THE AA has signed a £1.5 million contract to upgrade its fleet management technology in one of the largest fleet software deals ever signed. Car Fleet Control will provide the new system to manage both the AA's 5,500 vehicles and the organisation's 29 workshops responsible for 90% of the AA's maintenance work.

Alistair Cheyne, the AA's director of operations, said the breakdown and recovery specialist had decided to replace its current fleet software because it was not millennium compliant, and did not link with the AA's other IT systems for accounting, personnel and accident management.

CFC will provide specially modified versions of its Windows 95 compatible Eurofleet software for fleet management and Workshop Manager for the AA's workshops. The AA expects the new IT to achieve a 5% improvement in productivity among its mechanics, who also service the vehicles of 500 corporate customers.