Auction software provides auctioneers and event organizers with a digital platform to organize, manage, and conduct auctions. These products allow users to create listings for inventory, usually via a web page, and streamline the bidding and payment collection process.
The best auction software enables mobile or paperless bidding, but some allow users to create bid sheets if needed. Auction attendees can receive real-time notifications when they are outbid or win, with instructions on how to pay for and collect their items. Users can also generate reports to display profits, remaining inventory, sales and donation figures, and other metrics. Some products provide greater event management features like ticketing, guest check-in, and basic marketing tools.
Products in the auction category cater to either commercial business or nonprofit users, with the latter product type offering more features to support fundraising efforts during auctions. Furthermore, products in this category must support one or more of three auction types: in-person, online, and hybrid.
To qualify for inclusion in the Auction category, a product must:
- Create auction listings, bid sheets, online auctions, or auction catalogs
- Provide features to manage inventory and pricing
- Produce reports on purchases, donations, profits, and remaining inventory
- Manage payments natively or via integrated software
