The domestic optical market is undergoing a profound transformation: increasingly informed consumers, digitalisation and new purchasing models are reshaping the role of optical stores. What are the main challenges today in the relationship between industry and retail, and where do you see the greatest growth opportunities for the sector?
The domestic market is experiencing a period of significant change, and one of the main challenges lies in the ability to understand the evolving behaviour of consumers. Today, people are better informed, more aware of the value of their choices and increasingly expect personalised, expert and consistent experiences.
As a result, value is no longer created solely through products or promotional activities. The quality of consultancy, customer service, the ability to communicate one’s identity and build long-term relationships with clients have become increasingly important.
In this context, I see a major opportunity for optical stores, which can further strengthen their role as a point of reference for vision care by combining professional expertise, technology and customer experience.
The relationship between industry and retail must also evolve in this direction. Today, it is increasingly important to develop partnerships based not only on product supply but also on the sharing of knowledge, tools, training and communication support. The industry is called upon to support this evolution by providing innovation, expertise and solutions capable of strengthening the competitiveness of the entire supply chain.
The most interesting opportunities will arise from the ability to work in a more integrated and long-term oriented way, placing consumer needs and market developments at the centre. Along this path, continued investment in professional expertise, innovation and the promotion of vision care will be essential, as these elements now represent key differentiating factors for the entire sector.
Projects such as Eyevolution have helped foster dialogue between industry, opticians and the medical community, at a time when vision care, prevention and technological innovation are becoming increasingly important. How important is it today to build a more integrated and collaborative supply chain, and what role can ANFAO and new technologies play in supporting this process?
Today, the real challenge is to create an increasingly connected supply chain capable of bringing together different skills and expertise to respond effectively to the evolving needs of people. Industry, opticians and the medical-scientific community share a common objective: promoting greater awareness of the importance of vision care and prevention.
In this regard, initiatives such as Eyevolution have demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for discussion and professional development among experts from different backgrounds. Collaboration among the various stakeholders in the supply chain is essential for developing a shared vision and providing increasingly qualified responses to market needs.
Building on the experience gained through Eyevolution, we are working on new projects aimed at further strengthening dialogue between vision care professionals, the medical-scientific community and industry, while also engaging end consumers. Increasing awareness of vision care issues requires a cross-sector approach capable of reaching different audiences and fostering a shared culture of prevention and visual wellbeing.
New technologies can also play an important role in this process. Digitalisation, innovation and new professional support tools offer concrete opportunities to improve the consumer experience while further enhancing the expertise of vision care professionals.
ANFAO can contribute to this process by creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and exchange among all stakeholders involved. The ability to work together as a system will become increasingly crucial in addressing future challenges and supporting the growth of the entire sector.
What role do institutional relations play for the Lens Group, and how is this reflected in dialogue with the medical-scientific community?
Institutional relations represent a strategic element for the Lens Group because they enable continuous dialogue with the medical-scientific community and with the main professional organisations across the vision care supply chain.
ANFAO’s participation in the leading national events dedicated to ophthalmology, optics and optometry stems from the desire to contribute to a qualified discussion on vision care, innovation and prevention. Events such as the Presbyopia Forum, the AIMO-SISO Congress, the Federottica Congress, the Zaccagnini Congress, the AGO Meeting and the Assottica Congress provide valuable opportunities for listening, discussion and exchange among professionals with different expertise.
The value of these events goes beyond institutional presence alone: they help build relationships, share knowledge and identify common pathways on issues that concern the entire vision care sector. Only through open and ongoing dialogue can we strengthen the culture of prevention, enhance the role of vision care professionals and promote increasingly effective models of collaboration.
In a context where innovation, technology and people’s needs are evolving rapidly, dialogue between industry, the scientific community and professionals remains essential to support the growth of the sector and successfully address future challenges.
Scopri il reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZHtVZpNf1O/?igsh=MXE3Y2VraTF0dTlvNQ==