be activated to provide a first-pass score on every submission, giving your committee a baseline before human review begins. Program chairs monitor completion rates in real time, send bulk reminders to reviewers with outstanding assignments, and access aggregate scoring data to inform final selection decisions.

Sessionboard includes built-in email automation for every stage of the submission process. Submitters receive automatic confirmation emails when they apply, status update notifications when decisions are made, and personalized acceptance or rejection messages triggered by your workflow. Accepted speakers are automatically invited to their speaker portal, where they can upload materials, update their bio, and complete pre-event tasks. All of this runs through Sessionboard without requiring your team to manually send individual emails or coordinate through a separate email platform.