Website Integration
Connecting Your Auction Website with Auction Suite One
Auction Suite One (AS1) integrates your auction house website with your internal management system, allowing information to flow between your online services and back-office operations.
From customer registrations and auction catalogues to commission bids, invoices and payments, website integration reduces manual data entry and helps maintain consistent information across both platforms.
Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, AS1 provides a central system for managing auction operations while giving buyers and vendors convenient access to information and services through your website.
Customer Registration & Account Management
Online Buyer Registration
Customers can create accounts directly through your auction website, entering their contact details and other required information.
New registrations automatically generate buyer records in Auction Suite One, while subsequent changes to customer details are synchronised between the website and AS1. This reduces administrative work and helps keep customer records up to date.
Personalised Customer Dashboard
A dedicated My Account area allows customers to access their auction-related information and manage their interactions with your auction house.
Depending on the website configuration, customers can:
- View and update their personal details
- Access pre-sale and post-sale advice
- Review invoices and vendor statements
- Monitor commission bids and bidding activity
- Download relevant documents
- Pay outstanding invoices online
Auction Catalogue Integration
Publish and Maintain Auction Catalogues
Auction Suite One allows auction houses to publish upcoming sales and detailed lot information directly to their integrated website.
Catalogue information can include:
- Lot descriptions, categories and estimates
- Multiple photographs and condition reports
- Featured lots and auction details
- Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) indicators
- Export remarks and additional lot attributes
Changes made within AS1 can be reflected on the website, helping ensure that customers have access to current catalogue information without requiring staff to update the same details in multiple systems.
Online Commission Bids
Customers can submit commission bids through your auction website, with bid information transferred directly into Auction Suite One.
Bids entered or amended internally can also be synchronised with the website, allowing customers to review their bidding instructions through their online accounts.
This integration helps auction staff manage commission bids from a central system and reduces the need to manually transfer instructions received online.
Invoices & Online Payments
Following an auction, buyer invoices can be made available through the customer’s online account.
Customers can review their purchases, download invoices in PDF format and settle outstanding balances using an integrated payment gateway.
Payment information is transferred back to Auction Suite One, where transactions can be recorded against the relevant customer accounts, including applicable payment surcharges.
This provides a more convenient payment process for buyers while reducing manual payment administration for the auction house.
Condition Report Requests
Website visitors can request condition reports for individual lots directly from the online catalogue.
Requests are automatically recorded in AS1 and can be assigned to the appropriate valuer for review. Once the report has been prepared or additional images have been uploaded, customers can be notified that the information is available.
This gives staff a structured process for handling enquiries and helps customers receive the information they need before bidding.
Online Valuation Enquiries
Auction Suite One supports the management of valuation requests submitted through your website.
Customers can provide item descriptions, photographs and relevant details, which are transferred into AS1 for assessment.
Valuers can review enquiries, prepare valuations and manage subsequent correspondence within the system. Where appropriate, an accepted valuation can be linked to a future auction or converted into a consignment.
This allows valuation enquiries received online to become part of the auction house’s existing operational workflow.
Customer Screening Integration
Website integration can support connections with external screening providers for customer verification and compliance checks.
Buyer and vendor information can be submitted for screening, helping auction houses assess potential risks and meet applicable Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements.
Screening results and relevant alerts can then support internal compliance procedures, subject to the capabilities of the selected provider.
Benefits of Website Integration
By connecting your website with Auction Suite One, your auction house can reduce repetitive administration and provide customers with easier access to online services.
- Consistent Information: Keep customer records, catalogue details and auction transactions aligned across systems.
- Reduced Manual Entry: Transfer registrations, bids, enquiries and payments without repeatedly entering the same information.
- Improved Customer Access: Allow buyers and vendors to view documents, manage accounts and access auction services online.
- Better Operational Visibility: Maintain auction-related information within a central management and accounting environment.
Website functionality depends on the website provider, integration configuration and supported services. Full integration is currently provided in collaboration with Auction Marketer.
