The Berkshire-based company said it required software that enabled authors to deliver information in a fast and accurate manner in both print and electronic form for its independent workshops.

The XML authoring tool, which is an add-in to Microsoft Word, helps users to create XML documents with no knowledge of the language.

Gabriele Ostermaier, business assurance manager at Autodata, said: "We took the view that Quark XML Author was the most user-friendly and suitable option.

"The authors are not confronted with code input and can focus on what they do best – writing. This means a competitive edge for our business."