Middle East’s Largest Optical Event Records 30% Increase in Pre-Registered Visitors and 44% Jump in Country Representation
Business Leader and Retail Intelligence Specialists Hakim Group to Offer Exclusive Insights and Technological Advances in Global Optical Industry at ‘Future in Focus’
Dubai, United Arab Emirates:
A significant increase in pre-registered visitors and country representation at this month’s Vision-X 2014, the Middle East’s largest optical trade event, has underscored the growth potential of the regional optical industry.
Exactly a month before the 15th edition of Vision-X returns to Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from November 25-27, pre-registered visitors are 30 per cent up on the comparative month-out period last year and at their highest level since 2010, while more than 250 brands from 26 countries are now confirmed to participate – a 44 per cent increase on country representation at the 2013 event.
“The overwhelming exhibitor and visitor response testifies to the conceptual overhaul we have implemented on the show,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions and Events Management, DWTC. “In-line with the region’s prosperous optics industry, the Vision-X business proposition has evolved this year and attracted our most international audience to date.”
With major brands, distributors and retailers from China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey and the UK all returning in 2014, a host of new-to-show or returning companies hail from Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the USA.
Heading the list of exhibitors is optics business leader and retail intelligence specialist, the UK’s Hakim Group, which will utilise a new ‘Future in Focus’ feature to provide one-on-one sessions detailing how technology is the driving force behind global optical market growth.
“We are constantly looking around the globe for cutting-edge technology, as well as emerging trends on consumer behaviour,” said Dr. Imran Hakim, CEO, Hakim Group. “Trends from one corner of the world can very quickly proliferate due to the blurred borders between countries and consumers, so it is vital to constantly monitor the landscape and keep abreast of game-changing developments on the horizon.
“We are passionate about the use of technology within the optical sector, so we aim to champion the industry’s drive to increased technology adoption. We want to help catalyse the adoption of some of these technologies into the mainstream to improve services and products offered to customers and patients. The ‘Future in Focus’ feature at Vision X will provide a great platform to showcase some of these ideas to key MENA region players.”
In addition to providing Vision-X visitors and delegates with the opportunity to wear and experience the revolutionary Google Glass at its first official trade show appearance in the Middle East, Hakim Group will offer regional optical industry professionals with expert consultation on how their peers in the UK and USA have commercialised the product into their businesses, as well as chairing general discussions on how regional opticians can maximise business efficiency and optimise social media effectiveness.
Dr. Hakim added: “We’ve started utilising Google Glass to explore niche areas of optical service so that we can harness technology advancement to attract customers we have historically missed. Although the technology is still in the first stages of its lifecycle, early adopters stand to make the biggest gains once mass-market adoption takes place. Those that gain a strong product understanding ahead of their competitors usually lead the way in identifying untapped areas, markets and industries of potential usage – this is the ethos of Hakim Group.”
With a refreshed show concept hinged on new brands and enhanced features, over half of this year’s Vision-X exhibitors will be new to the event or the wider region. Leading international research group, GfK, will reveal new insights into the global optical industry and share key data obtained from its GfK Optician Census study.
Running alongside the event is the new Vision-X VP Awards, launched in partnership with VisionPlus Arabia Magazine. The only dedicated celebration of excellence in the Middle East’s optical industry, the awards have attracted more than 120 global entries. In total, 72 designs have been shortlisted by a panel of leading regional retailers and industry professionals across 15 categories. Online and mail voting is now open until November 15, with the Vision-X VP Awards winners set to be announced at an exclusive ceremony on November 25 in Dubai.
Shortlisted in the Best Value Enhancer Lab category, Snapitscrew will launch its worldwide patented Snapitscrew and Eyeglass Repair Kit for the first time in the Middle East at Vision-X. The screw, which has already sold in the millions in the USA, is increasingly becoming the screw of choice for opticians throughout the world.
Nancy Tedeschi, Inventor of the Snapitscrew,said: “We see the UAE and the wider Middle East as very important markets for us and Vision-X is the leading platform to forge direct relationships with optical chains and labs in the area, as well as find distributors to help us reach the Independent opticians.”
Vision-X 2014 returns with support from Headline Sponsor, Vision & Fashion; Nikon & Kefan; Egma, GKB Hi-Tech and Medicals international. Held in DWTC’s Sheikh Saeed Halls from November 25-27, Vision-X Dubai is strictly a trade-only event. The show is pen daily from 10am to 6pm on November 25 and 26 and 10am to 5pm on November 27. Registration is available in advance at the event’s new website: www.vision-x.ae.
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a Google Glass® App to improve Insurance Claims Adjusters productivity and claim turnaround time
Mumbai, July 11, 2014: L&T Infotech, a global provider of information technology services and solutions, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the USD 14.3 billion Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has developed an innovative App called ‘GlassiC’ using the Google Glass® technology for Insurance Claims Adjustment.
The GlassiC App was launched in the US at L&T Infotech’s flagship event titled ‘Insurance Leadership Forum’, which took place in June 2014 across cities of Chicago, Hartford and New York.
The GlassiC App built on wearable technology like Google Glass® will help claims adjusters to do their job safely and efficiently, and improve customer experience with real-time claims processing.
The GlassiC App makes the Claims Adjustment processes more collaborative, efficient and diligent. It enables hands-free use in adverse conditions, and helps in audio-visual capture of damage assessment, witness statements, and provides ability to scan documents.
GlassiC enables adjusters to schedule their day efficiently, collaborate with senior adjusters, and reduces data entry efforts, thereby, increasing their productivity by as much as 20%. The claims turnaround time can be cut by up to 30%, thereby improving the customer experience.
L&T Infotech’s Insurance Solutions group is actively working to partner with its clients, and planning to pilot the GlassiC App in the field by riding along with the claims adjusters
Google Glass® is registered trademarks of Google Corporation, USA
About L&T Infotech
L&T Infotech is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the USD 14.3 billion Larsen & Toubro (ranked 4th in the global list of Green Companies in the industrial sector by Newsweek international) which has a presence in construction, engineering, manufacturing and financial services. L&T Infotech is ranked by NASSCOM as the 8th largest software & services exporter from India and among the top 20 IT BPO employers.
L&T Infotech provides end-to-end solutions and services in Banking & Financial Services; Insurance; Energy & Process; Hi-tech & Consumer Electronics; Utilities, Engineering & Construction; Consumer Packaged Goods, Retail & Pharmaceuticals; Auto & Aerospace; Media & Entertainment; Healthcare; Plant Equipment & Industrial Machinery and Travel & Logistics; as well as Testing; Mobility; Infrastructure Management Services; BI/DW; SAP; Oracle and Microsoft; Enterprise Integration; and Manufacturing Execution Systems in addition to an innovative CIO-thought partnership program that provides a value-driven edge to clients.
Headquartered in Mumbai, India, the Company is differentiated by its unique three-pronged value proposition encompassing Business-to-IT Connect, Engage the Future and Execution Excellence.
Visit: www.Lntinfotech.com
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NEW YORK, June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — NET-A-PORTER.COM, the world’s premier online luxury fashion and beauty retailer, launches Google Glass today available to shoppers in the US. NET-A-PORTER will be selling a limited number of DVF | Made for Glass optical and sunglass styles, to be sold as exclusive packages in five different color ways including black, green, plum, brown and white. Each DVF | Made for Glass bundle includes Glass, a frame and shade, a mono earbud, and case for $1,800.
“We are thrilled to offer Glass to our tech-savvy customers who are true leaders and innovators in style and lifestyle,” says Natalie Massenet, Founder and Chairman of The NET-A-PORTER Group. “We pride ourselves on leading the way in delivering the best in service, product, and technology and we are excited to bring Google Glass to our US customers, ahead of the Glass consumer release.”
The DVF | Made for Glass collection is now available on NET-A-PORTER.COM:
http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Designers/DVF_Made_For_Glass
About NET-A-PORTER.COM
NET-A-PORTER.COM was launched in June 2000 and has since established itself as the world’s premier online luxury fashion destination. Presented in the style of a fashion magazine, NET-A-PORTER.COM features collections from over 350 of the world’s most coveted designers, including Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Valentino, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana andStella McCartney. In 2013, NET-A-PORTER.COM added beauty as a new category. With its acclaimed editorial format, express worldwide shipping to 170 countries (including same-day delivery to New York, London and Hong Kong), luxurious packaging and easy returns, NET-A-PORTER.COM offers an unparalleled shopping experience. www.net-a-porter.com
About GOOGLE GLASS
Glass is smart eyewear that enhances the here and now. It’s what you want, when you want it: glanceable and in the moment. Glass began as a project from the Google[x] team, a division of Google dedicated to moonshot projects that create technology to make people’s lives better.
Glass puts you in control of your technology by connecting you to what you love with a hands-free device that’s on when you need it and off when you don’t. Created by designers and software engineers, Glass is simple and beautifully designed.www.google.com/glass
SOURCE NET-A-PORTER.COM
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