How To Pick The Best Auction Software For Your Company
All You Need To Know About Your Auction Platform & Software
Picking the best auction software for your company can be more complex than you might think. Today there are many software options available that allow you to host your auctions in whatever way you want. When picking out your auction software, there are a few things that you will need to consider in order to get the best fit.
Determine Your Auction Type
Right off the bat, you need to ask yourself what kind of auctions you are planning on holding. You don’t want to end up with a platform that will only let you hold live auctions when you’re planning on holding online auctions as well. Another thing to consider is if you think that your company will grow and host a wider variety of auctions in the future. You don’t want to get stuck hosting half of your auctions on one platform and the other half on another. Make sure your provider can accommodate all of your auction types.
Prioritize Software Features
What are you looking for in your auction software? Do you want staggered closing times? Simulcast capabilities? Auctions on your own website? Automatic statement and invoice processing? Bulk lot importing? Unlimited photos per lot? There are so many different options that you can choose from, so it’s important to understand what you really need your software to do. Once you figure that out, you will be able to properly research your options.
Consider Your Price Range
Auction software is an investment. You’re going to have to determine how much you can pay for your software based on what features you want. If you’re just looking for a no-frills platform you likely won’t have to pay as much as if you want all the bells and whistles possible or completely customizable software. Sit down and figure out the non-negotiable features you want your software to have and then determine what’s in your price range.
The Commission Debate
While we’re on the topic of money, let’s talk about commission. Many software providers offer a cheaper initial set-up price and then take a portion of your sale as their commission. If you don’t have a ton of capital when initially setting up your software, this can be a tempting offer. However, in the long run you could end up paying your provider thousands of dollars. Here at Auctioneer Software we believe that your auction profits belong to you. After all, they are your auctions. That’s why we don’t take a commission. Period.
Bringing Your Own Bidders?
One of the most important things you will want to consider when picking an auction software is if you already have a pool of loyal bidders. Many providers offer a platform that operates as a communal marketplace for bidders. This means that bidders can see a wide variety of auctions on the site, not just yours. If you already have a loyal following, opening your bidders up to a wider auction market can cause you to have to compete for their attention – and dollars. The other option is to set up your auction website on your own domain, not on a third party provider’s. Your bidders will be only yours, and all eyes will be on your auctions. This is the type of platform that we offer at Auctioneer Software because we know that you’ve earned your bidders and you shouldn’t have to share them.
These are just a few of the things that you should consider when picking out your auction software. We hope this has been a helpful guide as you start your auction software journey! If you’re interested in our auction software, we would love to give you a free demo. Contact us today to learn more about our software and ask any questions you might have about live and online auction software! Want to read more about picking an auction platform? Check out this awesome blog.