PHOENIX -

Dealers Auto Auction of the Southwest said last week that the auction is expanding.

In announcing the news, general manager Stephanie Gringas said, “Our owners have just obtained the property adjacent to us, and we are in the process of creating a new recon area where our mechanics, CR writers and repo inventory will be processed, our old mechanic space will then be used for expanded full detail services.”

This follows two other big moves recently made by the auction.

This summer, the auction launched text bidder badge services, which eliminates bidder lines and uses mobile technology via smartphones and iPads. The auction implemented a day-of-sale system the company says will allow dealers to receive their bidder numbers prior to arriving at the sale. Then, they will show that number to enter the auction, obtain their breakfast and present it to the ring man when they purchase a vehicle.

“In this era of using your smartphone to read window stickers and decode VINs with Black Book, Carfax and related software, it only made sense to extend the bidder number ability to that tool as well,” Gingras said at the time. “For those that still enjoy the bidder badge stickies and standing in line, DAASW has removed its traditional kiosks and installed two wireless iPad stands to provide that service.

“My belief is mobile technology is not about self-service, but truly about our industry providing high-tech service for our customers, and this is one way I think that can be accomplished,” she said.

Late last year, it rolled out 360 Service, an exclusive customer service program than can help dealers manage their auction consignment more effectively.

Vice president Jim DesRochers explained how it worked at the time.

“Our new 360 Service program creates a seamless information and communication stream for our consigning dealers,” he said. “It links the customer with the various auction departments through every step of the auction process, from pre-sale pickup to post-sale delivery, all on a 24/7 basis.

“It provides our customers with the information they need to prepare vehicles for auction sale and streamlines the movement of those vehicles through the various auction departments,” DesRochers said.

Continue the conversation with Auto Remarketing on both LinkedIn and Twitter.