Why Shift Fundraisers to an Online Auction Platform
                     Why Shift Fundraisers to an Online 
Auction Platform
There is hardly any activity today that affects the daily lives of people that have not shifted to 
online platforms. Whether it is shopping, music, esports, or reading books, the Internet has 
become the preferred option.  
Given this way of life, it is not surprising that if you are planning a fundraiser, you will prefer to 
be on an online auction platform. However, it is not only the convenience factor that plays a 
role here. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to strict lockdowns and implementation of social 
distancing norms, pushing people gathering indoors at a place for any event to an online 
environment.
Here is the difference between a traditional event and one held on an online auction platform.
Traditional Auctions
These are events where large numbers of people are crammed into a venue, a scenario that 
regulators are discouraging now. A paddle-wielding auctioneer encourages the attendees to bid 
higher and higher amidst a lot of fun and excitement. 
The items are displayed on tables at the venue and after a quick inspection by the 
participants, the bidding is started and completed in a few hours depending on the 
number of items. There are several expenses incurred here like hiring a venue and an 
auctioneer and transporting the items from the donors and the sponsoring merchants.
Functioning of an online auction platform
The working of an online auction platform is completely different and is conducted 
through specialized websites that use advanced software to conduct the proceedings. 
The items are not displayed physically but only the photos are uploaded on the site. 
Registration of the participants is compulsory as the data is used for bidding and 
contacting them for payment and dispatch in case they are the winners of certain 
goods. Payment is through the gateways provided on the online auction platform. It is 
the responsibility of the organizers to arrange for shipping and delivery.
Bidding on an online auction platform
It is the convenience factor above everything else that motivates fundraisers to shift to 
an online auction platform. The best example is the bidding process. In traditional 
auctions, bidding is through people calling out the numbers but on an online auction 
platform, it is done on any Internet-enabled device like smartphones, tablets, or 
laptops.
When auction starts, participants can inspect the photos and bid for selected items 
through a device. After that, they do not have to follow or track the subsequent bids 
continuously. When their bid is crossed, a notification is sent to the mobile device with 
the option to either bid higher or drop out. Bidders can also set a target bid and a 
notification will be sent once the ceiling is reached after bidding by the others. 
The main advantage of an online auction platform is that bidders can be from any 
corner of the globe leading to higher bids and profit for the organizers.