The UK’s first online vehicle auction platform, Manheim's Simulcast, has expanded with a mobile version.

It was launched to the industry on Monday, almost two years after it was first used by Manheim's USA business.

Simulcast’s latest version allows buyers to open multiple sales from different auction centres from one single platform, providing them with the ability to use either their desktop or, uniquely to Manheim, smart phone or mobile tablets, to both view and bid on multiple live auctions at the same time.

There has been a consistent year-on-year rise in online bidding since Simulcast was launched in 2004.

Results of the first sale with the new Simulcast platform, which took place at Manheim’s Leeds commercial vehicle branch on Monday, showed that compared to the same sale last week, overall sale conversions were up by nearly 25% and the online sales value was up by 20%.

Initial figures also show that, compared to last week’s sale, there was a 145% increase in online buyers. There was also a 31% increase in the overall number of online bids made and a 46% increase in the number of vehicles that received an online bid.

The new Simulcast will roll out to auctions across Manheim’s 17 centres over the next few weeks.

John Bailey, chief executive at Manheim, said: “There has been a significant change in the way in which vehicles are now sourced, with online auctions rising in popularity. As we become a more mobile society, the expectation is for business to be conducted in as many locations as possible simultaneously in order to make the most effective use of time.

"The new Simulcast allows buyers to do just that, accessing multiple sales from different centres in one single platform. For example, with new Simulcast, a buyer could be attending one physical auction while bidding on vehicles in a couple of other sales at the same time on their mobile phone or tablet device.”