Digital auction platform Adesa UK says the way defleeted cars are remarketed will undergo a paradigm shift from physical auctions to online when coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease.

It says it has already seen the early signs of the move from physical to digital in new and used car sales, and once businesses start reopening it expects this trend to accelerate.

Jonathan Holland, managing director of Adesa UK, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic will usher in far-reaching behavioural changes across all sectors with companies implementing new ways of conducting business as part of their return strategies.

“In remarketing we will see a paradigm shift with online viewed as the most expedient way to defleet, eliminating the multiple physical touchpoints encountered in the traditional auction process.”

He added: “Social distancing restrictions are likely to remain in place long after lockdown orders have expired, which may impact physical auction operations in the UK.

“Digital buyers can fully avoid congregating in busy auction halls when they can transact online from their businesses.

“Industry watchers have long talked about a future shift from physical to digital. We have already witnessed the early signs of this in new and used car sales and the high level of consumer activity online during the lockdown.

“Once businesses start reopening, we will see an acceleration of this trend with online remarketing emerging as the default choice of vendors and buyers.”

Adesa UK, a division of KAR Global, is a dedicated online vehicle remarketing provider for OEMs, fleet and leasing companies and dealers.

• See the June issue of Fleet News for a full interview with Jonathan Holland