The deal paves the way for Lease Plan to eventually issue smart cards with all its leased vehicles which can be used to authorise servicing, maintenance and repairs via electronic data interchange (EDI).

Lease Plan is the first of 21 contract hire and leasing companies and 1,000 suppliers which OASIS aims to have recruited to its electronic trading community by the end of next year. The company will soon announce details of a fast track scheme to recruit new partners on preferential terms.

Marketing director Alan Croft said: 'Lease Plan will be bringing its key service suppliers to a rapidly growing trading community so we now have a firm base from which to roll out the programme to other fleet operators.'

OASIS's main benefit for suppliers and fleet operators is the accuracy of electronic invoicing which reduces errors and cuts administration to allow faster payment of accounts without queries.