KAR Global won the Pandemic Pivot of the Year award for large enterprises during TechPoint’s 22nd annual Mira Awards gala honoring the best of tech in Indiana. KAR Global powers the world’s greatest digital marketplaces for used vehicles, through and easy-to-use, end-to-end platform.

When the pandemic hit, KAR Global voluntarily shuttered its 70+ auction locations to protect customers, employees and communities. With the sudden need to pivot, KAR leap-frogged its own product roadmap by months and in some areas by years, and within two weeks launched its fully-automated, auctioneerless sales platform called Simulcast+.

The Mira Awards judges noted that it was KAR’s significant investments in people, especially tech talent, prior to the pandemic that set the company up for such a dramatic shift in its operations. The first-of-its-kind Simulcast+ platform has proved so durable and effective that by August of 2020, KAR announced it would be sticking with its 100% digital marketplace even after the pandemic, with no plans to return to physical auctions.

TechPoint, the nonprofit, industry-led growth accelerator for Indiana’s tech ecosystem, honored the successes and innovation of Indiana people, places, companies and products during the 22nd annual and second virtual Mira Awards gala with presenting sponsor Salesforce.

WATCH RECORDING OF FULL EVENT BROADCAST

A total of 16 award winners and honorees were chosen from the 122 outstanding people, places companies and products that were selected as nominees for their achievements during the 2020 calendar year. Fifty-two independent, volunteer judges spent more than 850 total hours evaluating applications, interviewing nominees, and selecting this year’s winners. Judges included an impressive roster of company founders, CEOs and presidents, CTOs, CIOs, engineers and other industry professionals. 

SEE ALL 2021 MIRA AWARD WINNERS

The Mira Awards are named after the first of the brilliant variable stars to be discovered – the Mira Star. It is also the Latin root meaning “worthy of admiration, wonderful, marvelous.” The awards represent the best of tech in Indiana each year.

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