Auction EDGE has announced the upcoming launch of EDGE Marketplace, the national online marketplace of independent auctions and its customers.

Auction EDGE COO Scott Heydon outlines a dual phase roll-out of the site, which will include a preview release of EDGE Marketplace during the CAR Convention on March 5^th and 6^th, and the official launch on March 24^th, which will coincide with an online buying and selling event via EDGE Now.

“The entire Auction EDGE team is very excited to introduce EDGE Marketplace to the independent auction community,” said Heydon. “As a single site where dealers can research and buy vehicles online, EDGE Marketplace will be open to all independent auctions, which will now be able to compete against other online marketplaces.”

The crown jewel of EDGE Marketplace is EDGE Now, a new online bidding and buying platform.  With the ability to Bid, Make an Offer and Buy Now, dealers can buy cars directly on the website from facilitating independent auctions.  Heydon notes that all independent auctions will be able to post vehicles for sale on EDGE Now, whether or not they are Pipeline subscribers.

Heydon explains that EDGE Marketplace features significantly enhanced search capabilities, allowing dealers to search multiple makes, models and trims at the same time, as well as being able to set search criteria by vehicle grade and the availability of photos or condition reports.  Search results offer more information on every vehicle at a glance, without requiring clicking into individual vehicles to learn more.  In addition, search results include vehicles that are running in the auction lanes as well as the vehicles that are posted for sale on EDGE Now, an option that is not available on other online selling portals.

“In today’s market, finding the right inventory is more important than ever,” said Heydon. “EDGE Marketplace provides a single site where dealers can both research and buy vehicles, with access to inventory throughout the independent auction community.”

From a functionality standpoint, EDGE Marketplace includes many of the features of Auction Pipeline, with its active user base of 30,000 active dealers, says Heydon.  When accessing EDGE Marketplace, users will find the familiar calendar of auction events, a list of current sales on Simulcast, an auction map and market report information.

EDGE Marketplace also offers new efficiencies for the auctions by streamlining fees, and improving the process by which auctions upload vehicle information to the site. On EDGE Marketplace, auctions can list multiple cars at once, and can set parameters by consignor rather than by individual unit.

Heydon notes that Auction EDGE has been working with a group of dealers to test EDGE Marketplace and provide feedback in preparation for the preview at CAR.  By March 17th, EDGE Marketplace will be available to all dealers through www.auctionedge.com, and the first daily EDGE Now event will take place on March 24^th.

Auction EDGE is the unified technology platform and national marketplace of the independent auto auctions. Auction EDGE provides a complete suite of products and services for auction management and a leading online marketplace representing more than 150 independent auctions.