Software Update 4/18/25

System Update – May 1, 2025

We just pushed a new batch of fixes and improvements related to the 4/18/25 update:

​✅ Live Now

• Removal Schedule view for affiliates is working again.

• Block Time option restored so affiliates can reserve chunks of their schedule.

• No-sale invoices now generate correctly.

• Appointment times no longer show in military format for bidders.

​🔜 Coming Next

• Let bidders cancel or reschedule their removal appointments on their own, based on settings set by the affiliate.  

• Clearer “Upcoming Removals” section on the bidder dashboard.

• More enhancements driven by your ongoing feedback.

Thanks for the steady stream of suggestions—the roadmap starts with you. Keep them coming!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for all the feedback and support this past week. To answer the most common questions, we’ve published two new AKB guides—“Shipping Requests from Buyers & Status Overview” and “Changing a Buyer’s Removal Appointment.” We’re also working through the suggestions you’ve shared and will release additional refinements soon.

Shipping Requests from Buyers and Status Overview.

How to Change a Buyers Removal Appointment

Hidden Address Feature

We have a number of bugs/issues that we plan on cleaning up the week of 4/28/25, including no-sale invoices, view appointment schedule page, and other requests based on the feedback we've received from both bidders and affiliates. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We’re excited to announce a set of new features going live on April, 18 2025 that are designed to streamline post-auction communication and removals for both affiliates and buyers.  

***We will hold an open Q&A Meeting on Thursday, April 17th from 3-4pm so affiliates can see it in real time and ask questions.

VIDEO RECORDING BELOW

---

Affiliate-Facing Enhancements

Required Removal Appointments for All Auctions
To ensure a consistent experience for buyers and simplify logistics for affiliates, appointments will now be required for all auction removals. Inconsistency creates confusion—this standardization removes that confusion and allows us to better educate new and old buyers.  The functionality of setting up appointments has been improved and included on the Edit Auction Page. 

Edit Auction Page – Mobile Friendly Redesign
The Edit Auction page has been updated with a responsive design, making it easier to manage auctions on your phone or tablet.  The functionality and inputs on the edit auction page are very similar.

Hidden Auction Address Option
You can now choose to hide the auction address until a specified time—perfect for residential auctions or when additional privacy is needed. You can select the time in which you want the hidden address to be revealed.

Additional Information Sections for Payment/Removal 
We've added a separate section for your Removal and Payment terms.  In these sections, you will want to explain your payment options (what payments you accept in person and/or online) and removal requirements (late fees, rescheduling fees).  All sections can be saved by as default for future auctions.   

The Payment/Removal/Shipping Terms will be prominent on the Manage Invoice page for each bidder:  

Simplified Shipping Requests
If all items on an invoice are shippable, buyers can now click a button to request shipping—cutting down on unnecessary back-and-forth communication.  This will be the first question bidders are asked on the Manage Invoice Page.

Bidder Notes
Affiliates and buyers can now exchange notes directly within the system on individual invoices. Notes can be marked as public or private.

---

Bidder-Facing Enhancements

Standardized Removal Process
Buyers will now be required to schedule a removal appointment for every auction. This will be clearly presented on their invoice page, along with a refreshed layout for better usability.

Easier Shipping Requests
If eligible, buyers can now quickly notify the affiliate of their desire to have items shipped—no need for separate emails or calls.

Intuitive Process

The new Manage Invoice page provides buyers with a clear and streamlined experience—they’ll know exactly what’s expected of them.

• Any Bidder Supplied Information, like vehicle registration forms, will be clearly displayed on this page.

• Buyers will receive automated reminders to schedule an appointment or to confirm upcoming appointments they’ve already made.

This update is designed to reduce confusion, minimize back-and-forth communication, and improve the overall post-auction experience for everyone involved.

---

Best Practices for Affiliates

Appointments

We understand that not all affiliates have used the appointment feature in the past. However, we strongly believe that consistent use will lead to a more streamlined and efficient removal process for both buyers and affiliates.

• You can still create 1-hour windows with a high number of available appointment slots, but we encourage experimenting with more structured appointment blocks.

• If you've previously handled appointments outside of the platform, consider setting a shorter window and including detailed instructions in the Removal Notes on how buyers should communicate with you.

We’ll be promoting appointment scheduling to bidders as we approach the rollout and will update our bidder education and onboarding materials accordingly.

Tip: If a buyer arrives without an appointment, kindly explain the benefits of scheduling in advance. If others with appointments are waiting, please prioritize them first before assisting walk-ins.

---

Shipping

Clear and accurate designation of shippable items is more important than ever.

• When you mark an item as "shippable," it is assumed that the buyer does not need to coordinate shipping—you’ll handle it.

• In order for the shipping button to appear on an invoice, all items on that invoice must be marked as shippable.

To help coordinate shipments:

• A buyer data export is available in the Invoice List, making it easy to communicate with those who have requested shipping.

• This is especially useful for affiliates using third-party shipping services like Shipping Saint or others.

Important: Buyer information provided in shipping reports is for shipping purposes only. Per our Terms of Service, this data may not be used for marketing or added to email lists.

---

What’s Next

We’re actively listening to feedback and continuously improving this process. The data gathered from shipping requests will:

• Enhance the experience for both bidders and affiliates

• Help us make smarter marketing decisions

• Improve overall auction efficiency

In the future, we'd love to accomodate more shipping functionalities:

• Secondary shipping invoices

• Automated shipping status updates and communication 

Improved Communications:

• These updates are designed to be intuitive and reduce the amount of time affiliates spend communicating post-auction. As always, our goal is to make the auction process as seamless and efficient as possible for everyone involved.

Let us know if you have any questions!