Designed a hybrid timed-then-live auction flow that boosted revenue, bidder engagement, and adoption while leveraging existing systems for rapid deployment.
Context
Auction platforms traditionally offer two types of auctions:
- Timed Auctions, where bidders place bids over a set period, with the highest bid at closing winning the item. These auctions provide flexibility but lack the excitement of real-time competition.
- Live Auctions, where bidding happens in real time, creating a dynamic and competitive atmosphere. While engaging, live auctions can limit bidder participation due to scheduling constraints.
Problem
Timed auctions attracted many bidders but often lacked last-minute competition, leading to lower final prices. Live auctions encouraged real-time engagement but limited participation to those available at a set time. As a result, auction houses missed revenue opportunities, and bidders were frustrated when they lost items without a chance to react. A solution was needed to drive competitive bidding while maintaining accessibility.
Solution
- Hybrid Auction Flow – Enabled a Timed Auction to transition into a Live Auction with a few backend adjustments and slight UI modifications.
- Real-Time Bid Alerts – Implemented instant alerts for bidders to re-engage in the live portion if they had previously placed a bid in the timed phase.
- Minimal User Disruption – Maintained the same familiar bidding interface, ensuring that both timed and live bidders experienced a consistent flow.
- Automatic Participation – Allowed bidders who placed timed bids to be automatically enrolled in the live phase, keeping engagement high without requiring additional actions.
- Quick Implementation & Scalability – Since the change leveraged existing auction mechanics, it was fast to deploy and required little ongoing maintenance, making it a cost-effective enhancement for auctioneers.
The Timed-Then-Live format increased auction revenue by 20% in some cases compared to standard timed auctions.
Bidders remained engaged longer, with a significant increase in final hammer prices due to competitive last-minute bidding.
The format was adopted by 40% of auctioneers within the first year, reinforcing its effectiveness.
