NAAA MAKES WHOLESALE INVENTORY SEARCH A 'MADE EASY' PROCESS

Courtesy NAAA

The National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) in conjunction with industry partners and with the full support of its members have agreed in principle to develop a single web portal in which licensed dealers may access the wholesale inventory of all association member auctions with a single login.

When the access portal idea was first discussed in October 2006 with then President, Tom Caruso and then President-Elect, Gregg Kobel, the NAAA leaders identified the industry need for access improvement and streamlining. Through market validation, and multiple resource feedback from industry leaders, a portal access concept was shortly developed. An NAAA Technology Task Force was then built with team members from major auction chains and independent auctions that have been exploring the unlimited possibilities of the access portal for approximately the last nine months. NAAA's objective is to have a working system in place and operational by 2008.

"Everyone has come together to explore this exciting opportunity," said Chuck Stepter, NAAA General Counsel and Technology Task Force Chair. "There have been many political and monetary issues considered in developing such a powerful tool, but the Task Force has agreed such a portal will be in the best interest of NAAA members' buyers and sellers."

Auction customers have been looking for a way to simplify the inventory search process. Currently, searching for a specific vehicle at a wholesale auction requires logging on to the web site of a specific auction or chain and having a unique login for each site. NAAA has the technological ability to have a single point.

John Rea, partner of Rea Brothers Mid-South Auto Auction and incoming NAAA President, has been on the Technology Task Force since the task force was first developed. "The major challenge we face is to provide our customers with an unparalleled central power search, while at the same time preserving unique proprietary mechanisms that will preserve the fierce competition in the marketplace," Rea said. Users will be able to do business with any NAAA member auction and will continue to enjoy the many services they provide to their customers.

Currently, subcommittees of the task force are working on the technical scope, specifications, and effective promotion of the project. The NAAA Board of Directors anticipates giving final approval to the project in early August. Several meetings have already been conducted with technology vendors which are familiar with the wholesale motor vehicle auction industry, and offer the preparedness to move quickly in making this project a reality.