Black Widow Imaging announced on Feb. 2 two major advances in their high-definition image capturing system that surrounds vehicles with digital cameras that can document conditions in ever-greater detail.

Advances to the software now enables the automated capturing of 17 high-definition images in seconds. An automated background replacement software enables Black Widow to remove and apply customizable image backgrounds in minutes making the vehicle the primary focus.

“These patent pending advancements allow our auction and dealers customers to deliver more, high-quality images of the vehicles they are trying to sell, faster to the market, said Jason Hauk, founder and CEO of Black Widow, in a news release. "It allows them to market their newly purchased inventory before the actual product arrives on their lot. The patent pending automated background replacement is the first in our industry.”

Demand for digital automated imaging services like Black Widow have soared due to labor shortages and the dramatic increase in online purchasing at the auctions. Labor shortages are forcing auctions and dealers to adopt products that streamline their inefficiencies.

Auctions using Black Widow are capturing previously missed revenue and labor savings by eliminating poor quality images and reducing the number of missed vehicle images. These auctions are seeing increases in revenue ranging from a few hundred thousand dollars to millions. Many auctions rely on their condition report (CR) writers to capture photos, whereas with Black Widow the auctions have removed the CR writer from capturing beauty shots and therefore have increased their CR writing output by up to 30%. This increase in condition report writer throughput not only reduces labor costs, but reduces the time to market by providing the online buyers more time to review the images and condition reports.

“For over a decade, we knew the game was going to change," Hauk said. "Auctions have needed to provide more transparency and accuracy of the vehicles to the dealer’s purchasing for the end consumer. It starts with capturing high quality images, but it is as much if not more about capturing loss revenue and savings that go straight to the bottom line by getting vehicles to the market faster. It’s time we give the employees at these dealers and auctions an automated tool that provides consistent results. Mobile devices are intended for viewing images of vehicles for sale, not capturing them.”

Headquartered in O’Fallon, Missouri, Black Widow offers auto auctions and dealers a drive-through camera system that captures multiple 4k high-definition images as well as 360-degree virtual tour inside and out within seconds.