Streamlining Payments for the Auction Industry: How Newline is Making a Difference

In this feature, Newline highlights how integrated payment tools, specialist support and a deep understanding of the auction industry are helping businesses save time, cut costs and strengthen their operations.

Since 2023, Newline has been working with leading acquirers and payment service providers to make payments simpler, smarter and more cost-effective for auction businesses. By integrating payment solutions directly into the Newline Backoffice System (NAS), the company has helped customers reduce processing costs and introduced a range of tools that make managing payments easier than ever.

But this commitment to efficiency and innovation goes far beyond payments, it’s part of Newline’s wider mission to provide auctioneers with the software and support they need to run their businesses more effectively.

Supporting the Auction Industry for Over 30 Years

For more than three decades, Newline has been a trusted technology partner to auctioneers across the UK and beyond. Its powerful auction management software supports the full auction lifecycle - from catalogue creation, bidder registration and invoicing, through to post-sale reconciliation and reporting.

Designed specifically for the auction sector, the Newline Auction System brings together all areas of an auction business into one easy-to-use platform. It helps auctioneers save time on admin, improve communication with buyers and vendors and gain a clear overview of performance across their operations.

Whether customers are running live, timed or webcast auctions, Newline’s technology provides the flexibility and reliability needed to deliver a seamless experience for bidders, staff and clients alike.

Helping Customers Save Time and Money

In 2024, Newline strengthened its offering by welcoming Dan Bailey-Taylor as its in-house payment specialist. Dan works closely with customers to review their payment processes - from card processing fees to reconciliation - and identify opportunities for improvement.

One of the most common challenges he sees is the rising cost of card payments. Complex statements can make it difficult for businesses to spot rate increases, which is why Newline offers a no-cost, no-commitment payment health check. This service helps customers understand where savings can be made and how functionality can be improved.

Key areas of support include:

• Acquiring: Using a trusted network of partners to secure the best possible rates and pricing models.

• Terminals: Providing a range of modern, mobile-ready card terminals to suit different auction environments.

Today, Newline supports customers handling over £15 million in card payments every month, helping them achieve significant savings on processing fees. Its fully mobile terminals have also proved invaluable for customers running remote and on-farm sales, offering flexibility wherever their auctions take place.

Smarter Tools for Smoother Payments

Newline’s payment offering isn’t just about saving money, it’s about improving how payments are managed. The company’s suite of integrated and online payment tools is designed to make everyday processes faster, more efficient and easier for both staff and buyers:

• Integrated PayByLink: Enables secure payment links to be sent with invoices, individually or in bulk, directly from the Newline system.

• Integrated Reporting: Provides real-time visibility of payments made via PayByLink, with automatic invoice updates to remove the need for manual reconciliation.

• Online Portal: Offers additional tools such as a Virtual Terminal, detailed reporting and PayByLink functionality - ideal for businesses with multiple departments processing payments.

• Open Banking: Introduces instant, low-cost bank transfers with fixed rates - a simple, secure option for high-value transactions.

Customers are already seeing the benefits. In many cases, tasks that once took days of phone calls after a sale now take just hours, with the majority of payments made online through PayByLink. Payments are also being received faster thanks to the convenience of out-of-hours transactions and next-day settlement is helping auctioneers keep cash flow healthy.

A Partner Focused on Progress

Newline understands the challenges auctioneers face - from streamlining day-to-day admin to keeping costs under control. That’s why its technology is built to make every part of the auction process more efficient, from listing lots to processing payments and everything in between.

With a long-standing reputation for innovation, reliability and customer support, Newline continues to evolve its systems and services to meet the changing needs of the auction industry. The company remains committed to helping its customers succeed by providing practical tools that save time, reduce costs and deliver a smoother experience for all.

As Newline looks to the future, there are exciting plans to further enhance its payment capabilities, introduce new technology integrations and expand its services into additional markets - all with one clear goal: helping auction businesses operate with confidence and efficiency.

To find out more about Newline’s auction management and payment solutions, visit www.newlineasp.com.

To stay up to date with the latest industry insights and auction technology news, sign up to Auction News today.