|
|
Auction
The Category One Tool supports you in the definition of negotiation
strategies, in the implementation of simple and complex price
negotiations, and the analysis of offers.
The browser-based system menus are easy to use and understand
for both the auctioneer and the bidder.
| • |
Auctions can
be set up in as quickly as a few minutes by the initiator. |
| • |
The auctioneer has complete
control over the auction set-up including negotiation
aspects, auction rules, bidder invitations, user notifications,
win parameter, etc. |
| • |
Every user activity on the
system is logged and can be analyzed online or downloaded
to MS Excel™. |
Extensive Functionality
The Auction Tool supports a broad variety
of set-ups to allow for the optimal structure of online negotiations,
and is used for both sell-side and buy-side online negotiation
scenarios.
Forward
Auction
A seller can offer items
to many buyers. Prices are rising within the auction; the
seller decides which buyer wins the deal.
Reverse
Auction
A
buyer invites many sellers to bid for a contract. Prices will
go downwards during the auction. The buyer decides which seller
wins the contract.
In each of these scenarios, several auction formats are available.
| • |
Single-item
auctions: In this simple auction
format the initiator can create auctions with a single
price item. |
| • |
Multi-position
auctions: The auctioneer can
set up an online negotiation on price models, e.g. on
variable prices per unit, one-time prices such as transport.
The auctioneer can arrange for dynamic text fields to
be included in the auction. The number of items is not
limited. |
| • |
Multi-Lot
Auctions: The auctioneer can group auctions into
lots and arrange for a multi-lot auction, e. g. to split
up large quanti-ties. Every lot can be single- or multi-position.
The included lots can parallel or sequential. Bids can
be awarded individually on every lot. |
| • |
Multi-Round
Auctions: The initiator can define several auction
rounds. After each round bidders who did not reach predefined
limits will be excluded from the next round. |
| • |
Dutch
Auction: This auction format involves the initiator
defining beforehand the starting price and an increment/decrement
amount. While the auction is in progress, the starting
price in predefined intervals will automatically be
incremented or decremented by the amount selected by
the initiator. The auction closes as soon as a bidder
confirms the auction price; there is no overtime option.
|
Features
| • |
Starting
price: To get an optimal starting price for an
auction, the system allows for setting a starting price
by the auctioneer or by the bidders prior to the auction.
The best starting bid will be set as the starting price
for the auction. |
| • |
Overtime:
The overtime functionality is used to dynamically extend
auctions depend-ing on bid activity. If a bid is entered
within a certain closing time of the auction, the auction
will automatically extend for a pre-defined period.
In a multi-lot-auction, overtime arrangements can be
applied equally to all auctions/lots involved. |
| • |
Multiple
bid display types: Bids from the competing bidders
are always anonymous from the bidders’ perspective.
The auctioneer can choose how bids are displayed to
the bidders: a) All competing bids b) Own bids and best
bid c) Own bids, best bid and current rank d) Own bids
and current rank |
| • |
Variable
bid increments/decrements: The auctioneer can
select pre-defined bid increment/decrement schemes,
set up own schemes or allow for free bid values. |
| • |
Quick-Bid:
The Quick-Bid functionality enables a participant to
bid in multiple auctions via one single bid screen without
having to click through the individual auctions. |
| • |
Best
bid limit: To prevent a single participant from
dominating an event, a limit of simul-taneous best bids
per participant may be defined beforehand. If and when
any participant reaches this limit, they will be prevented
from placing further bids until somebody has bettered
at least one of their best bids. |
| • |
Attachments:
Any digital content (e.g. MS Word™ files, PDF-files
or CAD-drawings) can be attached to an auction by the
auc-tioneer. |
Simple Yet Powerful Application Control
| • |
The Personal
Trading Desk is a powerful personalized user
interface for both initiator and participant to monitor
and control auction events. It of-fers a comprehensive
easy-to-use graphical user interface and is 100% web-based.
|
| • |
The Auction
Task Manager automatically reminds the auctioneer
and the bidders to complete the appropriate tasks (e.g.
entering a starting price). |
| • |
Multi-language
/ Multi-currency: Each user can work with the
system in his desired language. At present, the Portum
Auction Engine supports English, German, French, and
Spanish. Additional languages can be added upon request. |
| • |
Multiple
roles: Three roles can be assigned: Auctioneer
(initiator), bidder and analyst (view auctions from
multiple initiators). Depending on the role, the user
will see a personalized trading desk with user-specific
functionality. |
| • |
Edit
Functionality Auctions can be edited, deleted
or copied. With the copy function, significant process
cost savings can be achieved in the set-up of complex
auctions and in the set-up of repeat auctions (e.g.
monthly or quarterly negotiations) |
| • |
Personal
address book: Every initiator uses his personal
address book and decides for every auc-tion which of
the bidders are invited. |
| • |
Interface
with Supplier: (availability subject to licencing
terms) The Supplier Manager Tool is designed to support
sophisticated administration of an initiator’s
supplier portfolio. The initiator will have access,
via his address book, to information in questionnaire
form provided by his suppliers. This data summarizes
key parameters to characterize a given supplier’s
organization and can be used as a foundation for rating
all of one’s suppliers and organizations. The
application provides evaluation forms for the purpose.
Customized questionnaires and evaluation forms are available
on request. |
| • |
Time
Zones: The system supports international time
zones. When first logging into the system, the user
will automatically be prompted for his preferred time
zone. The system will then adapt all timings used according
to the user’s personal time zone. Summer time
is recognized automatically and does not require user
intervention. Changes to the time zone setting can be
made at any time by editing one’s Personal Profile. |
Built-In e-Collaboration
| • |
E-mail
Messaging: Messaging functionality enables the
auctioneers to get in touch with participants. The auctioneer
can send e-mails to all invited participants directly
from his personal trading desk, without using an e-mail
client. |
| • |
Secure
Conferencing In addition to e-mail services,
the Secure Conferencing Application (SCA) module before,
during and after the auction enables the initiator to
send queries and other messages to the suppliers. Messages
may be sent from within any auction. If the initiator
in turn receives postings from the suppliers, the system
will alert him to new incoming messages by e-mail, as
well as a flashing ‘envelope’ icon on the
navigation bar. A simple click on the ‘envelope’
enables the initiator to view in a separate window a
listing of all new messages. |
| • |
Dynamic
Auction FAQs: Based on questions that are sent
by the bidder, the initiator can generate auction FAQs
(frequently asked questions) on the fly and publish
these to all bidders. |
| • |
Immediate
Call-back: The “Call me!” function
directly connects with Category One’s Customer Care
Center and allows any participant to get immediate support
on any question. |
Superior Security and Reliability
| • |
Access for registered
users only. |
| • |
128-bit Hardware-SSL for
high-performance, bullet-proof encryption of all transaction
data. |
| • |
Additional security measures
such as smart cards or SecureID tokens are available
upon request. |
| • |
High availability The Portum
Auction Engine is built on industry standards like HTML,
HTTP, HTTPS, SSL, XML and COM+. The sys-tem architecture
is fully clustered and redundant with no single point
of failure. It is designed for and proven in practice
to handle thousands of con-current client requests. |
Analysis and Decision
| • |
Active
Chart: User-defined graphics provide a powerful
tool for reviewing the bids received. These charts include
all standard types offered by a spreadsheet application.
|
| • |
Bid
Matrix: The functionality of the bid matrix has
been enhanced to include address book information and
enable a quick overview of the auction outcome. The
matrix can also be used to monitor an auction that is
still in progress. |
| • |
Auction
Statistics: Useful for reviewing individual bidders’
behavior and other parameters. Statistics can also be
used to analyze an auction still in progress. |
| • |
Formula
Support for Multi-Position Auctions: The specific
formula used to calculate the total value of a bid for
an multi-position auction can be defined before the
event. In the simplest scenario, the individual items
are simply added up, but many more complex models are
available |
| • |
Weighted
Bidding: This feature is a special case of the
use of formulas. Before the auction, the initiator may
define percentage factors and increments or decrements
by which to adjust bids on a per-supplier basis. This
can be done in order to reflect additional factors (such
as established quality standards, references, etc.).
In a buying auction for example, any bid made by a supplier
whose track record is unclear may automatically be incremented
by a certain amount or percentage. This facility is
available both for single- and multi-position auctions.
|
| • |
Export
to Excel: Many functions of MS Excel™ are
now available without interrupting your web session
or the need to launch Excel straight away. If Excel
is installed on your system, you can analyze and/or
edit the data generated during an auction within a browser
window. From there, your data can also be saved in Excel
format for further work. |
Portum Online Auctions Benefits
| • |
Immediate cost
savings on product costs |
| • |
Short term cost savings
on process costs |
| • |
Efficient negotiation processes |
| • |
Documentation of your negotiation
processes |
| • |
Negotiation with a larger
number of suppliers |
| • |
Avoid the duplication of
work by recurrent purchasing procedures |
| • |
100% integration in all
Portum engines |
| • |
Review of total costs |
Negotiation Strategy Definition
| • |
Support more
than 100 different auctions formats |
| • |
Easily reusable and comprehensive
auction designs |
| • |
Adaptation of the negotiation
strategies to their Market and to their suppliers situations |
| • |
Supplier Bids can be weighted
with qualitative criteria or with a Bonus malus system
e.g. cost related to supplier changes |
Carrying Out Negotiations
| • |
Easy to use
GUI for initiator and suppliers (vital to the success
of your online negotiation) |
| • |
Monitoring of the development
of all biddding activity |
| • |
Direct view of all bids
made during negotiation |
| • |
Documented communication
with suppliers |
Bid Analysis
| • |
Graphical and
numerical analysis |
| • |
Export of all data to MS
Excel |
| • |
Online bid selection |
| • |
Predefined criteria define
price standards |
Auction Parameters
| • |
Single-Position
Auction, Multi-Position Auction, Multi-Lot Auction,
Multi-Round Auction |
| • |
Open/increasing/decreasing
bids |
| • |
Minimum bid difference can
be defined |
| • |
Maximum flexibility in terms
of information displayed (e.g., “Blind date”
auction format) |
Special Features
| • |
Formula support
|
| • |
Individual suppliers weighting
|
| • |
Multi-currency support
|
| • |
Partial selections possible
|
| • |
Sequential auctions |
|
|
 |
