Discover why Otto is the top choice for Canadian eye care professionals in the e-commerce landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Otto doesn't just sit back and wait for customers to come; it works proactively on a clinic's behalf to capture and facilitate refill orders for patients
- Otto integrates retail and online to offer the same convenient benefits to ALL the patients of a clinic; resulting in less work and superior conversion rates
- Otto offers integrated, drop-ship fulfillment for hundreds of dry eye products as well as contact lenses
- Otto's user-friendly interface contributes to a frictionless experience for clinic staff and patients, alike
- Otto offers advanced features like contact lens quoting and competitive pricing analysis
- Otto doesn't bind clients to restrictive contracts and allows for cancellation any time without penalty
- Hundreds of clinics have made the switch to Otto and never looked back
Why Otto Stands Out in the E-commerce Landscape for Eye Care
In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, eye care professionals seek solutions that not only streamline their operations but also significantly enhance customer satisfaction and, hopefully, drive sales. While exploring options, many Canadian eyecare practices come across two prominent names: Otto and GetSightly. Both platforms offer unique features tailored to the optical industry, but when delved into the specifics, Otto emerges as a superior choice for several compelling reasons.
Proactive Sales Capture: Why Waiting for Traffic Doesn't Work
Unlike GetSightly, which operates on the classic "if you build it, they will come" model, Otto takes a proactive stance in sales capture. Consumers tend to take the path of least resistance: search Google for "buy contact lenses online" and click the top result, which is guaranteed to be Clearly or Kits or one of the other giants who spends millions to ensure this is the case. Indeed, driving traffic to an online store takes an immense amount of effort and investment, and small businesses will always be outdone by the eCommerce giants.
Otto recognizes that simply setting up a webstore doesn't guarantee business growth. Instead, it proactively connects with patients on a clinic's behalf at the exact moment they need to reorder, offering the simplest solution for their purchases, and requiring fewer clicks than ever before possible. With Otto, a clinic becomes the path of least resistance. This approach has led to an impressive track record: on average, clinics using Otto to help facilitate the proactive capture of refill orders experience a 38% increase in contact lens sales. In fact, many former Sightly users report achieving more business in their initial two weeks after switching to Otto than they experienced in an entire year with Sightly.
Read this article to find out more about how Otto helps you better compete with the eCommerce giants.
Truly Omni-Channel: Otto Unifies Retail and Online
Otto seamlessly integrates into a clinic's daily workflow, serving as a comprehensive hub for all contact lens orders, including those made in-store. This integration ensures every contact lens patient benefits from timely refill reminders and easy reordering options, regardless of their online shopping history or website interaction. Patients receive these personalized services without the need for account creation or login credentials, enhancing their convenience and satisfaction with the clinic's offerings. This approach results in vastly superior conversion rates, since these offerings are not limited to the subset of customers who initially shop online.
Automated Fulfillment for Hundreds of Dry Eye Products
Both Otto and GetSightly allow for the sale of eyedrops, vitamins, and similar products through a practice's online store. However, to sell products is one thing, but to fulfill orders is another. GetSightly and other eCommerce platforms rely on the clinics themselves to manage inventories, pull products, package them up, and coordinate with couriers to ship out orders; all on their own time and at their own expense. Otto stands out by offering integrated fulfillment through its distribution partner, enabling seamless, drop-ship fulfillment for hundreds of dry eye products from all the top brands like I-MED, Labtician, Thea, Candorvision, and more with just a few clicks. Clinics are relieved from the costly and time-consuming tasks of inventory management and order fulfillment, and it even allows them to offer a broader range of products online without needing to stock them all, potentially introducing new streams of income.
Check out this article to learn more about Otto's drop-shipping capabilities.
Unparalleled Ease of Use: A Game-Changer for Staff and Patients
User-friendliness lies at the heart of Otto's design philosophy, setting it apart from competitors like Sightly, which may demand lengthy setup times and navigate through complex interfaces. Otto prides itself on offering an intuitive platform that simplifies operations for staff and enhances accessibility for patients. Its streamlined setup process, requiring a mere 20 minutes, along with the minimal training needed for clinic teams, underscores Otto's commitment to efficiency and a seamless workflow. Crucially, Otto also prioritizes patient convenience by doing away with the hurdles of account creation and password setup, thereby fostering a frictionless experience that notably elevates conversion rates.
Advanced Features: Otto’s Cutting-Edge Edge
Otto also shines with its advanced features not found in Sightly, for example:
- Comprehensive contact lens quotes allow clinic staff to easily present contact lens price breakdowns, displaying discounts and rebates in an easily readable format
- Otto scrapes the web every single day to capture an up-to-the-day price from Clearly.ca and presents it to users for their reference, offering recommendations to optimize competitiveness and profitability
These features not only enhance the operational efficiency of eye care clinics using Otto but also contribute to a more satisfying customer journey and superior financial returns.
No-Contract Subscription Model: Empowering Clinics with Freedom and Control
Otto prides itself on flexibility and transparency, understanding that the needs of eyecare clinics can evolve over time. A key aspect of this approach is Otto's commitment to contract-free subscriptions, allowing clinics the freedom to adapt without the burden of long-term contractual obligations. In stark contrast, services like Sightly bind clinics to contracts, limiting their ability to respond to changing business dynamics or explore new opportunities. With Otto, clinics enjoy the liberty to cancel their subscription at any time, ensuring they always have control over their service choices and allowing them to continually revaluate their investment. This flexibility reflects Otto's confidence in the value and effectiveness of its platform, aiming to retain users through superior service and results rather than contractual constraints.
The Industry’s Verdict: A Clear Preference for Otto
The ultimate testament to Otto's superiority comes from the eye care industry itself. A tidal wave of Canadian eyecare practices have made the switch to Otto after initially opting to try Sightly, and precisely zero have gone the other way. This trend is a clear indicator of Otto’s effectiveness and appeal in the market.
Although Otto is priced slightly higher than Sightly, which can vary based on group purchasing agreements, its comprehensive features and proactive approach to sales and customer engagement easily justify this investment, promising vastly superior returns. Otto’s seamless integration, ease of use, and advanced capabilities make it a prudent choice for eye care professionals looking to elevate their e-commerce game.
As the optical industry continues to evolve, choosing a platform that not only meets the current needs but also anticipates future trends is crucial. Otto stands out as a forward-thinking, patient-centric solution, making it a wise choice for those aiming to stay ahead in a competitive marketplace.
Otto and GetSightly are trademarks of their respective companies. This article is intended for informational purposes and is based on publicly available information and user testimonials.

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What sets Otto apart from Sightly in terms of features and user experience?
While Sightly operates under the premise of building a webstore to attract business, Otto engages with patients right when they need to reorder, offering a seamless experience with the clinic's branding forefront. Unlike Sightly, Otto does not require manual order fulfillment for OTC products, providing a more streamlined workflow for clinics.
How does Otto enhance the patient ordering experience compared to traditional e-commerce platforms?
Otto simplifies the patient experience by eliminating the need for account creation or direct patient engagement with third-party services, and by offering them a streamlined way of ordering their prescriptions. It is designed to be an extension of the clinic, maintaining the clinic's branding and enabling easy reordering through personalized reminders and links, without requiring patients to navigate complex platforms or sign up for new accounts.
Can Otto handle prescriptions that require different products for each eye?
Yes, Otto allows for the management of multiple prescriptions per patient, accommodating scenarios where patients might need different products for each eye. Clinics can easily manage these prescriptions within Otto, ensuring patients receive the correct products tailored to their individual needs.
Does Otto offer subscription services for automatic refills?
Otto supports subscription-based orders, enabling automatic refills for patients at predetermined intervals. This feature ensures patients always have their necessary eye care products without manual reordering, enhancing convenience and ensuring consistent care.
How does Otto's pricing compare to Sightly's?
Otto operates on a subscription model, allowing month-to-month payments or a discounted rate for paying annually, with discounts available for members of certain groups. Sightly's pricing varies, but tends to be around 10% cheaper. However, Otto's superior workflows, interface, and functionality offer better returns on the investment, easily justifying the marginally higher price point.
How are insurance claims handled through Otto for patient orders?
Otto allows for insurance coverage amounts to be deducted from a patient's balance owing. This can be applied proactively, before the patient orders, or reactively, after a patient submits an order but before payment is processed.
In what ways does Otto ensure the security and privacy of patient data?
Otto adheres to strict data protection and privacy standards, including PIPEDA and HIPAA compliance. It employs encryption and best practices for data security, ensuring patient information is securely managed and stored on domestic servers with dedicated partitions for each practice.
Does Otto include a custom online store?
Absolutely. Clinics using Otto get a powerful online store, customized with their branding to ensure a consistent patient experience. Better yet, Otto's webstores can be embedded directly into the clinic's website, meaning visitors don't even need to leave the page.
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