In March, IAA expanded its U.S. locations in Missouri as well as in Florida. Now that it’s April, IAA turned its attention to its European operations.
IAA recently announced that its U.K.-based business unit has expanded its IAA Hixon branch. According to a news release, this investment increases the branch’s inventory space by more than 30%, accommodating strong customer demand and inventory needs in the midlands.
“The expansion of the IAA Hixon branch supports our broader strategic growth initiatives in the UK,” said Steve Hankins, U.K. managing director for IAA.
“The additional capacity will create significant operating efficiencies and drive a reduction in transportation costs, all while providing a best-in-class experience for buyer and seller customers,” Hankins added.
The Hixon branch is located at Airfield Industrial Estate, Hixon, Stafford. A listing of preview days and sales days at the branch can be found at iaaiuk.co.uk.
Hurricane season doesn’t officially begin until June 1, but IAA made adjustments to one of its facilities in a state quite susceptible to those storms.
This week, IAA announced the relocation of its branch in Fort Myers, Fla. One of 11 IAA branch facilities in the Sunshine State, the company highlighted that the new location includes increased capacity and innovation to support the large Florida market, an area that typically experiences frequent catastrophic weather events.
Through a news release, IAA went on to mention the new location features a completely renovated office building with an expanded lobby.
Creating convenience for buyers and efficiency for vehicle transporters, IAA also noted the site located at 11950 State Road 82 in Fort Myers offers a separate sale pad dedicated to storing vehicles from the current week’s sales as well as a covered outdoor center for managing transactions.
“We continuously strive to make improvements that provide the best possible experience for our customers,” IAA president of U.S. operations Tim O’Day said.
“State-of-the-art facilities such as those at the new Fort Myers location are crucial to managing our high volume of vehicles flowing through the Florida market as well as strengthening our leading catastrophe response,” O’Day added.
A listing of preview days and sales days at the branch can be found at www.iaai.com.
This week, Copart opened its sixth location in North Carolina, rolling out a facility in Lumberton consisting of 89 acres.
The development represented the second Copart opening in the Tar Heel State. In March, the company unveiled a location in Concord.
“We're happy to offer a new location in North Carolina for our buyers and sellers,” Copart president Jeff Liaw said in a news release. “We are delighted to continue the expansion of our global network of facilities to better serve our customers.
“We thank the Copart team members whose hard work enable our growth,” Liaw continued.
Eligible buyers can register and join auctions to bid on inventory through the Copart website or via the Copart Mobile App for iOS and Android devices.
“Copart Lumberton is a large state-of-the art facility, located just three miles from Interstate 95 in southern North Carolina,” Copart Lumberton general manager Dave Morris said. “We look forward to serving the wonderful community of Lumberton.”
Visit the Copart Lumberton page on Copart.com to view the location's contact information, sale lists and inventory. To see all of Copart's locations, visit Copart.com/Locations.
With so much happening online nowadays, IAA reinforced its security expertise with an executive who has an extensive retail background.
On Tuesday, IAA appointed Andrew Albrecht as vice president and chief information security officer. The company said Albrecht will report directly to Maju Abraham, senior vice president and chief information officer.
Most recently, Albrecht served as senior director for IT security and compliance for Designer Brands (DBI), an omnichannel retailer with more than 650 stores across multiple international brands. At DBI, he developed and championed comprehensive business-minded visions and actionable strategies to identify and minimize risk while also establishing a cybersecurity operations center.
Prior to DBI, Albrecht was vice president and chief information security officer for Michaels Stores and held various information security leadership roles at global companies including Best Buy, La Quinta Inns & Suites and L Brands.
“We are pleased to welcome Andrew to the IAA Team,” Abraham said in a news release. “Andrew has extensive experience in advanced information security governance at well-known, multi-billion-dollar retailers.
“His impressive track record will allow enhanced protection of IAA’s intellectual property while optimally securing IT and business resources,” Abraham continued.
IAA added that Albrecht will be based at the company’s headquarters in Westchester, Ill.
Earlier this summer, IAA bolstered the technology offerings for its operations in the United Kingdom with a revamped buyer portal. This week, the company boosted the transportation component of its business.
IAA announced that its UK-based business unit has implemented INFORM Transportation Management System (TMS). The company explained this marks the next stage of its U.K. technology modernization program and leverages INFORM’s artificial intelligence and digital decision making.
The new INFORM TMS will allow IAA to streamline inventory and supply chain management, logistics, production scheduling, transportation, and workforce management.
INFORM TMS also links with IAA Tow App technology to enable real-time status updates and geo-location tracking as well as the capture of vehicle imaging and condition reports of total-loss collections.
“The implementation of INFORM TMS is a vital component in our technology modernization program,”, IAA UK managing director Steve Hankins said in a news release. “It delivers operating efficiencies and greatly improves the service we offer to our customers, including real-time information and efficient SLA achievement.
“Most importantly, it allows for significant expansion of IAA’s capacity in the U.K.,” Hankins added.
For more information about IAA in the UK visit IAAIUK.co.uk.
On Tuesday, IAA made its third move during the past two weeks in connection with its operations in the United Kingdom.
The newest action is connected with IAA announcing that its U.K.-based business unit has completed the roll-out of IAA Buyer Portal, a new purpose-built and exclusive digital auction site designed to offer buyers an enhanced research, bidding and buying experience.
IAA highlighted the new Buyer Portal can give buying clients the ability to customize their research and streamline the vehicle buying process.
The platform introduces IAA Timed Auctions, a new bidding and buying channel, and will offer IAA 360 View, a merchandising feature that can provide buyers with in-depth vehicle information.
The company mentioned the IAA Buyer Portal is designed for any mobile device, providing buyers the flexibility to research, bid and buy in a manner convenient to them.
IAA Buyer Portal is the second of a two-phased technology roll-out in the UK. The new digital platform provides key features including:
— New, redesigned user interface
— Convenient homepage, including quick access to vehicle search, featured inventory and announcements
— Advanced Search feature, providing buyers with customization, filters, and categorization to make their research process simple and quick
— My Auction Centre dashboard, providing the ability to manage vehicles from one location, review purchase history, place vehicle bids and more.
“We are sharply focused on enhancing our business model in the UK while improving the customer experience,” said Steve Hankins, U.K. managing director for IAA. “As the second technology launch in the country this month, the launch of IAA Buyer Portal demonstrates how we are reshaping salvage management in the UK and creating value for our customers.”
Along with an initial technology announcement just before June closed, IAA’s recent string of actions in the United Kingdom also included the division’s rebranding.
For more information on IAA Buyer Portal, visit buyer.iaaiuk.co.uk.
IAA reinforced its international operations in a pair of ways this week.
First, Impact Auto Auction, the Canadian business unit of IAA announced the availability of Impact 360 View, what the company described as an innovative imaging technology that can allow online vehicle buyers a 360-dgree viewing experience of a vehicle’s exterior and interior.
Then, IAA announced that its U.K.-based business unit has completed the roll-out of IAA Seller Portal and VISion salvage management, both customized for the U.K. market.
For Canadian dealers looking for salvage units, Impact Auto Auction highlighted that Impact 360 View can allow the buyer to rotate an image to provide an interactive visual — like physically walking around the vehicle — and follows the launch of the technology in the U.S. earlier this year.
The company indicated all Impact branch locations throughout Canada offer Impact 360 View, for vehicles 12 years old and newer, unique classics, high-end vehicles and exotics. The technology’s benefits include enhanced imagery, zoom and pan capabilities as well as additional views beyond 5MB HD providing internal and external insight on critical areas of the vehicle.
“We are very excited to enhance our best-in-class merchandising offering for our Canadian customers through the launch of Impact 360 View,” Impact managing director Blair Earle said in a news release.
“Impact 360 View offers an enriched vehicle research, bidding and buying experience for our buyers as well as a more accurate visual and improved asset merchandising environment for our vehicle sellers, driving additional bids and higher returns,” Earle continued.
Meanwhile, IAA recapped the benefits of IAA Seller Portal and VISion.
The company explained the new technology can provide sellers with real-time administration of their total loss vehicle portfolio and significantly reduces overall claim cycle time.
“IAA Seller Portal and VISion have completely streamlined the salvage vehicle management process here in the UK,” said Steve Hankins, U.K. managing director for IAA. “By automating and accelerating vehicle management activities and workflows, Seller Portal delivers improved service and streamlined claims workflow.”
IAA’s launch of Seller Portal was the first of a two-phased technology roll-out in the U.K. The new management system includes the following key features:
— Fully customizable dashboard
— Improved user interface designed from initial instruction to sale and payment
— New flexible vehicle asset search
— Dynamic data exchange and document upload
— Smart, intuitive reporting filters
— Enhanced market guide
In 2014 Seller Portal was initially launched in Canada and was well received by insurers, contributing significantly to IAA’s success and continued growth within the market. Functionality was further enhanced in 2018, and Seller Portal has now been fully optimized for the UK market.
“Upgrading the technology platform reflects IAA’s overall commitment to the U.K. market, customers and team,” the company said.
To learn more about Seller Portal, visit iaaiuk.co.uk.
IAA branding now can be seen on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
On Wednesday, IAA announced that its U.K.-based business unit HBC Vehicle Services has rebranded as part of the global IAA brand. The company explained the rebrand reflects IAA’s commitment to investment, innovation and customer collaboration in the U.K. market.
When IAA spun off from KAR Auction Services last June, HBC became part of the IAA family of companies. IAA has 14 strategically located facilities in Great Britain and northern Ireland.
As an independent, public company, leadership said one of IAA’s key growth strategies focuses on international expansion.
“Our in-country focused business model successfully leverages the resources of IAA while investing in the infrastructure, leadership and service delivery for the local market,” said Terry Daniels, senior vice president of global operations for IAA.
“Bringing the U.K. business under the umbrella of IAA’s global brand will provide this market with innovative products and services, technology advancement and exposure to IAA’s extensive global buyer base,” Daniels continued in a news release.
Steve Hankins, U.K. managing director of IAA, added, “HBC has been part of the IAA family for nearly one year. In that time, we have successfully implemented new, innovative technologies, expanded the transport fleet with new lorries, and invested in our highly motivated staff.
“IAA continues to demonstrate its dedication to the growth and development of our customers and the U.K. market,” Hankins went on to say.
Less than a week after enhancing its presence in five markets, IAA on Wednesday announced branch capacity expansions across four more key markets in Florida, New York, Alabama and Montana.
IAA highlighted these expansions increase inventory storage capacity in total acres by more than 50% across the four branches in the markets of Miami (Florida), Long Island (New York), Birmingham (Alabama) and Missoula (Montana).
“These expansions provide much-needed capacity to support the growing needs of both our buyers and sellers,” said Tim O’Day, IAA’s president of U.S. Operations. “Our continued strategic investment in real estate supports our ability to anticipate and exceed customers’ needs while further expanding service in our key markets.”
The expanded branches include:
IAA Miami North, 20499 Stirling Road, Pembroke, Fla.
IAA Long Island, 66 Peconic Avenue, Medford, N.Y.
IAA Birmingham, 1600 Highway 150, Bessemer, Ala.
IAA Missoula, 10131 Garymore Lane, Missoula, Mont.
A listing of branch preview and sales days can be found at www.iaai.com.
Copart now has two locations in Utah.
The global online vehicle auction company announced on Monday that it opened a new 45-acre location in Salt Lake City. According to a news release, this addition represents Copart’s second location in the state, serving the growing needs of vehicle buyers and sellers.
The company also operates a location in Ogden.
“We are delighted to add a new location to serve our growing business in Utah,” Copart president Jeff Liaw said in the news release. “For more than 15 years, we have used our online-only platform to attract auction participants from all over the world, and Salt Lake City represents an important addition to our footprint.”
The company indicated the Copart Salt Lake City location hosts weekly auctions on Fridays at 12 p.m. MT. Eligible buyers can join auctions and bid on inventory at Copart.com or via the Copart Mobile App for iOS and Android devices.
“We will continue to provide outstanding customer service to our sellers and members through our new facility,” Salt Lake City general manager David Paxton said.
