Digital auction sales are expected to grow beyond the coronavirus crisis, with one of the biggest centres launching an enhanced online operation.

The Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ (ANM) Group based at Thainstone, introduced it’s new online hub – www.thainstoneonline.co.uk – this week, as the firm progresses towards a future featuring greater digital services for members and customers.

This new digital provision boasts real-time bidding, not just for livestock sales, but also for machinery, vehicles and other equipment through the Thainstone Specialist Auctions platform.

The service complements the private online sales platform launched this year by ANM’s auctioneers in partnership with SellMyLivestock.co.uk.

Access restrictions imposed to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 mean that only buyers are currently allowed around the live ring as livestock sales take place, and no buyers are currently permitted to be in attendance at vehicle and machinery sales.

However, interest is being boosted significantly by a growing number of online buyers, who are bidding remotely during live online sales.

The live online sales offer ensures that the sector continues to benefit from the competitiveness and transparency that only selling using the auction process can provide, whilst also ensuring that public health demands surrounding social distancing are met.

ANM Group chief executive, rant Rogerson,said: “We have for a long time been market-leaders in staging online sales and were the first mart in Scotland to offer live online bidding for livestock.

“It was always our intention to expand this side of our business, having hosted live online auctions for plant, machinery and vehicles for over a decade. The understandable restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic have, however, encouraged us to accelerate our plans.

“We are in no doubt that the resilient trade we have seen across all classes of stock has been helped by live streaming, which has meant that not only buyers can bid remotely but that sellers have been able to see their stock through the ring,” he said.

Mr Rogerson added that the online bidding facility has been vital in ensuring that marts have been able to deliver for their members and customers during the peak selling season, while also having public health at the forefront of our minds.

Furthermore, he said increasing numbers of people are seeing the advantages of trading online.

It gives them the opportunity to benefit from the fairness and transparency of the live ring without physically having to be there and is the only price discovery mechanism guaranteeing true value on the day which serves as a benchmark for all.