FLEET managers must embrace technology and explore new methods of managing their vehicles if they are going to win the war against running costs, says Lease Plan. It is campaigning to win the support of fleets for its new Internet-based fleet management product Lease Plan On-line - launched to fleet managers this week - which it claims will revolutionise the industry.

During a gala launch, about 80 managers of fleets ranging in size from 50 vehicles to 3,000 were told that doing nothing about technology was not an option. Daniel Henry, IT director, said the internet could provide massive savings for fleets. 'This cannot be ignored. Technology is becoming more integral to the way we work.'

Lease Plan claims its Internet-based fleet management system will slash 40,000 pieces of paper a year from communications that it makes with fleets and save about 156,000 hours of administration time. It provides a range of fleet management products including information and brochure requests, vehicle quotation and ordering, and a fleet reporting function that can be adapted by the fleet manager.

At a press briefing, Lease Plan commercial director Nick Salkeld said the product was not intended to replace the personal contact fleet bosses already had with account managers. 'Lease-Plan On-line allows fleet managers to be lifted one level above time-consuming administration and take a more strategic approach to the fleet. Rather than looking through 90% of details about the fleet that are fine, they can concentrate on the 10% that need work.'