CD Auction Group is expanding its remote sales programme to speed up the remarketing process for fleets and dealers.

The company, part of the SMH Group, now sees 20% of its sale volumes completed off-site and expects this figure to double in the next six months.

Andy Brown, managing director of CD Auction Group, said: “More traditional auction operators seem wedded to a large and expensive network of physical auctions.

“We believe that while physical auctions still have a part to play, it's about using the technology to provide the best and most cost-effective solution for the vendor and buyer.”

The auction company argues that remote sales offer a greener solution as the vehicle is placed in an online sale as soon as it is ready and in its most appropriate location.

One large daily rental company is defleeting its vehicles into an SMH site for refurbishment. It is then processed for sale, inspected and imaged before it is placed in a CD Auction sale.

Brown said: "We are seeing vehicles defleeted on a Tuesday, inspected on a Wednesday and sold on Thursday. The approach has clear financial benefits to all parties and provides a flexible supply chain that can move quickly to respond to market changes."

CD Auction estimates it is saving up to five vehicle movements from the defleet and remarketing process, which provides a greener approach. It has invested in its own technology platform that allows for vehicles to be inspected and sold from any location.

It plans to offer the service across the industry and is working work SMH group Inspection services and plans to work with third party inspect and collect services, refurbishment providers and logistics companies

The CD Auction platform is available from all SMH Group sites.