Investigative study on electronic auctions in Sudan

Abstract

This study describes the mechanism of marketing of auction companies in Sudan (in Khartoum state); all auction companies in Sudan are using one bidding mechanism in all cases, which is an English auction bidding mechanism. However the study displayed how that auction companies are using the modern techniques (such as computers, internet, smart cards, and electronic cheques); we found just about 20% of these companies are using some of these techniques. Furthermore the study display the limitation of e-auction in Sudan, first of this limitation is infrastructure, weakness of technical culture, lack of support, lack of experience and research, e-payment, and legislations. The case study of this research highlights the best practices for designing and building a generalized web-based auction system using UML (Unified Model Language) suitable to Auction Company in a local market in Sudan. We use the Use Case, Class, Sequence, and Activity Diagrams offered by UML for designing the system. Finally, the study recommends auction companies in local market in Sudan to adopt and uses e-auction system that will be expand the local market place from national to international markets.