Striving for Excellence: Zenni’s CTO and Global General Manager, David Ting, Top 50 Technology Professional Award Winner

At Zenni, our mission is simple yet profound: to help the world see better and live better. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to announce that our Chief Technology Officer and Global General Manager, David Ting, has been named as a Top 50 Technology Professional Award Winner. This prestigious accolade is a testament to David’s exceptional leadership and contributions to the tech industry, as recognized by his peers. Join us as we explore the essence of this prestigious award, delve into David’s remarkable achievements, and uncover how Zenni’s unwavering commitment to innovation is spearheading positive change in the realm of eyewear.

Honoring Tech Trailblazers: The Top 50 Technology Professional Award

Being selected as a Winner for The Top 50 Technology Professional Award is a prestigious honor. This acknowledgment, which stems from peer voting, highlights their profound influence on both current and past organizations, their notable contributions to their professional community through thought leadership, their groundbreaking projects, and their remarkable leadership abilities. Being named a winner for this esteemed award stands as a testament to an individual’s remarkable achievements and profound influence within the technology community.

Driving Innovation at Zenni

As the CTO and Global General Manager of Zenni, David Ting has been instrumental in spearheading our efforts to revolutionize the eyewear industry through technology. Under his guidance, Zenni has earned a spot on the distinguished list of the 100 fastest-growing mobile apps, a testament to our commitment to providing a seamless and user-friendly shopping experience for our customers. From optimizing our mobile platform to implementing cutting-edge features like virtual try-on, David’s leadership has propelled Zenni to new heights in the digital landscape.

Major Lift to Business Results

Under David’s leadership, Zenni has increased revenue growth (double-digit percentage) and doubled profit (almost a nine-figure difference) between 2022 and 2023. To achieve this, Zenni Optical has been at the forefront of innovative retail business strategies, leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance the customer experience and drive growth. Business strategy included the implementation of the following tech-focused solutions:

• Visual Search ‘Find by Image’: Zenni has integrated visual search technology, allowing customers to find eyewear based on images they upload. This feature enables a seamless and intuitive shopping experience, where customers can easily locate frames similar to ones they like or have seen elsewhere.
• Virtual Try-On: With the VTO feature, Zenni has revolutionized the eyewear shopping experience. Customers can virtually try on glasses using their computer or mobile device, allowing them to see how different frames look on their faces before making a purchase. This feature increases confidence in the buying process and reduces the likelihood of returns.
• AI Solutions: Zenni harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, such as Algolia, to enhance search functionality and optimize the customer journey. AI algorithms help improve product recommendations, personalize search results, and streamline the browsing experience, making it easier for customers to find the perfect pair of glasses.
• Prescription Verification Scan: Zenni offers a prescription verification scan feature, enabling customers to upload their prescriptions directly to the platform. This ensures accuracy and eliminates the hassle of manual data entry, providing a seamless transition from prescription to purchase.

Some of the highlights are:

• By employing a mobile-first strategy, Zenni’s revenue generated from the mobile app increased significantly from 2% annually in the first half of 2022 to now constituting 20% of total revenue, while also achieving and maintaining the #1 position in eyewear app downloads within the Shopping category since August 2022. In fact, Zenni received Similarweb’s 2023 award for fastest growing app.
• Zenni revamped the site search function through our strategic collaboration with Algolia, where their powerful search technology has elevated the discoverability of our products and enhanced the overall shopping journey for our customers. Zenni’s revenue per search session has surged by over 30%, reaffirming Zenni’s standing as a frontrunner in the e-commerce landscape.
• By harnessing AI technology, Zenni significantly enhanced digital media performance, boosting efficiency by over 200% within six months in 2023, while simultaneously doubling CRM revenue year-over-year through the implementation of a new tech stack.
• AI-Driven SEO: Zenni’s generative AI-driven SEO strategy, coupled with AI-assisted content generation, resulted in a remarkable 15% increase in organic traffic within one quarter, translating to an extra 1.74 million visits, alongside a substantial 167% surge in traffic to blogs on their site.
• Live Streams: Launched in August 2023, Zenni Optical’s live streams garnered an impressive 15 million views in the first quarter of 2024.
• Zenni Optical’s AI-generated collections, introduced in Q4 2023, swiftly contributed nearly seven figures in new revenue within three months, experiencing a remarkable 153% month-over-month growth in March.

Expanding Partnerships with Eye Care Professionals

At Zenni, we believe in the importance of collaboration and partnership in advancing eye health and wellness. That’s why we’re proud to announce that our business platform has grown significantly under David’s leadership, with an increasing number of eye care professionals partnering with Zenni to provide their patients with access to affordable, high-quality eyewear. Through these partnerships, we’re able to extend our reach and impact, ensuring that individuals everywhere have access to the vision care they need to thrive.

A Vision for the Future

Congratulations to David Ting on this well-deserved recognition as an Award Winner for the 2024 Top 50 Technology Professional Award. His leadership, innovation, and dedication have been instrumental in driving Zenni’s success and furthering our mission of making quality eyewear accessible to all. As we look to the future, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and continuing to make a positive impact on global eye health and wellness. Join us as we strive to help the world see better and live better, one pair of glasses at a time.

Be sure to explore David’s latest interviews detailing Zenni’s remarkable 34% surge in revenue per search session through the implementation of Algolia’s solution here, and how Zenni is leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify and respond to emerging trends as they develop here. Furthermore, discover how David uncovered eight-figure savings by tapping into data within his first two months at Zenni here.