THE fleet industry took a massive step towards the adoption of e-commerce and electronic invoicing this week when major new supporters emerged for the two leading systems, OASIS and Translease. Four of the UK's largest contract hire companies - Arriva Automotive Solutions, Dial Contracts, Swan National and Lease Plan - have announced they will use OASIS for service, maintenance and repair invoicing.

They manage more than 250,000 vehicles between them and are part of a 'G6' consortium whose two other members - Cendant Business Answers (parent of PHH) and Lex Vehicle Leasing, responsible for 430,000 vehicles - have also pledged respectively to trial the OASIS system and work with OASIS on future e-commerce developments.

Their announcement coincided with news that Ford will evolve its Fleet Central Billing facility into a more advanced arrangement called Ford Service Fleetlink based on CAP Gemini's Translease system. Ford shut its Fleet Central Billing service at the end of June, and it is understood that the manufacturer expects to launch its new service by the year end.

The automotive after-market has lagged behind in its adoption of e-commerce with dealers, garages and fast-fits reluctant to invest in multiple packages but the latest developments illustrate the fleet industry's determination to develop e-commerce strategies. 'This is a major move for the industry,' said Alan Croft, director of OASIS Global Systems.