Epyx claims dealer service outlets will have a single e-commerce standard for service and maintenance transactions now that it has acquired Oasis, the operator of the Advance online maintenance system.

The news follows epyx's purchase of TransLease in May of this year and provides consolidation of the online service and maintenance arena, effectively laying the groundwork for one common platform for the repairer industry.

The acquisition of Oasis Global Systems Limited was completed for an undisclosed sum. The company was privately owned and has developed specialist applications for the automotive industry, geared specifically to the service, maintenance and repair sector including their 'Advance' on-line trading platform.

Oasis' clients include some of the UK's leading automotive leasing companies, most notably LeasePlan, HSBC and Interleasing.

Greg Connell, managing director of epyx said: “Until now, some of the potential benefits of service and maintenance e-commerce have been compromised because of the presence of competing platforms in the market. We now have the opportunity to establish a common platform for the repairer community.

The top 10 UK leasing and vehicle management company fleets are now using either the 1link or Advance solutions, creating a fleet customer base of more than 1.5 million vehicles. More than 6,000 service outlets are already signed up to use the 1link Service Network or Oasis products.

Connell added: “We are already set to see several new leasing companies coming on to the platform before the end of this year.”

Peter Hollinshead, head of purchasing and vehicle management at HSBC, an existing user of OASIS, commented: “This move can only increase the use of electronic trading and, with the industry seeing a clear standard developing. In simple terms this should mean that those repairers who adopt these systems will see improvements in their own efficiency and in the ease of doing business with the UK's leading fleets.”

epyx specialises in IT solutions for the automotive sector. Its best-known products are the 1link e-commerce platforms. 1link Service Network is in use by 14 of the UK's manufacturers and more than half of the top 20 vehicle leasing companies.