Auto-reminders can offer an easy way to market to your patients when they are due to re-order. To have them thinking of your practice first - an email or text can make all the difference. The most common time a patient orders their contact lenses is at night. What is interesting, is most patients would actually prefer to order from their eye doctor - they just don't have an easy way to access ordering.
Other barriers to ordering from a doctor's office is the assumption they have to call, order, and come drive to pick it up, all during business hours that often conflict with their own work schedules (not to mention rising gas prices). With the convenience of the online world, it is important to offer your patients ship to home options to increase your true capture rate. According to Jobson Optical Research's Contact Lens Insight Survey, 55.2% of patients who order online cited it was "just easier to purchase online."
It has been reported 25-35% of patients re-order their contacts online. By offering auto-reminders, and an easy way to order from your practice - you only have to capture a fraction of those sales to boost your revenue stream. Ten sales a month can bring $1,500+ in sales monthly. To learn more about your true capture rate, you can utilize our ROI calculator to better understand what business is leaving your practice.
The key to keeping your patient's loyal to your practice over shopping with other online competitors is to offer them them convenience. With an online store, you want to make it as easy as possible to order from you. No data entry, no searching for their Rx. Just login - and it is one click to order.
I had one of the most seamless customer experiences I have ever had to order my contacts. I recently had a contact fitting and, immediately after leaving the office, I got an email that walked me through one of the most seamless customer experiences I have ever had. My initial reaction was – this is awesome! - Sam Berger, Patient ~ Envision Optometry