How it Works

Bring your auction house to the 21st century

The only all-in-one auction management system that unifies backend administration with front-end auction capabilities.

Concierge onboarding
Top-notch data security
Automatic data backups & recovery

Trusted by auction houses across the globe

How to run an in-room auction

From seamless buyer registration to real-time display and webcasting, Tandem provides auction managers with the tools to conduct live auctions effortlessly and professionally.

1. Assign a fixed paddle number for all auctions
Regular buyers can enjoy the convenience of a permanent paddle number for all auctions. No need to reshuffle the deck each time. Permanent paddle numbers streamlines registration and encourages loyalty.
2. Enhance in-room bidding with real-time displays
Use Chromecast to provide real-time display of live auctions in the room. Eliminate the need for portering lots and show the lot being offered, current bid, and next ask, making the auction more engaging and informative for attendees.
3. Provide auctioneers with sale sheets
Equip auctioneers with detailed, organized information on each lot. Sale sheets help manage the auction flow, ensuring that every item is presented accurately and bids are recorded correctly.
4. Seamlessly process bids from anywhere
Manage both in-room, phone, and online bids effectively. In-room bids, phone bids, and webcast bids update auctioneer's sale sheets instantly.
Photo of people at a live art auction

How to run an online auction

Whether it’s your first online auction or your 100th, Tandem makes managing online auctions seamless and hassle-free for auction managers.

1. Register new buyers
Assign paddle numbers for online bidders at registration. Tandem keeps track of all paddle numbers, both in-person and online, ensuring a smooth and organized bidding experience.
2. Watch the bids roll in
Keep buyers informed instantly about their bidding outcomes with notifications on won or lost bids. Absentee bids are managed to secure the best prices, while live stream integration allows real-time online bidding.
3. Close with batch processing
Streamline the end of your auctions. Tandem allows you to close auctions in batches, making the process more manageable and efficient for both bidders and auctioneers.
4. Negotiate lots below reserve
Print negotiation sheets, adjust commissions, and manage payments discreetly, maintaining flexibility and confidentiality in finalizing deals.
Photo of a black man hosting an online auction

How to manage inventory

See how Tandem simplifies the complexities of stock management, from item entry to final shipping.

1. Add hundreds of new items
Streamline the cataloging process with tools to schedule items, manage descriptions, and handle bulk image uploads. Fill in many fields in the same workflow, and then come back and edit or update any information about an item at any time.
2. Include consigned items
Add consigned items, set commission and insurance rates, and manage fees. Handle everything from vendor references, departments, categories, and reserves. Generate labels and attach relevant files as needed to keep your consignment process organized.
3. Assign to upcoming auctions
Seamlessly schedule items for upcoming sales, benefit from automated reserve adjustments for unsold lots, and enjoy the flexibility to split, merge, or transfer items as needed. This feature ensures your auction scheduling is both efficient and adaptable.
4. Handle post-auction logistics
Tandem even assists with the “last mile” of the auction process: collection and shipping. This feature ensures that buyers receive their purchased items promptly and securely.
Photo of a woman managing her auction stock

How to manage finances

Discover the joy of straightforward invoicing and flexible payment solutions tailored for the auction industry.

1. Set charges, commission rates, and premium fees
Streamline vendor fees with a single consignment charge, implement commission rates based on sale price, and tailor premium costs to each sale. You can also apply a standardized lotting fee for catalogue listings.
2. Accommodate diverse payment preferences
Tandem’s receipting system is designed to handle various payment methods, including deposits and split payments. This flexibility ensures a seamless financial experience for buyers, adapting to their payment needs.
3. Confidently meet payout regulations
Tandem’s pay-when-paid processing helps comply with payout regulations, reducing financial risks from unreliable buyers. This feature ensures secure and timely financial transactions, adhering to auction industry standards.
4. Offer both traditional and electronic payout methods
Choose between printing A4 preprinted and perforated cheques for vendors to bank or creating an electronic file for direct bank payee system imports. This flexibility caters to diverse vendor preferences and streamlines payment processes.
Photo of an auction house owner going over financial reports

Providing tech solutions to auction houses since 1997

See how we've changed workflows for clients around the world

I could not have grown my business as far or as efficiently without Tandem. Being fully online has opened doors I didn’t know existed. Having the stock management system integrated with the auction platform is seamless. The constant updates requested by all users add features not even thought about. I can always speak to a real person and the platforms do not break.
Man standing

Andrew Grigg

Owner, Cordy's Auction House

What makes Tandem so good is that it is integrated though out the auction process. From tracking initial consignment of goods to online auction deliver and dispatching of items, Tandem takes care of it all. If you are still trying to run your auction house while clicking through 2 different software programs then you need to change. We made this change 2 years ago and it has completely transformed the way we run our business.
Man standing

John More

Owner, Hayward's

In the fast paced world of technology, Tandem's system is professional, extremely user friendly, and one of the best investments we have made for our auction business.

Mandy Metzger

Owner, McElwain's Auctions

Ready to take a closer
look at Tandem?

Find out if Tandem is a good fit for you in just 30 minutes.

Concierge onboarding
Top-notch data security
Automatic data backups & recovery
Image of a woman hosting an online auction

FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions about our auction management system.

Can my team work from home?

You can access the back-office system from any internet connection, so it is quick and easy to work from home or out of the office.

Do I need to have an Android and iPhone app?

No, since 2017 all major web browsers on phones, tablets, and desktop computers can stream live audio and video so an app is no longer required.

How do my emails not get flagged as spam?

By verifying our servers as part of your official email configuration we can use tools such as SPF, DKIM, DMARC to let mail servers know to trust your emails.  If that sounds complicated, we can help...

What hardware do I need?

There is no software to install onto the computer, but the system does require a modern ever green web browser to operate, e.g. Microsoft Edge / Firefox / Chrome / Safari (Mac or iPad).

Can I import my existing data?

Yes, you can easily import buyer and vendor contact information from a spreadsheet or talk to us about importing historical auction data from different systems.

Can I use a mobile hotspot?

The system is cloud based and always requires a live internet connection.  While a 4G mobile data connection will provide access for a single user, a VDSL or Fibre connection is recommended when uploading images or for multiple users.

Can I export my data if I want to leave?

Yes, you can easily export the buyers, vendors, lots and financial data from each auction.

Can I keep running my in-room auctions or do I have to webcast?

You can get all the efficiency benefits while still running traditional in-room auctions with your preferred combination of absentee, in room and phone bidders.  The ability to attract a larger audience from online bidders at a webcast auction is only one step away when you are ready.

Still have questions?

Book a demo and get your questions answered

More reasons to love Tandem

Stock icon

Stock

See how Tandem simplifies the complexities of stock management, from item entry to final shipping.

Computer shopping cart icon

Online

Whether it’s your first online auction or your 100th, Tandem makes managing online auctions seamless and hassle-free for auction managers.

Live auction icon

Live

From seamless buyer registration to real-time display and webcasting, Tandem provides auction managers with the tools to conduct live auctions effortlessly and professionally.

Stacked coins icon

Financials

Discover the joy of straightforward invoicing and flexible payment solutions tailored for the auction industry.

Shopping bags icon

Buyers

From watch list alerts to seamless collection, Tandem makes bidding and buying easier than ever.

Vendor Management Icon

Vendors

Simplify vendor coordination and lean on automation to cut away the busywork.