ATS Euromaster has this month rolled out an online authorisation service that will enable its 530 service centres to get instant approval on car maintenance from fleet customers, after successfully completing a pilot scheme.

The programme trials were launched in May, initially in 14 outlets then expanded to 31. Training for the ‘go-live’ date started in July.

The system uses cars’ registration numbers to automatically check fleet customers’ policies for the type of work needed and pre-agreed spend levels. ATS staff receive either an authorisation code or a referral to the customer service centre. Previously work had to be logged manually.

ATS say the chief benefits of the system are faster response times, shorter call queues in the customer service centre, improved accuracy for reporting and invoicing and reduced error rates.

Customers can log-on to the system and monitor their fleets’ maintenance themselves.

“Our strategy is to embrace the Internet more fully and we are currently working with many of our fleet customers to develop new initiatives which will improve our service levels still further”, says Nick Gregg, managing director of ATS Euromaster in the UK.

The company is currently developing the service to include the truck fleet market.