“We are a technology company at heart,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO at Aetrex, Inc., a footwear and orthotics firm that leads with the adage, “one click for a better fit.”
Larry Schwartz, the CEO of Aetrex, Inc., a footwear and orthotics firm, emphasized the company's core focus on technology with their motto, "one click for a better fit."
During the FN CEO Summit at The Plaza Hotel in New York on August 3, Schwartz delved into the significance of 3D scanning and AI for the contemporary footwear industry, highlighting Aetrex’s involvement in this field.
Schwartz emphasized that technology is the driving force behind all business operations while referring to themselves as the footwear industry's "geek squad." Addressing the issue of online footwear returns, Aetrex offers a range of foot scanning technology solutions, such as the Albert Pressure, Albert 3D Fit, and Albert 2 Pro. Additionally, its FitGenius AI Engine plugin utilizes AI to 3D scan a foot, aiding consumers in finding the perfect fit and ultimately decreasing return rates.
Schwartz pointed out that, due to the three-dimensional nature of feet, length alone is not sufficient to determine shoe size. Using outdated technology for shoe fitting results in an alarmingly high return rate of 30 to 40 percent. Aetrex's fit solutions assist shoppers in obtaining this information before making a purchase.
Aetrex's upcoming 3D data-driven footwear development project is set to launch in a few weeks. Schwartz believes it will revolutionize the way footwear developers access data to improve shoe sales. Foot.com hosts a portal filled with features that significantly simplify the footwear design process.
One example is the "Build a Last" feature, which enables users to select a country or geographical region in 3D to access the average foot size for men's or women's shoes, aiding in the creation of better lasts. Schwartz mentioned that its data can be exported effortlessly.
Schwartz mentioned that the industry could benefit from more up-to-date in-store sizing for shoes when discussing the slow adoption of foot sizing technologies. One of the main challenges is convincing top-level executives to embrace the technology, as it can be difficult to sell from the middle up.
"Just start scanning," he advised. Let's go, gather the data, and increase shoe sales.
Source: https://footwearnews.com/business/business/aetrex-fit-as-an-industry-fn-ceo-summit-1203319751/
