Development of a Remote Silent Auction Management Module for Event-Centric SaaS Platforms

Existing event management SaaS platforms lack integrated solutions for managing silent auctions remotely, limiting supporter engagement to in-person events and reducing remote participation. Clients need a seamless, scalable system to facilitate virtual and hybrid silent auctions, allowing supporters to bid from anywhere without attending in person, thus expanding reach and increasing supporter contributions.

A technology-driven non-profit organization offering a SaaS platform that facilitates event planning, attendee engagement, social networking, and supporter management, aiming to expand its virtual event capabilities with auction features.

• Implement a comprehensive silent auction module that allows users to plan, set up, and manage remote silent auctions accessible via web and mobile platforms.
• Enable bidders to participate in auctions globally without attending in person, increasing potential bidder numbers and supporter engagement.
• Integrate auction item listing, bidding, and real-time updates with existing supporter management and payment reconciliation systems.
• Provide auction owners with tools to create detailed auction formats, add multiple items, and track auction performance and payments efficiently.
• Enhance user experience with intuitive interfaces for both auction organizers and bidders, supporting multiple auction formats and multiple causes.

• Auction creation interface with customizable details and multiple auction formats (free, ticketed, donation-led).
• Ability for auction owners to add, manage, and categorize multiple items per auction with images and descriptions.
• Bid management system allowing users to place, outbid, and track bids in real-time with email notifications.
• Support for remote participation, enabling bidders to join from anywhere globally without physical event attendance.
• Integration with existing CRM to capture bidder information, manage supporter relationships, and reconcile payments.
• Payment processing through a secure, reliable third-party gateway such as Stripe.
• Dashboard analytics for auction performance, bid activity, and revenue tracking.
• Support for flexible auction timelines, notifications, and outbid alerts to enhance bidder engagement.

• Existing supporter/customer relationship management system for bidder data synchronization
• Payment gateway API (e.g., Stripe) for processing transactions
• Notification services (email/SMS) for real-time bidder updates and reminders

• Scalability to support a growing number of remote bidders and concurrent auctions
• High performance with real-time bid updates and low latency
• Robust security measures for payment transactions and sensitive supporter data
• Achieve 99.9% uptime availability to ensure reliable access globally
• Responsive UI optimized for desktops and mobile devices

The implementation of a remote silent auction system is expected to significantly increase supporter participation by enabling remote bidding, expand audience reach, and boost auction revenue. Anticipated outcomes include a substantial rise in bidder engagement, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced supporter data management, leading to increased overall fundraising impact.