MONARCH BEACH, CA- Wheels, Inc., a provider in the multi-billion dollar fleet leasing industry, announced it ranked 77 and was the top fleet management services provider on the 2009 InformationWeek 500. The ranking was revealed at a gala awards ceremony, part of the exclusive InformationWeek 500 Conference at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, Calif. Wheels has ranked in the top 500 every year since 2001, and in the top 100 for three years running.
"Wheels continues to remain fully committed to continuously developing, redesigning and refurbishing our information systems to enhance a technology platform that continues to be regarded by clients as the best in the industry," said Steven Loos, vice president of Information Technology and chief information officer. "Our focus is to deliver measurable success to our clients; that focus is at the core of every technology initiative and we're honored that our commitments have been recognized again this year."
Wheels received recognition for introducing new vehicle ordering functionality and implementing a rapid-prototyping IT development process. The addition of its Pre-Approval functionality to FleetView, Wheels online fleet management tool, allows field managers to order vehicles for drivers within their units, thereby streamlining the ordering process and standardizing their replacement cycles.
In addition, Wheels new strategy to incorporate multiple stages of IT development into the launch platform involves everyone from the get-go, ensuring universal support and fewer "back to the drawing board" scenarios. A mock-up of an upcoming release can be conceived almost immediately, providing clients with new innovations faster.
"For over 20 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor-in-Chief Rob Preston. "Year after year, InformationWeek 500 companies harness technology to improve efficiency, boost productivity, drive revenue, and establish a competitive advantage. We applaud this year's winners, and the CIOs and other executives whose ingenuity and risk taking are at the center of business technology innovation."
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing, now in its 21st year, and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America's best-known companies. The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/.
About Wheels, Inc. (www.wheels.com)
Wheels, which pioneered the concept of auto leasing in 1939, provides a full range of specialized services to help organizations manage their vehicle fleets. Wheels manages more than 270,000 vehicles. Its holding company, Frank Consolidated Enterprises, at $2 billion currently ranks as the largest privately held fleet management company and one of the largest private companies in North America. For additional information, please contact info@wheels.com.
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