FOUR of the UK's largest contract hire firms, between them responsible for more than 200,000 cars, are helping to develop new internet technology that could radically improve communications between leasing companies and their suppliers and lead to major fleet costs savings.

Lease Plan, Dial Contracts, HSBC Vehicle Finance and Interleasing have each contributed to the scope and design of AutoConneX (ACX) from Oasis Global Systems.

The system's task is to make key processes such as on-line authorisation of maintenance instantaneous, acting as a translation device for a wide variety of platforms and protocols and using FleetNet message standards to help unscramble data transferred between trading partners.

Oasis has been working on ACX for more than a year with the four leasing firms - an achievement in itself - and says the development is being closely watched by other major players in the industry.