Selling eyeglasses, contact lenses, and related accessories can be a challenge. You have to attract new buyers, have the right amount of inventory on hand, and make sure clients are happy with a pleasant fitting experience. Not to mention, manage promotions, customer data, and the 1000 other items for any retail optical shop.

Today’s advanced optical shops know that the secret sauce to their success is the management system they use.

What is an Optical Shop Management System?

A great optical shop management system is a software solution that makes running a retail optical shop simple. Every optical shop is fueled by software on the back end. What kind of solution you use can impact the ability of your shop to effectively serve its customers and operate profitably. 

What are the capabilities of an Optical Shop Management System?

I. Inventory Management

Inventory management is a space where almost every optical shop can improve. Is your shop’s solution actively preventing stockouts and overstock situations?  

Better yet, what does your reporting look like? Are you able to analyze which of your frames are driving the most revenue, and in turn, put your best sellers in premium positions on your boards?

Leveraging an optical shop management system with stellar inventory management can allow you to get as granular as tracking individual frames. This gives your business the ability to highlight its top sellers, order more of them, and drive more profitability.

Great data and great reporting fuels great operations. A great shop management system provides you with all the data and insights you need to run a great business.

II. Appointment Setting and Communication Automation

If your shop does not provide a simple, intuitive customer experience, your customers will go to the shop down the street, and the data backs it up.

A 2023 study by Bandwidth found that a whopping 55% of respondents said they would consider switching healthcare providers if their current provider didn't meet their communication channel preferences.

You must meet your customers where they want to be contacted.

An optical shop management system with built-in appointment scheduling and automated text and email comms simplifies the process of scheduling appointments and reduces no-shows. 

Additionally, automated comms that are connected to your inventory reporting provide the opportunity to send out real-time order status updates to ensure your customers are always in the loop. 

Simply set it and forget it. It's as easy as that!

III. Record and Data Management

Believe it or not, some optical shops are still engaging in paper-based record-keeping (this is a big mistake!). An optical shop management system allows your shop to transition to fully electronic records, simplifying your operations, eliminating excessive paper usage, and improving security. 

If your shop is still reliant on paper records, look to make the transition to the cloud immediately to reap the myriad of benefits that go along with it.

IV. POS

A great system comes equipped with a fully integrated point-of-sale function that communicates with the other aspects of your shop. An intuitive point-of-sale experience streamlines the sales processes, ensuring fast and accurate transactions for eyewear purchases and integration with your optical equipment for vision testing and prescriptions.

V. Promotions

Your optical shop should relish the opportunity to drive more sales by offering special promotions. If your shop’s software can’t handle promotion management, you are likely leaving revenue on the table. Offering buy one get one free on frames, or 10% off for your customers’ birthdays can increase the urgency to buy, create a personalized experience that makes your customers feel special, encourage repeat business, and build your brand. Don’t miss out on the benefits that promotions can bring.

What Are The Top Retail Systems on the Market?

When it comes to evaluating the top optical shop systems on the market, the conversation should start with Eye Cloud Pro. Originally built for high-end retailers, Eye Cloud Pro provides optical shops with all the tools they need to run a successful business. From intuitive serial number tracking, to real-time inventory reports, to integrations with tools like Optify and VisionWeb, the opportunities to improve your operations are endless. 

Ready to learn the true power of Eye Cloud Pro? Schedule time here to meet with our team!