The Dutch fish auction network EFICE opts for flexibility with KOSMOS

The Dutch EFICE – grouping Visveiling Urk (Urk/Harlingen), Zeeuwse Visveilingen (Breskens/Vlissingen) and Visafslag Lauwersoog – is the very first auction network switching to KOSMOS. The existing auction infrastructure has been maintained, but the migration from PC- to web-based applications enables the users to participate to the sale and to consult all relevant information in one platform in the cloud.

Thanks to their intensive cooperation with the different market participants – from fishermen to fish-processing companies – EFICE’s Dutch fish auctions have been in an extremely strong market position within the European fishing industry for many decades now. EFICE knows better than anyone else the needs of the fishing industry, which led to the request to replace the current PC-based auction system by a web-based trading platform. From this point of view, Aucxis developed KOSMOS, the system which enables all users within the fishing industry to consult all relevant information via a central web platform and to actively participate to the sale from any location in the world. 

“With KOSMOS we can add a second clock as long as necessary in case the supply volume requires it.” – Riekelt Kramer, CFO at EFICE

The real-time trading and information platform KOSMOS is currently operational for Urk and Lauwersoog; the conversion at the auction location Vlissingen is ongoing. The central KOSMOS platform seamlessly connects to the existing auction infrastructure, so in this case to the buyer galleries of the three locations.

Where did the need for a new sales system come from?

He explains: “Because of the market’s need for a web-based trading platform and the switch in the market supply from bulk to fine lots of fish, EFICE needed a flexible solution enabling to scale up to two clocks at Visveiling Urk, if necessary. Previously, we sold mainly large batches of plaice which could be auctioned very quickly. Even on a busy Monday with large amounts of supply, the lots have been sold by noon without any problem and the buyers could quickly start the transport and processing.”

“Over the years, our fishermen have changed en masse their fishing method: previously, they dragged nets over the seabed using much fuel. It was an expensive way of fishing which is – due to the fossil fuel emission – no longer justifiable. Due to the new, sustainable way of fishing, much smaller lots of other species arrive, for example 20 kg of gurnard per day. This is the reason why the auction process takes more time, which is detrimental to the price-making and the quality of the fish. KOSMOS enables to quickly add a second clock at Urk, as long as necessary.”

“The other big advantage of KOSMOS for our buyers is the centralisation of information in one digital platform, for, among others, supply, transactions, retrieving invoicing data and other reports.”

What do the buyers think about KOSMOS?

“In particular the fact that software installation is no longer required and that every user can purchase from any PC connected to the internet was very well received.

The buyers get to know the functionalities better and better: especially the prebid function gets much interest. Buyers come to the auction in the early morning to see the fish, after which they fill in their prebids and leave without waiting for the start of the auction. They can see then from their office whether they have won the desired lots and handle other matters in the meantime.

When – in the future – also the images of the current lot will be available during the sale, we expect that from then on many auction room buyers will also make their prebids from home.

Furthermore, as there are new fish species, we also expect to attract new buyers.”

Patrick Bauwens, E-Trade Business Unit Manager, concludes: “Obviously, the development of KOSMOS continues: we continuously keep a finger on the pulse of the market. We provide two KOSMOS updates per yeara better user experience: the auctioneer will still be able to adjust the lot information during the sale and to create transactions without running the clock. Of course, additional features will be added each time an update is launched.”