French optician Acuitis spectacle frames offers 3D-printed spectacle frames

With the help of 3D printing specialist Materialise, French optician and eyewear retailer Acuitis is offering in-store customization options for 3D-printed frames.

“We were impressed with the Eyewear Fitting Suite as it provides more than just an app with virtual try-on features,” says Guénola Giangrasso, Director of Marketing and Communication at Acuitis. “It also offers sizing recommendations. I don’t just try out a frame — the frame sits perfectly on my face because its measurements are determined by the shape and size of my face and my pupillary distance. It’s crucial to acknowledge its full potential: ensuring inclusivity is of utmost importance and cannot be overlooked. This solution truly enables us to adjust to all kinds of customers, with all different face shapes.”

The software uses an algorithm based on years of research in Materialise’s medical segment and has been specially adapted for eyewear. It uses over 10 million cloud points to reconstruct each face on the screen. This is to ensure a true-to-life representation of both the faces and the digitized frames.

“The impact on the customer experience is bound to be positive because the 3D experience is truly in line with our DNA as eyewear designers,” explains Laurent Payen, Coach du Réseau at Acuitis. “As soon as our guests experience it, they smile. At first, they were astonished, a little curious, then quickly got the hang of it. It’s a world of co-creation. They can choose their shape and color, the color of the temples, more classic or more creative models. And that aspect is a real plus in recommending our frames.”

In addition to customization, the introduction of this technology also has a positive impact on the customer relationship. The teams at Acuitis see the tool as an enrichment that complements and deepens the human aspect of customer contact.

“Quite honestly, using the platform is extremely easy, smooth, and almost intuitive,” Laurent tells us. “In other words, training our teams to use the tablet went very quickly. We focused more on ways of creating desire with our customers, inviting them to join us on the adventure and try the 3D experience. Once they’ve experienced it, our customers become the best promoters for 3D, but no matter how good it is in-store, it will never replace the optician’s support for their guest.”

A significant proportion of customers who used this new service decided to buy a pair of glasses. This also allows stock levels to be managed in a more targeted manner, ensuring a better flow of goods within the stores.

“3D printing enables the development and design of just about everything. In that, it’s wonderful. Above all, it enables the development and product design that would be unimaginable in traditional manufacturing,” says Frederic. “It allows you to play with all your inspirations. Today, personalization is a huge trend in many industries. There is a very strong emerging demand for this. Being able to offer made-to-measure frames responds to this demand: choose your shape, choose your color, choose your size. It’s a real innovation and an undeniable plus for our guests.”

The future looks promising for Acuitis, with plans to further diversify and expand its offering. Such applications of 3D technologies demonstrate the potential of digital tools in all kinds of areas. An important factor here is always the personal proximity that customers feel during consultations, as Acuitis is now proving once again.

“We have a lot of future plans,” she tells us. “It could be new shapes, new materials, or new colors. That’s another area where we’re looking to Materialise for proposals and innovations. But in any case, we know that the range of possibilities is just extraordinary.”