Although the auction allocation process runs continuously, there is no need for you to be directly involved at all times. Your agent can work automatically when you configure its quantity and value fields. Your agent communicates with the seller’s agent on a Merkato platform called the Garage. (The Garage is Merkato’s name for auction services it runs from a remote server.)
Once you configure your agent, you can change valuations from your PC using a Java-based application, or communicate remotely with your agent as it bids from the Garage.
Running the agent on your PC desktop and operating a remote agent each has advantages. On your PC, the Merkato desktop display gives you real-time information about the auction and its participants. If you are not interacting with the agent, you can configure it and upload it to the garage. It will continue to run, and you avoid the chance of halting the auction if your PC crashes or you have network connectivity problems.