Nationwide optometrist company Visique is using a range of online services from electronic procurement firm e://volution e-business.
National operations manager Troy Fisher said 68 of the country's 225 independent optometrists belonged to Visique and the company was seeking ways to offer value services to its members.
"The optics industry ispretty antiquated. It is still based around reps delivering product into practices," Fisher said.
"We are also dealing with a high fashion product with a relatively short shelf life. Getting product to the market quickly is essential."
He said e://volution's online purchase system was a good starting point.
Optometrists will pay a monthly rental to use e://volution's new Convergent suite of services, which will eventually include ordering and payment processing, financials, inventory, Eftpos and credit card payments, a link to the Flybuys loyalty programme, a bulletin board, marketing tools, customer relationship management and clinical practice management.
The price will also include client-side licences for Microsoft Windows XP and Office.
Fisher said the Convergent solution would allow optometrists to work better with suppliers.
