This has been most prominent between manufacturers, where GM and Ford, in particular, have brought eCommerce into the automotive domain. Currently, in the majority of cases, these are little more than electronic marketing materials but the innovators in the industry are already using the Internet to gain competitive advantage. The fleet industry, encompassing most sectors of the automotive world, is faced with complex decisions as to how the Internet should influence strategy. The extent to which these technologies can be utilised by fleet lessors is discussed, and their probable effect on the fleet sector as a whole considered. A combination of the skills of Datamonitor's Automotive and Technology teams means that this report incorporates the latest eCommerce developments placing them in the correct context of the automotive industry.
Internet technology is a simultaneous opportunity and threat for the fleet industry.
Undoubtedly, fleet lessors and managers, at the hub of the matrix of companies involved in the running of a vehicle, have most to gain from improvements in inter-company processes. Companies have exploited the opportunities of the Internet, using the skills of others to achieve their aims. The automotive industry has already exhibited this development, with Ford and GM loudly proclaiming their deals with Yahoo, AOL, Oracle and Commerce One. Such alliances will become common in the coming months as new and innovative strategies are unveiled to win share of the fleet and retail markets. The business of car leasing and fleet management has undergone considerable evolution in its short history but e-commerce represents the first revolution that the industry has faced.