In the visionary world of eyecare technology, Ocuco shines as an innovation leader, orchestrating the future of optical software with precision. Ocuco works to transform the eyecare industry, crafting digital solutions that redefine what’s possible for optometrists, optical labs, and retail chains. 

At the heart of Ocuco’s offerings is a practice management system that synchronizes clinical and retail operations for everyone from independent practitioners to vast optical empires. With solutions deployed in over 6,750 sites across 88 countries, Ocuco is powered by over 350 experts stationed in tech hubs from the US to China.  

“Ocuco stands out among technology companies by providing an incredible platform tailored to the industry and maintaining a close partnership with customers through a continuous release cycle of new features,” says David Gregg, a managing director at Slalom who collaborated closely with Ocuco.  

To deliver faster time to market for new product features and updates, Ocuco wanted to look at how AI can accelerate its engineering function. The company had previously purchased GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered tool that streamlines the development process and boosts productivity—key factors in Ocuco’s innovative approach to integrating customer investment into its growth strategy. 

While many of Ocuco’s software engineers had adopted the new functionality into their daily workstreams, others needed a nudge to fully embrace the change. “We wanted to challenge the mindset of the organisation—we were really looking for a mentality shift,” says Ben Churchill, who leads AI strategy for Ocuco.  

To do that, the visionary optical software company looked to Slalom for assistance in helping its developers embrace AI-accelerated engineering.  

Ocuco and Slalom embarked on a journey to help Ocuco developers fully adopt GitHub Copilot. The initiative kicked off with a workshop attended by Ocuco’s senior technical leaders, focusing on the transformative power of AI. 

Michael Jones, the Slalom director leading the project, explains, “This work boils down to getting Ocuco to fall in love with the benefits and value of the technology.” The team delved into why Ocuco chose this technology, emphasizing goals like enhancing productivity, accelerating speed to market, improving quality, and elevating customer satisfaction. 

Slalom used a blend of practical sessions and dedicated office hours for employee questions, which proved to be a beneficial strategy. 

Next came a pivotal discussion on change adoption. Jones says, “Adoption work is actually about human transformation—it’s teaching individuals how to reimagine the building blocks of their days to infuse AI into everything they do.” A structured human-centered change adoption strategy empowered Ocuco’s developers to unlock the full potential of AI tools. 

The project’s final component was fostering a mindset of continuous improvement within Ocuco. The focus shifted to the question: “How can we unlock more benefits and better value by infusing AI into more of these building blocks?” This forward-thinking method was designed to ensure long-term success and momentum. 

All together, these efforts created a strong foundation for Ocuco’s developers to not only embrace AI technology but to thrive in a constantly evolving digital landscape. The partnership promises ongoing innovation and collaboration, setting the stage for future successes. 

“Slalom’s overall capacity to provide guidance and serve as a sounding board for a range of issues—even those beyond the project’s original scope—proved invaluable,” adds Churchill.

The adoption of AI-accelerated engineering led to significant productivity gains for Ocuco, thanks to a holistic approach focused on both technology adoption and improving the overall experience.  

“We’re observing greater engagement with AI today, with numerous use cases emerging and overall productivity rising,” says Churchill. “However, one aspect that remains difficult to quantify is the cultural shift within the organisation—there are certainly benefits we’ve gained that aren’t directly reflected in the productivity metrics.” 

That’s because Ocuco has taken a holistic approach to AI—one that prioritises the well-being and perspectives of its employees above all else.