Ocuco and Relcon Software, two major IT companies in the optical sector, have merged, making the new company the largest optical software supplier outside the US.
With combined revenues of more than $8m (£4.23m) last year, 55 staff and a suite of products covering optical retail and laboratory systems, pharmacy and ophthalmology, the new company will have software installed in 1,000 sites across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Ocuco’s Leo Mac Canna said: ‘Most transactions are driven by financial need or one or other company reaching strategic limitations. In this case new opportunities are opened up to both companies, to improve their respective products, increase market share, provide more options for customers, and provide more opportunities for staff growth and a strengthened management team to deliver.’
Relcon’s Al Chetwode agreed, adding that it would succeed ‘because of our shared vision to become the largest global company in optical software’.
Ocuco-Relcon has reassured customers that all products will continue to be supported and developed into the future. ‘We respect the fact that the IT requirements of opticians vary. Acuitas and Focus are highly regarded in the marketplace and address different market segments,’ said Chetwode, who will lead Ocuco-Relcon and join the Ocuco Group board, headed by Mac Canna.
Ocuco Group has also diversified into pharmacy and ophthalmology and is actively seeking growth and further acquisitions in these markets.
Shortly before the merger Relcon and instrument maker Topcon announced a new link between their systems.
It is now possible to link patient records from Ocuco-Relcon’s Focus software directly to any camera supplied by Topcon using ImageNet iBase image capture and analysis software, so that no patient details need to be re-keyed. ‘We are very excited by the possibilities that this level of integration can offer,’ said Andrew Yorke, director of Topcon UK. ‘This is a major step towards the total practice solution where everything is fully integrated.’
