The Tea Board is set to launch a new web-based tea auction platform under the Build, Own and Operate (BOO) model, marking a significant transition in the conduct of tea auctions across the country, according to an advisory issued by the Tea Board.
Platform Details and Rollout Timeline
Developed by Tradeforge Technologies Pvt Ltd, the new platform will go live in Kolkata for Sale No. 27, scheduled to be held on June 30 and July 2 in Coonoor. The Tea Board has informed stakeholders that the portal will be extended to other auction centres from Sale No. 28 onwards.
Until further instructions, catalogue uploads for Sale No. 27 and subsequent auctions will continue on the existing NSEIT portal. The Tea Board has sought the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure a smooth rollout and successful migration to the new system.
Key Features and Differences
The primary objective of this migration, according to the Tea Board, is to ensure a more user-friendly interface, improved security, and greater cost-effectiveness. However, it is clarified that the existing auction mechanism and core functional processes will remain unchanged.
Industry sources told The Hindu BusinessLine that the new platform is entirely web-based, unlike the application-based NSEIT system that has been in use for several years. A trial run of the portal is already underway, and the platform is expected to become fully operational online by the end of July, subject to user acceptance and ease of operation.
| Feature | Existing NSEIT Platform | New Web-Based Platform (Tradeforge) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Application-based | Web-based |
| Service Provider | NSEIT | Tradeforge Technologies |
| Key Benefits | Functioning effectively | User-friendly interface, improved security, cost-effective |
| Auction Mechanism | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Rollout Status | Continues for Sale No. 27 catalogues | Launch from Sale No. 27 in Kolkata, phased extension |
Background and Selection of Tradeforge
While the NSEIT platform had been functioning effectively, the government decided to introduce a new service provider for conducting tea auctions. As a result, Kolkata-based Tradeforge Technologies was selected to develop and operate the new auction platform, sources said.
Stakeholder Reactions
Dhanjayan Krishnamurthy, president of The Nilgiri Bought Leaf Tea Manufacturers Association, expressed cautious optimism: "We have been assured by the Tea Board that the proposed web-based platform will be a replica of the existing Bharat auction system and that the recommendations of the Ramachandran Committee will be implemented in a phased manner. Accordingly, we look forward to the migration to the web-based platform and hope that the enhanced transparency and efficiency of the system will lead to better price realisation for producers."
What Sellers Need to Do
- Continue using the NSEIT portal for catalogue uploads until the Tea Board issues further instructions.
- Familiarise themselves with the new web-based platform during the trial phase to ensure a smooth transition.
- Monitor Tea Board advisories for updates on the rollout to their respective auction centres.
- Engage with platform training sessions if offered, to adapt to the user interface changes.
As the Tea Board moves forward with this digital transformation, stakeholders in the tea trade—from producers to brokers—should prepare for a new era of web-based auctioning that promises enhanced transparency and efficiency. The transition, while phased, represents a significant step in modernising India's tea auction system.
Sources:
