How Essilor is leading the way through innovation
TRANSFORMING HOW WE SEE THE FUTURE
How Essilor is leading the way through innovation
Good vision plays a key role in a person ’ s quality of life . Since creating Varilux , the first progressive lens in 1959 , Essilor has continued to innovate and lead the way in providing vision solutions that help eye care professionals ( ECPs ) adapt to specific and evolving consumer needs .
Operating in 77 countries , Essilor has grown to become a world leader through their unwavering commitment to ECPs and mission of improving lives by improving sight . Essilor has been a reliable partner to ECPs for over 45 years in Canada , offering a national reach with a local proximity to its customers with over 1,000 employees , three digital surfacing laboratories and 29 coast-to-coast regional and partner laboratories .
“ With an estimated 5 million Canadians still living with uncorrected vision and the need of every Canadian to better understand how to protect eye health , this represents a formidable opportunity for the industry . Together , we can shape the future of eye health in Canada ,” explains Barbara Heffez-Piper , president of Essilor Canada .
INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE
Essilor has become known for their world-renowned brands because they put innovation at the heart of the strategy , from products to business models . Every year they invest more than $ 320 million in research and development . The company has 4 research centers and 450 researchers worldwide creating new ways to improve vision .
To help develop breakthrough technologies and ensure they meet the needs of consumers , Essilor has innovated new ways to test product and service offerings . Through their LiveOptics program , all their lenses are put under real-life conditions , tested by the people who would wear them . To help ECPs optimize the customer journey , Essilor ’ s Shopping Lab provides them with valuable insight into evolving consumer needs and expectations .
As an industry leader , Essilor is on the pulse of environmental and societal changes to be ready to adapt to lead the market . Aging populations , new consumer behaviours , and the adoption of new digital lifestyles have boosted the demand for new eye care products . In fact , 45 % of the products Essilor markets today were created in the last three years . One such innovation is Eyezen , a line of lenses created to relieve visual fatigue caused by our digital lifestyles .
Essilor also develops technology that helps ECPs improve the customer experience . For example , to facilitate ECPs dispensing , Essilor ’ s Visioffice 2.0 measuring device serves as a rapid and accurate solution to determining standard lens fitting parameters and personalizing the lenses to the wearer ’ s visual behaviour . Essilor is even harnessing the power of virtual simulation . Nautilus allows consumers to virtually ‘ see ’ through their future lenses according to options selected such as lens design , polarized , photochromic or antireflective coating .
FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
Essilor has embraced innovation to improve processes and operations to minimize its impact on the planet and implement socially responsible initiatives around the globe . The company significantly reduced water and energy consumption at their production plants , shrinking their environmental footprint . And to improve access to eye health in underserved communities , Essilor ’ s “ 2.5 Vision New Generation ” division offers scalable business models that adapt to local needs and resources .
Most importantly , Essilor is dedicated to ensuring a bright future for the industry . Digital disruption has unlocked new distribution channels , and it ’ s up to key players to lead that transformation to position eye care professionals for success . Through educational campaigns encouraging consumers to visit their ECP for regular eye exams , and training programs to help ECPs develop their eye health expertise and find new value-added services to offer consumers , Essilor is ensuring sustainable growth of the eye health industry .
ESSILOR ’ S R & D KEY AREAS OF FOCUS
+ Presbyopia among seniors .
+ Myopia in young adults .
+ Well-being and visual health .
+ Sun protection through polarized and photochromic lenses .
+ Business models to improve access to vision care .
+ Every product is wearerapproved .
CONTACT YOUR ESSILOR CANADA SALES CONSULTANT TODAY .
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ESSILOR ’ S AWARDS
+ Forbes ’ 100 Most Innovative Companies 7 years in a row
+ Fortune ’ s Change the World list in 2015
+ Newsweek ’ s Top 5 Green Companies in 2016