Custom web platform for energy assistance programs
Figures of Energy Outreach Colorado
Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), a non-profit organization, has been working for almost four decades to keep the lights and heat on (and much more) for struggling Coloradans through programs like CARE and Energy Assistance.
From low-income individuals to veterans, like Gary, whose story from EOC's community solar program stuck with us, families across the state depend on EOC to make everyday living possible. Energy Outreach Colorado helped Gary and his family get the electricity bill from almost $100 to $3, allowing him to feel more secure at home and focus on his health.
EOC has gathered hundreds of thousands of small victories like this in 2024 alone. But behind those victories was a system that made the work harder than it needed to be. Applications for aid were still being processed on paper, which was inefficient, error-prone, and unable to keep pace as demand increased. Furthermore, EOC was limited to a pricey off-the-shelf platform, whose costs continued to rise.
That's when we got a message from Eric Nussbaumer, VP of Data Operations at EOC and a longtime customer and partner. For years, Eric has trusted our team to build tailored solutions for different projects. His objective this time was to simplify work for employees of EOC and agencies that handle applications, as well as give Coloradans a secure and convenient way to apply for assistance programs.
Non-profit organizations are fully committed to their purpose. That’s why funds and time are often scarce. Energy Outreach Colorado had a similar story.
For years, their processes were mostly paper-based with manual data entry and, often, leading to long queues. To modernize, EOC adopted an off-the-shelf system; however, over time, the subscription costs ballooned. Because the truth is that off-the-shelf doesn’t always mean cheaper, especially long-term.
With EOC managing the largest energy assistance programs in the state, and the urgency of their mission, such a system and process couldn’t keep up well.
Globaldev built a custom web-based system for EOC that moved applications, income and document verification, reporting, and agency operations online. The solution was designed to be mobile-first as lower-income families usually don’t have a PC, bilingual in English and Spanish, and role-based for applicants, moderators, and admins.
Applicants can now register, upload documents, and track application status without visiting an agency in person. Moderators review and approve requests through a unified dashboard, while administrators monitor budgets, performance, and compliance in real time. Automated checks prevent duplicate applications within the same program year, and built-in logic ensures the correct documentation and consent forms are collected for each case.
The platform was developed to grow alongside Energy Outreach Colorado. EOC crew can easily create any new program applications, add custom fields and questions, and manage access rules internally.
Everything now runs through a single, reliable system that reduces errors, shortens processing times, and allows the team to serve more families without adding administrative burden.
Dedicated software development team
Core functionality of the EOC custom platform
- Online registration and access
- Document upload and verification
- Save and resume applications
- Real-time application status tracking
- Reminders and notifications
- Communication with moderators (users can receive clarifications or respond to document requests directly within their account)
- Mobile-first interface
- Bilingual support (every screen, field, and notification is available in both English and Spanish)
- Hub for educational resources
- Application review dashboard where moderators can track all created programs, review submissions, and filter applications by date, status, and county
- Approval, denial, and correction workflow for each case
- Message requests for additional information
- Manual entry for offline applications to support applicants who can’t fill out forms themselves
- Income verification software tool
- Electronic signature management
- Custom application builder to create forms for any program
- The analytics dashboard shows submitted, approved, and rejected applications, as well as performance data by program
- Admins can create, edit, or delete user accounts and assign appropriate roles
- Agency management (add, update, or archive partner agencies, assign them to specific programs, and control referral logic)
- Administrators can define eligibility rules, consent form requirements, and program-year limits for different assistance types
- Application distribution control to maintain a fair workload and funding allocation
- Reporting and exports
- Review users’ actions and data changes history
- Configure system settings and security protocols
❞
They're great at communicating, asking questions, and ensuring they understand the requirements.
GLOBALDEV's work meets expectations. The team has enabled the client to do something they wouldn’t be able to do themselves. GLOBALDEV communicates well and keeps the client updated on the impact of changing requirements on the budget. The team communicates using Jira, Slack, email, and phone calls.
Ready to replace manual work with automation?
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Energy management software development
