Auction EDGE has announced that it will conduct a dual-phase rollout of its EDGE Marketplace, beginning with a preview release during the NAAA/CAR event on Wednesday and Thursday.

The official launch for EDGE Marketplace is set for March 24.

This will coincide with an online buying and selling event through EDGE Now, which is a new online bidding and buying platform that the company calls the “crown jewel of EDGE Marketplace.”

Dealers will be able to buy vehicles directly on the website from facilitating independent auctions and will have the option to bid, make an offer and buy now.

All independent auctions can post vehicles for sale on EDGE Now, regardless of whether they are subscribers of Auction Pipeline, notes Auction EDGE chief operating officer Scott Heydon.

“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.”

He also pointed out that EDGE Marketplace also includes upgraded search capabilities that lets dealers simultaneously sort through multiple makes, models and trim. The new capabilities also allow for dealers to set search criteria by vehicle grade and whether or not the vehicle has photos or a condition report.

The search function is designed so that results show more information on a vehicle in just one glance without the dealer having to click into individual vehicles. The search results also feature vehicles running in auction lanes plus vehicles posted for sale on EDGE Now.

“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.”

The company said that EDGE Marketplace, functionally, has many of the same features as Auction Pipeline, including a familiar auction events calendar, a list of current Simulcast sales, an auction map and market report information.

Auctions will also be able to enjoy new efficiencies via EDGE Marketplace, which will streamline fees and improve the processes that auctions use to upload vehicle information to the site.

EDGE Marketplace will also let auctions list multiple cars at once and set parameters by consignor unit instead of by individual unit.

As for the logistics of the launch, Auction EDGE has been collaborating with a group of dealers to test the new product and offer feedback to get ready for the preview next week.

The company has set March 17 as the target deadline for EDGE Marketplace to be available to dealers through www.auctionedge.com. Then on March 24, the first EDGE Now event will be held.

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