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By Andy Carp NEW YORK—What does it take to be a Vision Monday Top Lab? The requirements have changed a lot in recent years, as the wholesale laboratory business itself has evolved Wholesalers today are facing a very different “labscape” than they did in 1992, when VM published its first annual Top Labs Report, which ranks the largest U.S. labs based on their Rx sales and includes exclusive data about production levels, number of locations, work force size and other key indicators. Widespread industry consolidation, the growth of managed vision care and the emergence of the Internet and technologies such as digital lens surfacing have created new forms of competition and changed customer expectations.At a minimum, a large and successful lab must offer a diverse selection of major lens brands, excellent quality workmanship, superior service and competitive prices. But VM’s 2014 Top Labs go beyond these basics.
Although it’s crucial for a Top Lab to stay on the cutting edge of lens processing technology, it’s just as important for it to be easily accessible to customers. Consequently, most Top Labs have developed full-featured websites with online ordering capability and educational resources. Having a knowledgeable customer service team is also essential to a Top Lab’s success, as is the ability to educate eyecare professionals and office staff.

As this year’s Top Labs Report indicates, nearly all the leading wholesalers share these and other key characteristics, whether they are independent or owned by a supplier.