---
title: "AES Suite 12.0"
description: "Released March 30, 2026. Households replace associations, automated guest invites, household check-in, improved grids, charging unpaid balances."
url: "https://help.aesauctions.com/article/xv2crp7r13-aes-suite-12-0"
category: "Release Notes"
updated_at: "2026-10-30T02:29:26Z"
---

# AES Suite 12.0

### **AES Software Suite**

**Version 12.0**

**Release Date: March 30, 2026**

### Overview

AES Software Suite 12.0 delivers major improvements to how you manage contributors, events, and data collection. This release focuses on automation, better data quality, and streamlined workflows.

- **Enhanced data management** with improved viewing, organizing, and export capabilities
- **Automated ticket distribution** for table hosts via email and text
- **Customizable reminder system** with recurring ticketing notifications
- **Streamlined household and group management**

### Households Replace Associations

The new **Household** system replaces the previous bidder number association method. This change improves both contributor and administrator experiences by providing better control over shared accounts, purchases, bids, and payments.

[ARTICLE: Contributor Households](/article/ct7aso0918-households)

### Enhanced Group Management

Group management now offers greater visibility and administrative control. While groups serve various purposes like organizing fundraising teams, the primary use case remains managing event attendees when hosts purchase multiple tickets for guests.

[ARTICLE: Contributor Groups](/article/81d7qqwy9k-groups)

### Host Control Over Guest Information

Hosts now have more flexibility in when they can edit guest names and send ticket invitations, giving you better control over the ticketing process.

[ARTICLE: Allowing Hosts to Update Guest Names Later](/article/nbwapqaepy-allowing-hosts-to-update-guest-names-later)

### Automated Guest Invites (RSVPs)

The new automated ticket assignment and RSVP system sends immediate and recurring notifications to guests. This encourages guests to accept tickets and complete profiles before arrival, improving data quality and reducing check-in workload.

[ARTICLE: Guest Invites (RSVPs)](/article/aqkxje50lz-guest-invites-rsvps)

### Flexible Bidder Numbers in Households

Household members can now either share the same bidder number or have individual numbers. This flexibility supports various use cases, particularly when pre-printing bidder paddles.

[ARTICLE: Bidder Numbers Within Households](/article/ctgieiragk-bidder-numbers-within-households)

### Improved Grid Controls

All grid controls have been enhanced to provide better data viewing, organization, and export capabilities.

[ARTICLE: Grid Controls](/article/8j82s86udb-grid-controls)

### Household-Enabled Check-In

#### Express Check-In

Express check-in now supports the new Household system for faster self-service.

[ARTICLE: Express Check-In for Households](/article/odty1f9b4v-express-check-in-for-households)

#### Staffed Check-In

The Event Manager check-in screen has been redesigned to allow staff to check in entire households simultaneously.

[ARTICLE: Staffed Check-In for Households](/article/kjfgh8il8q-staffed-check-in-for-households)

### Bid Paddle Printing Options

Choose from two printing approaches based on your event needs:

- **One paddle per person** – Best for paddle drops or when collecting paddles after live auctions
- **One paddle per bidder number** – Efficient for shared bidding when households have the same bidder number and table

[ARTICLE: Bid Paddle Printing for Households](/article/w4vbq7cwus-bid-paddle-printing-for-households)

### Updated Reporting

#### Custom Report Generator

Multiple reporting entities now support the new household and group structure.

**Updated entities:** Contributors, Bids, Sales, Donations, Payments

**Changes:**

- Removed association-related columns
- Added household columns: Household Name, Is Billing (T/F)
- Added group columns: Group Name, Is Host (T/F)

#### Invoice Summary

Invoice summaries now reflect household structure. Each household generates one section containing contact information for all members.

![](https://files.helpdocs.io/va4glpkhhk/uploads/1774651585585/image.png)

#### Receipts

Each household receives one consolidated receipt showing the billing contact's information in the header and all household purchases and payments.

![](https://files.helpdocs.io/va4glpkhhk/uploads/1774651585778/image.png)

**To change the billing contact:**

- **Option 1:** Auction Conductor > Contributors > Open household > Edit billing contact > Save
- **Option 2:** Event Manager > Check-Out > Open checkout details > Click "Switch Billing"

![](https://files.helpdocs.io/va4glpkhhk/uploads/1774651585967/image.png)

### API Updates

Several API changes support the new household system.

#### Affected Endpoints

- **getContributors:** Returns all contributors for an event
- **getActivity:** Provides contributor activity including sales and payment data
- **Webhooks:** Sends data when users complete ticketing checkout

#### Response Changes

**Removed:** *primary\_contributor\_id*

**Added:**

- *group\_id:* Group identifier (nullable)
- *household\_name:* Household text identifier (nullable)
- *household\_id:* Household numerical identifier (nullable)
- *is\_billing:* Boolean for billing contact status (nullable, returns "true" if no household assigned)

**Example response:**  
"group": "**Smith, John**",  
"group\_id": **67,**  
"is\_host": true,  
"household": **"The Smith Family"**,  
"household\_id": **37**,  
"is\_billing": true

### Automated Household Charging

Automatically charge credit cards for contributors with unpaid balances after your event ends. This feature is especially useful for early departures or unused self-checkout links.

Access this feature: Payments tab > **Apply to Accounts**

![](https://files.helpdocs.io/va4glpkhhk/uploads/1774651586398/image.png)

#### Card Selection Process

The system selects one card per individual contributor or one per household.

**Selection priority:**

1. Billing contact's card (first priority)
2. Most recently used card from other household members
3. Preferred cards always take priority over other saved cards

This process creates PENDING charges requiring manual submission. Always review pending charges before processing. If the wrong card was selected, delete the pending payment and process the correct card through the Contributor Detail screen.

### Data Tools Updates

Some data tools (Setup > Data Tools) are affected by household and group changes.

- **Copying Contributors:** Contributors copy without groups, households, contributor types, or affiliations since these are event-specific

### Data Quality Enhancements

- **Credit card attribution:** Sales correctly attribute to card owners at checkout, eliminating sync conflicts
- **Complete billing addresses:** Self-checkout now requires full billing addresses for all payments

In the mobile bidding app, checkout verifies contact information completeness based on your "data required to complete registration" settings.

![](https://files.helpdocs.io/va4glpkhhk/uploads/1774651586558/image.png)

Users must complete missing required fields before proceeding to checkout.

![](https://files.helpdocs.io/va4glpkhhk/uploads/1774651586737/image.png)

### Additional Changes

- "Reassign Bidder Numbers" moved from Contributors screen to Setup > Data Tools in Auction Conductor

### Bug Fixes

- Fixed mobile bidding app bug that showed unpublished packages in search results