VendorPlus AI Lotting Beta – AI-assisted Lotting in VendorPlus is currently in limited beta rollout, some features and options are currently in development.
Creating Items with Webtron AI Assistance
VendorPlus’ Mobile Cataloguing includes the option to have 3 of your Item’s photos analysed by AI, with the analysis results being used to populate your Item Title, Item Summary and Item Description. AI-assisted Cataloguing is optional and can be toggled off if you would like to manually catalogue your Items through VendorPlus.
(Optional) Setting a Lot Title
The first step in using Webtron’s AI Cataloguing tool is actually completely option. You can set a Lot Title before uploading your photos, or you can skip ahead to choosing your photos from your camera roll or taking new photos.
Setting a Lot Title will assist the AI in refining your generated Lot Title, Summary and Description, but if left empty, the AI will handle the Lot Title itself based on details it picks up in your photos, and the overall Title structure set in the Prompt you choose.
Choosing vs Taking your Item photos
Below the Lot Title field you’ll find the Upload Photos bar. Tapping on this bar will expose your smart device’s options for Choosing or Taking your Item’s photos.
On iOS Devices (iPhone, iPad), after tapping Upload Photos you’ll see these three options:
Photo Library – Tapping Photo Library will open your full Photo Library, this will contain any photos you have already taken with the Camera app.
Take Photo or Video – Tapping Take Photo or Video will open a simplified version of the iOS Camera app, enabling you to take a new photo right there and then.
Choose Files – Tapping Choose Files will open the Files app and enable you to choose photo files saved to your iCloud Drive.
On Android (Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, etc.) you may be prompted to allow your browser (Chrome, Samsung Browser etc.) to use the Camera, tap the top option.
After tapping Upload Photos you’ll see these three options:
Camera – Tapping Camera will open a simplified version of your Android device’s Camera app, enabling you to take a new photo right there and then.
Camera (Camcorder) – VendorPlus does not support adding videos via the Upload Photos option, ignore the Camera (Camcorder) option.
Files – Tapping Files will open the default Files app for Android. Files contains your full photo library, including photos saved to your Android device and Cloud Services, such as Google Photos and Google Drive.
Android Devices Note – All Screenshots and Screen Recordings in the Webtron Guide Base for Android devices were recorded using a Samsung Galaxy A50. Depending on Manufacturer and Android Version, the options available to you may appear differently.
Should you use your device’s Camera app or the Take Photo/Camera shortcut in VendorPlus?
First off, let’s clarify what we mean when we say Camera app or Take Photo/Camera shortcut. Your device’s Camera app is the Camera icon on your Home Screen.
This Camera app usually houses more advanced shooting features like the steady bar, Viewfinder grid and Exposure settings.
The Take Photo/Camera shortcut are the options that appear when you tap Upload Photos in VendorPlus. The Camera that pops up is a cut-down version of the Camera app available on your device, and will not save any photos you take to your device’s Camera Roll/Photos app.
When it comes to taking photos for VendorPlus Cataloguing (And even VP Photoapp Classic), there’s a few factors to consider when choosing whether to use your device’s Camera app or the Take Photo/Camera shortcut in VendorPlus:
Do you need a saved copy of your Item Photos? If yes, use your device’s Camera app. Due to limitations imposed by Android and iOS, any Photos taken with the Take Photo/Camera shortcut in VendorPlus are not saved locally to your device’s Camera Roll/Photos app.
Do you need to edit your Item Photos (crop, rotate, etc.)? If yes, use your device’s Camera app. Both the Take Photo shortcut in iOS and Camera shortcut in Android will only give you the option to upload you photo or retake it entirely, no edit options.
Are you in an area/location with poor 4G/5G Signal or slow WIFI? If yes, use your device’s Camera app. It is a far safer option to point and shoot, then catalogue with VendorPlus when you are in a location with steady cell signal or faster WIFI, as poor signal or loss of connection may result in your photos being lost.
VendorPlus Offline – VendorPlus requires a constant internet connection. If you are cataloguing your Auction in an area with poor signal or slow WIFI, we recommend taking your photos with your device’s Camera app, then use VendorPlus once you are in an area with consistent signal or stable WIFI.
Choosing 3 Photos for Webtron AI Analysis
The maximum number of photos that can be analysed by Webtron AI is 3. By default, VendorPlus will pre-select the first 3 photos that finish uploading first for AI Analysis. This is marked by the blue AI Badge at the top right of each pre-selected photo:
We’ll cover how to change which Photos you’d like analysed in the Webtron AI-Assisted Cataloguing guide, but as a general rule of thumb, we recommend selecting photos that are:
Framed evenly – Try to keep your phone level in either portrait or landscape orientation, this is especially helpful if the photo contains text for the AI to transcribe.
Well-lit – The AI may encounter difficulty identifying objects or transcribing text in your photo if the photo is too dark or underexposed. If your Item is in a dimly lit area or the photo is of a detail obscured by shadow, we recommend enabling your camera’s flash option.
Subject-centred – If multiple Items appear close together in a photo, the AI will attempt to distinguish each Item, but that may lead to double-ups in your generated Title and Description (the AI may combine two Items into one Description). If possible, try and clear some space around your Item and keep your Item centred in the frame when taking your photo.
As part of our Webtron Tips chapter, we have a few curated guides that may help you get the best out of your Smartphone or DSLR camera, click here if you’d like to open our Smartphone Camera Tips guide.
AI-assisted Cataloguing in VendorPlus Overview
VendorPlus AI Lotting Beta – AI-assisted Lotting in VendorPlus is currently in limited beta rollout, some features and options are currently in development.
Creating Items with Webtron AI Assistance
VendorPlus’ Mobile Cataloguing includes the option to have 3 of your Item’s photos analysed by AI, with the analysis results being used to populate your Item Title, Item Summary and Item Description. AI-assisted Cataloguing is optional and can be toggled off if you would like to manually catalogue your Items through VendorPlus.
(Optional) Setting a Lot Title
The first step in using Webtron’s AI Cataloguing tool is actually completely option. You can set a Lot Title before uploading your photos, or you can skip ahead to choosing your photos from your camera roll or taking new photos.
Setting a Lot Title will assist the AI in refining your generated Lot Title, Summary and Description, but if left empty, the AI will handle the Lot Title itself based on details it picks up in your photos, and the overall Title structure set in the Prompt you choose.
Choosing vs Taking your Item photos
Below the Lot Title field you’ll find the Upload Photos bar. Tapping on this bar will expose your smart device’s options for Choosing or Taking your Item’s photos.
On iOS Devices (iPhone, iPad), after tapping Upload Photos you’ll see these three options:
On Android (Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, etc.) you may be prompted to allow your browser (Chrome, Samsung Browser etc.) to use the Camera, tap the top option.
After tapping Upload Photos you’ll see these three options:
Android Devices Note – All Screenshots and Screen Recordings in the Webtron Guide Base for Android devices were recorded using a Samsung Galaxy A50. Depending on Manufacturer and Android Version, the options available to you may appear differently.
Should you use your device’s Camera app or the Take Photo/Camera shortcut in VendorPlus?
First off, let’s clarify what we mean when we say Camera app or Take Photo/Camera shortcut. Your device’s Camera app is the Camera icon on your Home Screen.
This Camera app usually houses more advanced shooting features like the steady bar, Viewfinder grid and Exposure settings.
The Take Photo/Camera shortcut are the options that appear when you tap Upload Photos in VendorPlus. The Camera that pops up is a cut-down version of the Camera app available on your device, and will not save any photos you take to your device’s Camera Roll/Photos app.
When it comes to taking photos for VendorPlus Cataloguing (And even VP Photoapp Classic), there’s a few factors to consider when choosing whether to use your device’s Camera app or the Take Photo/Camera shortcut in VendorPlus:
VendorPlus Offline – VendorPlus requires a constant internet connection. If you are cataloguing your Auction in an area with poor signal or slow WIFI, we recommend taking your photos with your device’s Camera app, then use VendorPlus once you are in an area with consistent signal or stable WIFI.
Choosing 3 Photos for Webtron AI Analysis
The maximum number of photos that can be analysed by Webtron AI is 3. By default, VendorPlus will pre-select the first 3 photos that finish uploading first for AI Analysis. This is marked by the blue AI Badge at the top right of each pre-selected photo:
We’ll cover how to change which Photos you’d like analysed in the Webtron AI-Assisted Cataloguing guide, but as a general rule of thumb, we recommend selecting photos that are:
As part of our Webtron Tips chapter, we have a few curated guides that may help you get the best out of your Smartphone or DSLR camera, click here if you’d like to open our Smartphone Camera Tips guide.