Arize, Hewlett Packard’s digital foot orthotic business, exemplifies a significant innovation in healthcare technology, integrating advanced 3D printing with cloud-based workflows to deliver custom orthotic solutions for foot health. Arize was officially announced in July 2021, marking HP’s expansion from its well-known printing and computing portfolio into the medical and biomechanical field. The Arize solution offers podiatrists and orthotists a revolutionary platform to prescribe custom orthoses tailored to specific patient needs—streamlining clinic operations and elevating standards for comfort, function, and patient satisfaction.
Origins and Industry Context
HP’s entry into foot orthotics came in response to a significant medical challenge: an estimated 77% of Americans suffer from foot pain at some point, impacting productivity and quality of life. Traditionally, producing custom orthotic insoles required time-consuming manual manufacturing, intensive labor, and could be prone to variability. HP leveraged its legacy in 3D printing—particularly its Multi Jet Fusion technology—to disrupt the orthotics sector and create a more efficient, scalable system for personalized care
Arize is now part of the Edser group of orthotic labs, further consolidating expertise and resources in digital healthcare. This partnership has helped Arize stay at the forefront of the market’s digital transformation, ensuring rapid adoption in podiatric clinics
The Arize Technology Platform
At its core, Arize features an end-to-end workflow leveraging HP’s integrated 3D laser scanning hardware, proprietary cloud-based software, and centralized 3D printing facilities. The process begins with a clinic capturing a high-resolution 3D scan of a patient’s foot—quickly building an exact digital model using laser-triangulation and detailed imaging. This model is then uploaded to HP’s cloud system, where software tools help providers visualize, annotate, and prescribe modifications according to each patient’s anatomy and clinical needs.
One of Arize’s strengths lies in its automated detection of anatomical landmarks and ergonomically relevant features. Providers can easily fine-tune the design, ensuring form, fit, and function are optimized for outcomes ranging from alleviating pain to supporting postural correction. The final digital prescription is sent to HP’s centralized production facilities, where the orthoses are fabricated on demand. HP’s Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers allow for five core styles: functional, sports, stability, everyday comfort, and dress/low-profile.
Business Model and Clinical Benefits
Arize’s business model targets both the economic and workflow pain points in clinical orthotics. By digitizing and automating the design and ordering process, HP reduces labor costs, minimizes errors inherent in manual production, and offers a predictable flat-rate pricing structure—covering modifications and shipping. For clinics, this translates into efficiency gains, streamlined patient intake, and fewer logistical hurdles, as reordering and patient tracking are managed via a unified interface.
Clinicians have highlighted improved productivity and patient outcomes. Digital scans and 3D visualization not only facilitate precision but can be used as a tool for patient education, improving buy-in and compliance with prescribed orthoses. Clinics benefit from highly consistent orthoses and a straightforward reordering process, helping maintain continuity and patient satisfaction.
Collaborative and Clinical Validation
HP worked closely with an independent advisory council comprising podiatrists, biomechanics experts, and physical therapists to ensure clinical validity and practical application. Notable consultants included Dr. Bruce Williams DPM and Dr. Gavin P. Ripp; both report increased efficiency and improved patient outcomes since the adoption of Arize. HP’s continued collaboration with podiatric specialists ensures the solution adapts dynamically to real-world clinic needs and reflects the evolving science of foot biomechanics.
Market Impact and Sustainability
Arize’s market impact is notable, coming at a time of robust growth in the orthotic insoles sector, driven by population aging and greater awareness of foot health. The adoption of 3D printing for orthotic production not only enhances customization but also fosters sustainability; production is done near the point of consumption, reducing logistical waste and allowing for more circular manufacturing practices.
Arize’s emphasis on digital workflows brings production closer to the patient and may help reduce supply chain inefficiencies, carbon emissions, and material waste—a key advantage over traditional, more resource-intensive methods.
Conclusion: The Future of Foot Health
HP’s Arize orthotic business stands at the intersection of technology and personalized medical care, reshaping the way clinics diagnose, prescribe, and deliver custom foot support. By deploying digital scanning, cloud-based prescription, and next-generation 3D printing, Arize advances the vision of accessible, high-quality orthotics for millions suffering from foot pain—while making clinics more efficient and operations more sustainable. As digital health ecosystems evolve, Arize signifies how legacy tech companies like HP can drive innovation in wellness, using their engineering expertise to address real medical needs.