MANHEIM Auctions has launched an Inventory Management System (IMS) which it says will cut vehicle-stocking times, lessen the time fleet managers have to spend tracking vehicles and increase residual values.

The system is designed for large fleets with thousands of vehicles and enables groups to track the disposal process. Manheim claims the key to the system is the reporting module, which allows customers to find out the number of vehicles in stock, the number of cars sold that day, and the reserve and actual sale price of individual vehicles.

Suzanne Gardiner, customer solutions manager at Manheim, said: 'IMS provides the customer with complete control of their vehicles on a real-time basis 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These increased efficiencies can often mean a vehicle runs more smoothly through the disposal process.'

GE Capital Fleet Services and Ford Business Partner are two of the firms already signed up to the system.

Andrew Winlow, European remarketing director for GE Capital Fleet Services, said: 'With nearly 40,000 cars and vans going through 10 Manheim sites in the next two-and-a-half-years, IMS allows me to keep track of all my stock within the Manheim network. Being able to review my stock on a real-time basis allows me to make more proactive decisions, which should make me more money.'