The Master Auctioneer

Shriram Automall hopes to create a transparent platform for adoption of fair practices.Despite mammoth use of equipment and commercial vehicles in India, the market for these products is highly unorganised as people are not aware of the global fleet management practices. Realising this need for a structured approach, Shriram Transport Finance Company has launched Shriram Automall India Ltd to create a transparent platform for the adoption of fair practices.Company layoutShriram Automall India Ltd (SAMIL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shriram Transport Finance Company (STFC), started its operations in 2011. The company pioneered the concept of an automall – a platform for buying and selling pre-owned industrial equipment through organised and transparent auctions. The company, headquartered in Delhi, has launched full-fledged automalls at Chennai, Baroda, Mumbai, Manesar, Aurangabad, Pathankot and Cuttack. All of these are strategically located on important highways and spread over 3-5 acre. With secure stockyards, convenient parking facilities and full-fledged service stations to refurbish old vehicles, they also offer finance and insurance facilities to their customers.Each of these automalls is a one-stop-shop that addresses the needs of buyers and sellers with utmost transparency. Customers can not only choose from a wide array of equipment and vehicles but also test, inspect and bid for the same. Besides automalls, the company also operates over 100 vehicle and equipment yards across 60 cities in the country. “We have been spearheading the buying and selling of pre-owned vehicles and equipment. Shriram has constantly been in the expansion mode, which will definitely be the mantra in the times to come. We are now planning to expand our market strength and volumes and launch two automalls, one each in Cuttack and Pathankot, this March. By the end of this year, we envisage 60 automalls across the nation,” avers Sameer Malhotra, CEO, SAMIL.Products offeredThe present product range auctioned by the company comprises four categories: commercial, transport, construction, and agricultural. More than 100 auctions are conducted in a month pan India. The company is also planning to add the auto category to its product range soon. Its customer base encompasses vehicles and equipment manufacturers, dealers, banks, finance companies and end users. Additionally, the online facility (www.samil.in/bids) offered by SAMIL is user-friendly and enables a customer to take informed buying or selling decisions.Digital touchAnother facility offered in Shriram Automall is the Shriram One Stop, a computerised touch-screen kiosk, which is akin to a virtual vehicle bazaar. It provides comprehensive information about all the vehicles available for sale, which is called Intranet selling. SAMIL’s refurbishment unit, New Look offers the facility and sells refurbished vehicles. New Look service stations are present in almost all their yards, and their services have immensely benefited the community. The total monthly transactions with these entire different modes amount to around 10,000 machines/vehicles.(Communication by the management of the company.)