THE variation in standards of outsourcing within the fleet industry has led LeasePlan, one of the world’s biggest leasing companies, to start a worldwide search to uncover best practice methods.

The investigation will target some of the largest outsourcing organisations in the world and will uncover common themes among all companies that provide outsourced services.

It will look at what works well with customers as well as common pitfalls among providers in a wide range of industries. The results are then expected to be used to influence a new suite of products for LeasePlan customers throughout the globe.

Kevin McNally, managing director of LeasePlan UK, said he believed the fleet industry had a lot to learn from other sectors when it came to outsourcing.

He added: ‘I believe the fleet world is not particularly good at certain aspects of outsourcing. I think the fleet and leasing industry still has a lot to learn. We will find out what works well and what are the pitfalls for other organisations.

‘If this review does lead to new services and products, it will benefit all LeasePlan countries. It is not particularly skewed to the UK.’

LeasePlan has a stated target of being in the top three in every country where it operates. In the UK, it is the second largest leasing firm, according to the Fleet News FN50, with only LloydsTSB autolease operating a larger fleet.

LeasePlan International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LeasePlan Corporation. The LeasePlan group operates more than one million vehicles in 26 countries. Last year, it was bought by a consortium led by Volkswagen in a deal worth more than £1 billion.