Features update

Ignas Velža, Chief Technology Officer

September 2025

Our software team has been beavering away to produce a load of new updates to make your job easier. Here’s what’s new.

Add your own application stages and decision reasons 

You now have the flexibility to set up your own stages and decision reasons, so your workflow reflects the way your organisation supports applicants. This means you are no longer limited to the existing Review/Approve/Decline statuses - making it easier to track progress, and adapt the portal to your needs.

👉 Learn more here: Stages & decision reasons

New award types

You can now record a broader range of support at any stage of the journey - not just at the end. This means you can better capture the impact of your work and demonstrate the full value of the support you provide. 

The new award types include: energy efficiency advice, smart meter advice, Priority Services Register (PSR), debt advice, debt interventions, benefit entitlement check, benefit claims support, benefit uplift and referral to other support.

Send vouchers through the portal

You can now send vouchers directly through the portal, keeping the end to end process in one flow. Top up your balance, pick your voucher type (including energy and supermarket vouchers) and send in a few clicks.

👉 Learn more here: Lightning Deliver

Issue awards and send vouchers without approving applications

Sometimes you need to get immediate intervention out quickly without going through the full application process. Our new feature allows you to issue awards immediately, then go back and triage later. 

Manage the full application lifecycle via our API

You can now manage every step of the application process directly through our API. This includes creating applications, updating stages and logging awards. If you use your own CRM or a case management system, this means you can fully integrate Lightning Reach into your existing workflow and keep everything automated and in one place.

Update statuses in bulk

Need to approve a large amount of applications at once? You can now upload a file to update application statuses, especially useful if you're integrating Lightning Reach with your own CRM. 

Keen to get started with these? 

These features are now live on the Lightning Reach portal. Speak to your Customer Success Manager or contact us if you’d like help getting started!