Online reverse auctions
Reverse auction software for businesses
Your suppliers compete in real time and you simply award. No more rounds of calls and emails. Built in Spain and used by procurement teams in 11 countries.
Book a demo with a real purchaseTry your first auction on a success basis
What an auction looks like in ProcuOS
Five suppliers, a countdown and the best offer dropping live. During the auction you don’t have to do anything.
Accelerated simulation with fictitious data. Across 3,000+ real auctions run with ProcuOS, average savings are 17%.
What a reverse auction is and when to use it
Several invited suppliers bid down, in real time and within a set time window, for the same order. Each supplier sees their position and can improve their offer. When it closes, you award with all the information in front of you.
It works best when…
It replaces weeks of email or phone negotiation with a session of minutes or hours, fully traceable.
- The product or service can be clearly specified: raw materials, packaging, transport, maintenance, supplies, general services
- There are at least 3 or 4 suppliers able to meet that specification
- The purchase volume justifies preparing the negotiation
- You want an objective, auditable process that is easy to justify to management or auditors
It is not the best option when…
There are better tools for these cases, and ProcuOS includes them too.
- The supplier relationship is strategic and highly dependent
- The decision depends mainly on technical criteria that are hard to compare: a request for quotation (RFQ) with weighted criteria is a better fit
How time flies.
We started out running reverse auctions. We began as BidDown, software 100% dedicated to reverse auctions. Our customers asked us to also manage supplier qualification, requests for quotation, purchase orders and invoices, and that is how ProcuOS was born: BidDown’s complete procurement platform. Reverse auctions are still at its core, backed by more than 10 years of experience.
How it works in ProcuOS
From need to award in four steps, with nothing to install and at no cost to your suppliers. Your first auction is ready within 24-48 hours of our first meeting, and we prepare it together.
Define the purchase
Specifications, quantities, lots, starting price and rules: duration, automatic extensions and what each supplier can see.
Invite your suppliers
They join for free from their portal, with their documentation already qualified. You can run an RFQ first to decide who takes part.
Live auction
Suppliers bid down and see how the competition moves. You follow it live.
Compare and award
Ranking, savings against the starting price and the full bid history. The management report is generated with AI.
No risk
You win, we win
Getting started is free: no licence and no upfront cost. You pay a % of the savings you achieve in each auction, agreed with you based on purchase volume. If you don’t save, you pay nothing.
We review every purchase before accepting it on a success basis, to make sure the auction has room for savings. If it doesn’t fit, we tell you from the start.
Request your success-based auction
Tell us what you want to buy. We review every case and get back to you to confirm whether it fits a success-based model.
Every auction type, in one platform
We specialise in reverse auctions and cover every format, so you can choose the one that best fits each purchase.
The most common
Suppliers bid down until the auction closes.
Multi-criteria
Suppliers compete on score, not just price. Weight lead time, quality, payment terms or ESG criteria.
Fast with few suppliers
The price rises in steps and the first supplier to accept wins.
Maximum competitive pressure
Each supplier sees the current best price and decides whether to beat it.
More volume, better terms
Several lines in one event, or volume pooled across sites or group companies.
Results
Real data from auctions run with ProcuOS.
How to choose reverse auction software
There are three types of solution. The right one depends on the size of your procurement team and what you need beyond auctions.
| Type of solution | A good fit if… | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Large international source-to-pay suites | You are a large corporation with global processes and a team to implement it | Long projects, high licence and consulting costs |
| Auction-only tools | You run occasional auctions and don’t need to manage suppliers or orders | Suppliers, contracts and invoices stay outside, in spreadsheets or the ERP |
| Modular platform built around auctions: ProcuOS | You are a mid-sized or large company that wants to run auctions and also organise suppliers, quotes, orders and invoices | Start with auctions only and add modules when you need them |
Questions to ask any vendor
- Do my suppliers pay or have to register at a cost? With ProcuOS, no.
- Who sets up the first auction and onboards the suppliers?
- Can I start with auctions only and add modules later?
- Does it integrate with my ERP?
- Is it available in my suppliers’ language?
Built in Spain, used in 11 countries
ProcuOS is a Spanish platform built for procurement teams, with active customers in 11 countries.
English, Spanish and Catalan
Platform and supplier portal in three languages, for international teams and suppliers.
From any country
Your suppliers join from wherever they are: all they need is a browser, and it’s free for them.
Fully remote setup
We set up the platform with you, load your data and onboard your suppliers, wherever you are.
Strong in Spain and Latin America
If you buy in Spanish-speaking markets, your suppliers work in their own language.
Frequently asked questions
What is reverse auction software?
An online platform where several suppliers bid down in real time for the same order. The buyer sets the rules, follows the auction live and awards at the end with all the information.
How much can you save with a reverse auction?
Across more than 3,000 auctions run with ProcuOS, average savings have been 17% against the starting price. It depends on the category, the number of suppliers and how the negotiation is prepared.
What types of reverse auction are there?
The most common are the English reverse auction (bids go down until it closes), the weighted auction (suppliers compete on score, not just price), the Dutch auction (the price rises in steps and the first to accept wins) and the visible best price auction. ProcuOS supports all of them.
Do my suppliers have to pay or install anything?
No. They take part for free from their browser.
Is it legal and transparent for suppliers?
Yes. It is common practice in private procurement. Every supplier knows the rules before it starts and all bids are recorded.
How long does it take to get started?
Your first auction can be up and running within 24-48 hours of our first meeting. We prepare it together: we set up the platform and the purchase with you, and onboard your suppliers.
Can I work without paying for a licence?
Yes. You can work on a success basis: getting started is free, with no licence and no upfront cost. You only pay a % of the savings achieved in each auction, agreed with you based on purchase volume. If you don’t save, you pay nothing. You win, we win.
Can I use reverse auctions only?
Yes. ProcuOS is modular: you only pay for the modules you use, and you can add supplier qualification, RFQs, purchase orders or invoices later.
Does it work for companies outside Spain?
Yes. We have active customers in 11 countries, and the platform and supplier portal are available in English, Spanish and Catalan.
Does it integrate with my ERP?
Yes, via API, to sync suppliers and processes.
Complete your platform
ProcuOS is modular: combine the modules you need.
Run your next negotiation in minutes, not weeks
We show you ProcuOS with a real purchase from your company: we prepare a reverse auction with you and you see the result. Free demo, no commitment. And if you prefer, work on a success basis: getting started is free and you only pay if you save.