Mobitel, John Keells launch mAuction platform for tea industry

Thursday, 26 March 2015 00:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Mobitel in partnership with John Keells Plc officially launched mAuction, an IT solution designed to link buyers and sellers at the Colombo Tea Auction onto a single platform. Conceptualised by commodity broking arm of John Keells and developed by Mobitel Business Solutions, mAuction provides users with a live channel that captures and delivers real-time sales information from each auction room to create a transparent flow of data allowing buyers and sellers to take informed decisions and improve process efficiencies.

“We believe that technology can be disruptive and this can be used to reinvent processes beyond what is currently conceivable The mAuction is an innovative IT solution that facilitates collaboration at different stages of the auction and we believe this innovation will help to improve efficiency and productivity in our tea industry as it continues to develop. We are gearing ourselves to fulfil not only the current but future requirements of this industry using our insight, knowledge and we are happy to have the ideal partner in Mobitel with whom we can provide the combined leadership necessary to take this solution to the wider industry. ” John Keells CEO, Sudath Munasinghe stated. Notably, the scope of the system, which currently covers data prior, during and after the auction for buyers and sellers, is also planned to be expanded to tea producers as well, while the mAuction platform will be offered to all participants in the Colombo Tea Auction on a free trial basis. While the mobile application used by brokers requires an Apple iPad for use on the iOS platform, the back-end of the system operates on an HTML format, only requiring an internet enabled device for its operation while the common back-end for both buyers and brokers will be managed and operated by Mobitel itself. Prior to auction, buyers can use the system to pre-mark lots of interest together with target prices, potential standards to which lots are likely to be assigned, and relevant commentary to support the purchase decision. At the auction itself, buyers can update the system with data captured by each broker and based on the data received, allowing the system to provide a summary of purchases, averages and further purchase requirements. Upon completing the auction, the requisite data from both brokers and buyers’ back office systems can be seamlessly exchanged allowing tea buyers to follow the live auction from anywhere on any device with a browser and an internet connection. “Using the mAuction platform, buyers and sellers can update sales information at the speed of auction and this information is automatically fed into the mAuction viewer allowing management to take a consolidated view of every auction from their head office in real-time. This will help them to make informed decisions using up-to-date information and we believe this will revolutionize the manner in which tea auctions are carried out in future.” Mobitel Business Solutions Manager, Vajira De Silva explained. Pix by – Daminda Harsha Perera