FOLLOWING support from Business Gateway, an optical software management firm has enjoyed record growth over the last year, with plans to create four new jobs in 2021.
Launched in 2014, XEYEX develops and supplies cloud-based patient and practice management software for more than 250 independent retail opticians across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Headquartered in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, XEYEX’s software platform enables the recording of medical and clinical records for patient examinations. In addition, it manages online and instore appointments, logs sales records with a digital till system and automates marketing activity through printed post, email and SMS.
Business Gateway helped the team refine its strategic marketing approach, providing XEYEX with a marketing review and implementation programme. Through the marketing programme, Business Gateway carried out a comprehensive marketing audit and supported the business by helping them update key messaging and promotional marketing activity.
The recent success means XEYEX is now in the process of recruiting and training four new employees that will be split across data migration, customer support and learning and development.
The business also accessed a £10,000 Coronavirus Business Support Fund signposted by Business Gateway, which was used to help offset the loss of revenue when customers suspended marketing activity during the lockdown.
In response to the pandemic, XEYEX also adapted its services to offer tailored training sessions on safe optometry practices and offered ongoing guidance about the wider implications of Covid-19 on the optometry industry to clients. With this new strategy, XEYEX successfully increased its monthly optometry software subscription by 8% over the first three months of last year’s lockdown.
Previously listed by Royal Bank of Scotland as one of its top 25 entrepreneurs, Grant Cardwell, Director and Co-Founder of XEYEX, commented: “Contacting our Business Gateway office was one of the first actions we took when we started the business. Taking advantage of its free resources, guidance and support, XEYEX has grown from strength to strength.
“We are confident, despite the challenges to the economy from the pandemic, that XEYEX will continue to grow throughout 2021 – Business Gateway has been instrumental to this. We’re implementing the new marketing strategy and look forward to welcoming new team members to the business soon.”
In 2020, XEYEX was a finalist of two categories in the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year awards, for ‘Small Business of the Year’ and ‘Scale-up Entrepreneur of the Year’ for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The business also recently made it to the final of the Lanarkshire Business Awards as one of three finalists for Lanarkshire’s Best Business before the event was postponed due to the pandemic.
Robert Swinburne, Business Adviser at Business Gateway, commented: “A strong working relationship with Grant meant he had a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the business. Over the last six years we have been able to provide a tailored package of support and guide the team as they started-up and then into their growth journey.
“From one-to-one business advice to recently taking on a strategic marketing review – which has supported impressive results for the team, XEYEX has been highly engaged and open to receiving all levels of support. This reaffirms the teams persistent hard work and professionalism to expand and develop the business.”
