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Review: Daana Auctions

daanaSilent auctions have become a staple at fundraising events around the world. Now Daana has made it easier by introducing a tablet-based electronic tool designed to make bidding effortless. Guests at the events will bid on items through designated tablets found on their dinner tables and appointed tables throughout the event. With just a quick explanation and a "How-To" manual found on all the tablets, guests will be ready to bid for their favorite items- proceeds of which go to the nonprofit organization.


In Use
Daana has everything you need to run a successful silent auction at your next event. They provide demos for guests, lot items to be bid on, their own wifi system, and allocated tablets situated throughout the event. This allows the event coordinators to focus on other aspects of the night, leaving a Daana employee in charge of the auction.

Daana prides themselves on making the silent auction fun again. For nonprofits worried that the technology will take away from the night, Daana believes that it will do the exact opposite- intriguing donors and breaking the ice at the event as everyone watches intently to make sure they haven't been outbid.

Technology Employed
Daana provides all the technology that's needed. Whether it's their own WiFi network or the specific tablets used, the hosting organization does not need any specific technology to use Daana.

Ease of Use
Many nonprofits worry that Daana alienates their older donors who are not computer and technology savvy. In response, Daana has proclaimed that it's incredibly easy to use the tablets and there is even a very short demo at the beginning of the event to teach users how to navigate it.

Donors wishing to make a bid simply find their names on the tablet and enter in their four digit passcode that they create at the start of the night. They can then make their bid and watch the screen to discover which items are the highest sellers and which items they were outbidded on. This provides a fun environment throughout the night, making it easy and simple to put in a bid with the intentions of driving up the price of the items up for auction.

Recap
Daana has produced a method to make silent auctions not only more efficient for the hosts, but more entertaining for the guests participating. It amps up the antics when it comes to bidding on items, trashing talking your neighbor who may have just outbid you, and always staying up to date on how much that item you desperately want is going for. Not only has it been proven that nonprofit organizations that use Daana earn more money in their silent auctions, but it's easy to use and guests get more involved than they would with a regular pen and paper auction.

Advantages:
  • New and exciting way to have a silent auction
  • According to their website a nonprofit organization can typically see up to a 30% increase in their funds from silent auctions alone as opposed to doing it the old fashioned pen and paper way.
  • Technology is easy to use and requires just a 5 minute demo at the beginning of the night
  • Daana brings their own material from their own WiFi network, tablets, and lot items (if requested)
  • There is a Daana Technician and  Daana Event Coordinator on duty at every event incase something goes wrong
  • They do not charge a percentage of the money raised, instead they charge a flat rate depending on how many guests, location, venue, lot items etc.

  • Disadvantages:
  • Guests may feel alienated if they are unable to figure out how to use the tablets
  • Many guests may prefer the old fashion "pen and paper" way
  • What if network malfunctions or tablets don't work?
  • Tablets could distract guests from other entitles of the event such as speeches and raffles
  • The website is vague on how much Daana actually cost

  • Opinion
    I think it's about time that the silent auction gets revamped. Auctions are supposed to be thrilling and using the old fashioned "pen and paper" way can get a bit tedious and boring. Daana is particularly great for nonprofit organizations who are targeting younger donorship, who will be able to pick up the instructions effortlessly.

    Although there are some disadvantages to Daana such as distracting guests from the event or alienated others, I think that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Although malfunctions happen, Daana seems to be doing everything in their power to minimize it. They go above and beyond by bringing in their own WiFi networks as well as an Event Coordinator that is the go-to person for the entire event ensuring that whoever is running the event can focus on other aspects of the night.  

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    Danielle Loughnane

    Danielle Loughnane earned her B.F.A. in Creative Writing from Emerson College and has currently been working in the data science field since 2015. She is the author of a comic book entitled, “The Superhighs” and wrote a blog from 2011-2015 about working in the restaurant industry called, "Sir I Think You've Had Too Much.” In her spare time she likes reading graphic novels and snuggling with her dogs.

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