The Prince's Trust
"IML’s software enabled us to hold a silent auction that could
not otherwise have gone ahead. The immediacy of the technology
created a competitive atmosphere as guests were able to respond
quickly to the bidding process. Keeping them constantly updated on
the current highest bid generated even more bidding, as they could
see when someone else outbid them."
Cathy Brannon, Donor Development Manager.
Client brief
The Prince's Trust approached IML to develop interactive
software that would enable them to hold a discreet and efficient
silent auction during their annual charity dinner.
"It was absolutely crucial that the auction took place
discreetly. We couldn’t use the traditional paper-based approach,
as it requires guests to leave their seats. We needed a solution
that would enable our guests to place instant bids on items whilst
they sat at their tables."
Cathy Brannon, Donor Development Manager, The Prince’s
Trust.
Event
420 dinner guests used IML’s Communicator keypads to scroll
through 12 lots and select the item they wanted to bid on. The
Communicator displayed the current highest bid for each lot,
alongside a brief description of the item to ensure that guests
were bidding on the lot they wanted.
When guests entered their bids into the Communicator, they
received a message confirming that they held the highest bid. Other
guests were then automatically updated with the new leading
bid.
“The immediacy of IML’s technology created a competitive
atmosphere as guests were able to respond quickly to the bidding
process. Keeping them constantly updated on the current
highest bid generated even more bidding, as they could see when
someone else outbid them."
Cathy Brannon, Donor Development Manager, The Prince’s
Trust.
Guests were able to monitor their lots and re-bid on items
without having to leave their seats. This convenience, combined
with the immediacy of the technology, encouraged competitive
bidding, thereby increasing the value of the lots and the revenue
raised for the charity.
A grand total of all the money raised from the evening was
continuously updated as bidding increased, enabling guests to see
how close The Prince’s Trust was to reaching their target
amount.
Identification
Bidding guests were identified using IML’s Smartcard
technology.
Prior to the auction, guests were issued with personal
Smartcards that stored their identity. The Communicator was
activated by inserting the Smartcard, which linked guests to their
bids.
Benefits
IML’s Silent Auction software instantly collates information,
eliminating the need for administrative staff on site.
A detailed audit trail is also available, enabling any part of
the auction process to undergo detailed scrutiny.