What is the problem you intended to address when you created the Lio laboratory in 2020?
I am a dental technician but did not recognize myself in the profession as it was practiced.
Dentures are theoretically intended to fit seamlessly into the patient's mouth.
But the way they were designed (via a plaster model, without having visuals of the patient, etc.), posed a problem.
To answer this, I created Lio, a 100% digital structure.
This involves completely digitizing the patient's face, their dental impression, etc., all of which is carried out in the dental office.
We then integrate all of this information into our software in order to offer the patient, via their dental practitioner, the most relevant modeling possible.
What about in terms of cost for the patient?
Digitization makes it possible to rationalize production tools.
It therefore offers much better control of production costs, considerably reduces problems of poor workmanship, and optimizes delivery times to practitioners.
Overall, we are extremely competitive, because it is cheaper than the French market thanks to the use of digital technology.
How have dentists responded to your initiative?
It was very well received throughout France.
While it is true that our head office is in Lyon, 80% of the practitioners who use our services are located outside the region, including some located outside French borders.
We respond to growing needs and the digitalization of processes is the way to respond to them.
This explains our current success and the fact that an ever-increasing number of dental practices are turning to our offer.
Exactly, what does your 2024 offer consist of?
Our core business remains the manufacture of 100% digital and French prostheses, at reasonable costs, and respectful of sustainable development issues.
But, of course, an innovative company like ours must constantly evolve.
This is why we decided to open our first subsidiaries in several large French cities.
There are already two, in Amiens and Nice.
The objective is to offer a real local service to our practitioners present in these regions.
Made in France is therefore a concept that is dear to you…
This is indeed the case.
Recently invited to the impact PME show, in the presence of the Prime Minister, it was highlighted that many dental prostheses were imported from abroad.
It is therefore urgent to put French know-how back at the heart of the market, which must become competitive again.
The difference can be created by optimizing the quality of the services offered.
That's to say ?
This involves building a global offering intended for practitioners.
For our part, At Lio, we have also developed a consulting activity around the best services to develop for patients.
To this end, and in order to increase proximity with our practitioners, we have created our own business software.
How do you concretely respond to sustainable development challenges?
Via digital technology, we have implemented a zero waste policy.
Rationalizing production makes it possible to avoid material losses as much as possible.
In the same way, we have limited our paper consumption as much as possible.
We also favor short circuits with regard to our deliveries.
For Lyon and its surrounding area, our deliveries are made by bicycle.
Are you considering developing your business abroad?
This step will come after our consolidation on the French market.
We fully intend to open subsidiaries outside our borders, starting with countries bordering France.
You have opened an innovative path. You are experiencing real success. This could whet the appetite of emerging competing structures. How do you view this possible future competition?
Given the number of imported prostheses, I think that there is, today, room for other French companies who would follow in our footsteps.
I strongly encourage the new generation of prosthetists to switch to this vision based on the digital technologies that we have adopted.
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