When you have accepted your invitation from your certifying body, you can begin to fill out the questions in your Application.
If you have not accepted a pending Application Invitation, please read this guide.
Updated on 6 July 2026. The application interface has been refreshed. If you were mid-way through an application, your data and files are intact. See What's new in Data Collection and Applications for a quick tour of what changed.
Opening an application: the three tabs
1. Click Open on your current application with the status In data collection.
2. You'll land on the Application view. At the top you'll see three tabs:
Tab | What it's for |
Application | Where you answer the certification questions. This is where you'll spend most of your time |
Overview | A summary view of your application details |
Establishment information | Property-level details about your establishment (name, address, and other basic information) |
3. Both the Application tab and the Establishment information tab need to be completed before you can submit. You can work on them in any order. The topic list on the left and the questions in the centre live on the Application tab.
4. Answer your questions on the Application tab. Your changes save automatically as you go; there's no separate Save button.
Navigating with the topic list
The application is organised into topics and sub-topics. You'll see them as a persistent list on the left side of the screen.
Click any topic to jump to it. If a topic has sub-topics, these will be nested underneath the topic.
The counter next to each topic (for example, "Environmental 0/11") rolls up: it reflects both the questions in that topic and everything nested underneath.
Some topics may show a small warning triangle next to their counter. This indicates something on that topic needs your attention.
There's no setup. It's just there.
Anatomy of a question
Each question is presented as a card in the centre of the screen. Here's what you'll see, top to bottom:
1. The status circle on the left
A small circle to the left of the question shows whether it's been answered.
Empty circle: unanswered
Filled circle with a checkmark: answered
2. The reporting period chip (only on some questions)
Some questions ask about a different reporting period than your application year. For example, an application for 2025 might include utility questions that need to cover 2024. When that's the case, you'll see a chip labelled Different reporting period: [year] above the question.
Read the chip carefully. The answer you provide should cover the year shown on the chip, not the application year.
3. The question text and the red asterisk
The question is shown in the centre of the card. A red asterisk at the start means the question is required: you'll need to answer it, or omit it with a justification, before you can submit the application.
4. Your answer options
Depending on the question, you'll see different input types:
Yes / No radio buttons
A dropdown for multiple-choice questions (for example, "Not applicable" as one of the options)
A text field for free-text answers
A number field for numeric data (utility consumption, room counts, and so on)
Select the option that applies, or type your answer. Your changes save automatically.
5. Points pills next to answer options
For questions that carry scoring points, you'll see a small pill next to the relevant option showing what selecting that answer would contribute to your score, for example +1.
The label on the pill depends on the certification you're applying for. Different certifications use different terminology for the same underlying idea:
Points that are required to fulfil the criterion may be labelled Mandatory or Imperative
Points that count toward optional or bonus scoring may be labelled Optional or Guideline
Check the pill next to each answer option to see what it earns and which category it belongs to. If a pill isn't shown next to an option, that answer doesn't carry points.
6. The Omit question toggle
If a question doesn't apply to your establishment, toggle Omit question on. You'll be asked to explain why the question doesn't apply. Add your explanation and save. Your certifying body uses this note when reviewing your application, so be specific.
7. Inline summary chips at the bottom
A small row of count chips at the bottom of each question card shows at a glance:
Clock: how many past answers exist for this question from earlier applications
Paperclip: how many files are attached
Link: how many related answers apply
Speech bubble: how many comments have been added
A count of zero means nothing is there yet. To view or add to any of these, open the matching icon in the inline summary chips or the right-rail (see the next section).
The tools panel on the right
The right side of the screen has a column of icons. Each opens a contextual panel for the question you're currently viewing.
Top to bottom on every application question:
Icon | Panel name | What it does |
Trophy  | Scoring | How this question contributes to your score, and your whole-application progress (required questions answered, guideline points, default points needed to pass) |
Bulb  | Guidance | AI explanation of the question |
Speech bubble 
| Comments | Add context for your answer, notes for your auditor, or ask the certification body a question on this specific criterion |
Link  | Related answers | Previously-given answers that may apply to this question |
Clock  | Past answers | Past answers from earlier applications you've submitted |
Paperclip  | Files | Upload supporting files for this question. Some questions require a specific file (an invoice, a policy document, and so on); if so, you'll see a dedicated required-upload area inside the panel. You can add additional files alongside the required one |
Change log  | Change log | Audit trail at the question level |
As seen below:
How to import answers from a previous year
This is only possible as long as you have an approved Application in the BeCause system from a previous year.
In the top right of the application, click the Import answers button (next to Submit application) to auto-fill answers into your current application.
2. You can see how many answers you have from the previous year.
❗ Files and proofs will not be imported.
Filter your questions
Filters sit above the question list.
Use the filters to narrow down what you see: Scoring category, Requirement, Answer status, and Comments.
Unanswered questions
Filter "Answer status" and select "Unanswered ( )", then the application will show you the sections with questions you have not answered yet.
Export to PDF
You can export the application to a PDF by clicking the "3 dots" at the top of your application next to "Submit application".
Uploading a file
1. When you have a question where it is required to answer with a file upload, it is important that you click on the "Upload required file" option and upload the file there to answer the question.
You can always add additional files underneath afterwards if you have more files as proof.
- If you have only uploaded files as "additional files", then the question will not count as answered, as it needs to be uploaded to "Upload required file".
2. If you have a question where you need to select an answer, you always can upload additional files as secondary proofs to your answer by clicking "Upload files" located under "select".
Changelog - what is "Changelog" and how to check it
Your "Changelog" is the way you can see when and who has answered or changed the answer to the specific question. If you are more than 1 person who will answer the questions in the application, it can be helpful for you to check who has answered the question and when they have done it.
Click the "3 dots" next to "Omit question", and then you can select "Changelog".
2. When you open up the "Changelog", you can see the history of the question with timestamps and who has changed or answered.
Submit your Application and Await Audit
1. When you have completed your application and everything looks correct, then you can click "Submit application" in the top right corner.
2. Once you submit your application, you won't be able to make any changes or updates to your questions. This also means that you can't upload any files or do any additional editing. Click "Submit" if you are ready to submit.
3. Now you can see that the application has been submitted, and it cannot be edited when it awaits audit. Click "Applications" to go to your "Applications Overview".
4. You can see that your application now has changed status from "In data collection" to "Awaiting audit".
For any further help, please always reach out to our support via the chat function or check out our Help Center 💜.