Manual auctions were replaced by an electronic auction system at the Tobacco Board platform reports the website Business Standard.

Tobacco Board chairman Suresh Babu said e-auctions would be introduced on all platforms in two phases. In the first phase, e-auctions will be set up on all platforms in Karnataka in the ensuing (2008) auction season and all platforms in Andhra Pradesh in the 2009 season.
In e-auctions, buyers inspect tobacco bales and evaluate their quality, physical and chemical characteristics such as the tobacco leaves' aroma, moisture, texture, and body before bidding. To facilitate this exercise, the board provides hand-held terminals in wireless networking environment. Auction details are displayed on a large LCD screen for farmers.
The project is piloted by Cranes Software International, Bangalore, which provides software for the core auction process as well as 30 hand-held terminals. (pi)