MORE than half of fleet decision-makers are planning to investigate potential savings from using the internet and e-commerce to do business this year.

Figures revealed in an exclusive Fleet News/Lex Vehicle Leasing survey show that 55% of fleets have placed the issue on their top-five 'to-do' lists for 2003.

The findings, based on interviews with nearly 200 fleet decision-makers, come amid the launch of a growing number of services aimed at putting fleets online, ranging from leasing to rental, vehicle servicing and maintenance bookings.

Later this month, Fleet NewsNet and sister title Fleet News will hold the Move Your Fleet Online conference to address the key issues facing fleets considering doing business on the internet. The event will be held in association with the Chartered Institute of Supply and Purchasing and takes place on Tuesday January 28 at the Heritage Motor Industry Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire.

The event will be chaired by Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

It will examine the key issues fleet decision-makers will face in doing business on the internet and the services they can expect. Speakers at Move Your Fleet Online will address six of the main areas where fleet decision-makers could benefit from web-based services.

An expert will highlight the main benefits and pitfalls of each area and there will also be in-depth case studies from fleets which have taken the plunge.

Among the speakers will be Robert Albright, strategic purchasing director for Royal Mail Group; Sandy Duckett, fleet business manager for Scottish Power; and Daren Wiseman, managing editor – current data, for CAP.

  • Ticket prices for the day are £79 for fleet decision-makers and £99 for other industry professionals. All figures are inclusive of VAT.

    Now book your place

    To reserve a place, click here for the booking form (pdf). Print the form off, fill it in and fax it back to 01733 468346 to reserve a place.

    Or call event co-ordinator Sandra Evitt on 01733 468123 or via email at sandra.evitt@emap.com

    The event programme

    Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire 28 January 2003

    Provisional timetable

    8.30 Registration, networking opportunity and refreshments

    9.30 Welcome
    John Maslen, editor, Fleet News

    9.35 Moving online: manufacturers' perspective
    Conference chairman Christopher Macgowan, chief executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, outlines the progress made by manufacturers in maximising electronic technology in telematics and other areas

    9.45 Moving online: fleet perspective
    Michael Beet, sales director, Inchcape Fleet Solutions, discusses the opportunities and challenges for fleet operators wanting to move online

    Forward in reverse
    How reverse auctions enable fleets to purchase more effectively and how online purchasing can reduce fleet costs
    10am Sandy Duckett, fleet business manager, Scottish Power (how the organisation saved money buying fleet cars in a reverse auction)
    10.20 David Bricknell, managing director (UK), SynerDeal
    10.45 Q&A (Sandy Duckett and Andrew Knight)

    10.50 REFRESHMENTS

    Clearing in-trays (sponsored by Epyx)
    Moving online to arrange services and rentals, and gaining maintenance authorisations
    11.10 Introduction by Greg Connell, managing director, Epyx
    11.15 Peter Schofield, head of strategy and marketing, Lloyds TSB autolease

    A closer look at online services
    11.35 Martin Drake, managing director, Drive Software Solutions

    11.50 Q&A (Peter Schofield and Martin Drake)

    Faster farewells
    How auction houses and specialists speed up disposals
    11.55 Tony Styles, senior editor Black Book, CAP
    12.15 Richard Harper, group auctioneer, Manheim Online

    Guest speaker
    12.35 Robert Albright, strategic purchasing director, Royal Mail Group
    12.55 Q&A (Robert Albright, Tony Styles and Das Neocleous)

    1.15pm LUNCH

    Feeling more secure (sponsored by Inchcape Fleet Solutions)
    Keeping commercial information safe when operating online
    2.15pm Introduction by Alan Hale, customer service director, Inchcape Fleet Solutions, the session sponsor
    2.20 Hywel Houghton-Jones, head of purchasing, Nationwide Building Society

    Building a "glass pipeline"
    Can technology help firms monitor vehicles through their fleet life?
    2.40 Graham Howes, sales director, Eurofleet
    3.00 Q&A (Hywel Houghton-Jones and Graham Howes)

    3.05 REFRESHMENTS

    Staying in touch (sponsored by WS2)
    Present and future applications of telematics
    3.25 Introduction by Richard Fitzgerald, managing director, WS2, the session sponsor
    3.30 John Wright, The Leasing Group
    3.50 Roger King, chief executive, Road Haulage Association

    4.10 Final Q&A (Roger King and John Wright)

    4.30pm Conference closes

  • Fleet News reserves the right to change speakers and timings