Smart Mirror AI at Tanaka Optical: Elevating the Customer Experience and Driving Revenue

In a sector where precision and service quality are critical, Tanaka Optical—a leading optical retailer in Japan—is embracing innovation to redefine the customer journey. Today, we invite you to hear from Damian Hall, CEO of Tanaka Optical, as he shares firsthand insights on the benefits of integrating Smart Mirror AI into their stores.

Can you introduce yourself and your company?

My name is Damian Hall, and I’m the CEO of Megane no Tanaka, also known as Tanaka Optical, in Japan. We operate over 100 retail locations across the country, offering prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids. We also manage in-house manufacturing, which is fully integrated into our operations. I’ve been CEO since 2016, and I truly enjoy leading the company every day.

What motivated you to implement the Smart Mirror AI technology in your stores?

As part of our vision for the customer journey, we wanted to create a consistently pleasant and engaging experience for anyone interacting with our brand. One of the key stages we identified was lens selection, which can often be a complex decision. Acep’s solution allowed us to make this step more interactive, smooth, and enjoyable for our customers.

How has this solution improved your operational efficiency?

The impact has been extremely positive. The technology helps us deliver a consistent, premium experience for every customer. With hundreds of employees across many locations, ensuring a high standard of service everywhere is crucial. Smart Mirror AI enables both new and experienced staff to guide customers with confidence and professionalism. It has also deepened the expertise of our more seasoned team members. A great example is the improvement in pupillary distance (PD) measurements, which are now more accurate—ultimately helping us provide higher-quality optical products.

Can you share a specific example of how the technology enhanced the customer experience?

When I joined the company, I quickly noticed how technically challenging lens selection could be for customers. Most people don’t have the knowledge to make informed decisions. Thanks to our visualization tools, clients now understand the benefits of each lens type and how they function. The process has become simpler and more intuitive. Acep’s technology really helped us break down complex explanations, making the selection process quicker and more enjoyable—for both customers and staff.

What role has Augmented Reality played in improving your products and services?

Augmented Reality allows customers to visualize the impact of different lenses in real time. Numbers or still images alone can’t fully communicate what a lens will do. With AR, customers can immediately see how their vision will be affected, narrowing the gap between expectation and reality. This has significantly boosted satisfaction, both at the point of purchase and after.

How has this technology supported your company’s digital transformation?

At Tanaka, we’re deeply committed to our digital evolution. We believe that digital tools are key to sustaining and improving customer satisfaction. We already use tablets extensively in our stores, and Acep’s solution was one of the first digital tools that truly resonated with our staff. It gave them the confidence to adopt more technology. By working collaboratively with customers through these tools, we’re also bringing them along on our digital journey.

TANAKA OPTICAL

Watch the video : TANAKA Optical | Client Testimonial