European Software Partners Form New Alliance
There is growing recognition, from Opticians and Optometrists, of the importance of IT for their business success. And this trend is not exclusive to the UK and Ireland, but most of Europe and the rest of the developed world. During Eye examinations, consultations, spectacle dispensing, in the workshop and through business administration digital information is created and processed. To optimise the workflow in the practice: Digital catalogues and electronic ordering systems are used to organise the practices purchasing, and all modern optometric instruments have digital interfaces (as is the case with CNC-workshops). Unfortunately, there are almost no valid manufacturer-independent Pan-European standards; In order to enable market participants to access innovative technology the optical trade in Europe need to establish standards and defined processes.
As a response to this need, the six largest European producers of IT for opticians/optometrists have formed the Optic Software Vendors Association (OSVA). Bludata, Cristallin, IPRO, Ocuco, Retail Planit and Temtica represent more than 22,000 practices using their software. The aim of the OSVA is to create and promote a stable and contemporary set of IT standards for the European optical market.
“We have formed OSVA to create common standards, which would take a long time to complete if each individual member works alone” – Leo Mac Canna, Ocuco CEO and Founder