features
Software: System upgrades
Software suppliers tell Julie Cramer how their tech developments are enhancing the member experience and benefiting day-to-day club operations
We recently launched Exerp Go, which is a fully web-based Point of Sale solution that can be operated anywhere with just a phone, ipad or till, on- or off-site.
Staff are no longer strapped to a desk allowing them to move freely for powerful social interaction and secondary sales opportunities.
We’re launching our new AI chatbot to enable staff to service the member with just voice interaction and out systems are fully cloud-based.
More: www.exerp.com
Since migrating to Exerp 2013, PureGym has been in a period of hypergrowth. Exerp has provided the operator with enhanced capabilities, including offering fully-automated, 24-hour access to clubs and moved billing in-house, recouping bounce fees. It has also enabled advanced campaign management capabilities, membership add-ons and member self-service.
Exerp has supported the company in scaling from 35 to 650+ clubs, while also acquiring three more fitness chains and expanding into Denmark, Switzerland, the US and UAE. Revenue growth has followed, rising from £69m to £605m. Future expansion plans include a franchise model for Saudi Arabia and the US.
A new feature is the Xplor Active member app. Suiting different budgets, this is available with standard or custom branding.
Members can manage memberships, book classes and receive updates – creating a better member experience, while clubs can use dynamic QR codes for secure access and visit tracking.
Operators can drive additional recurring revenue by offering classes and courses on a membership basis. Great for formats such as Pilates, members are automatically booked into each session and payment is automatically collected.
We’ve also improved our prospecting tools to help clubs identify and target abandoned signups to maximise sales.
Xplor Gym is built on API-first technology that makes integrations easy, so operators can take advantage of AI innovations to create a customised solution that suits their business needs.
It’s cloud-based, so operators can access the tools they need from anywhere. To support unmanned access and also access during local internet outages, we offer on-site hardware for access control.
More: www.xplorgym.co.uk
BigBox Huddersfield is a large destination club that opened in 2024. Our software is used for almost everything, creating a seamless member experience.
Prospecting and automated communication tools have helped BigBox achieve impressive growth – winning 500-plus new members each month after opening – tracking this growth was easy with the in-built dashboards.
The operator has a wealth of live data and analytics with which to make fast, informed decisions. This success encouraged the owner to introduce Xplor Gym at two more sites. Targeting differing demographics, these operate under unique brand identities and alternative configurations – highlighting the flexibility of the solution.
Technogym’s Automated Journeys function allows operators to deliver highly-tailored member pathways – from onboarding and training to retention – using intelligent, pre-built digital workflows. These tools have significantly enhanced personalisation at scale, enabling clubs to better understand and serve their members. Journeys can be built seamlessly with or without Technogym equipment.
MyWellness uses our AI ‘Technogym Coach’ to power Automated Journeys, provide actionable insights from Technogym Check Up* and personalise training experiences based on member data and behaviour.
This enables clubs to automate engagement, optimise operations and deliver intelligent, results-driven services that scale, without losing the personal touch.
MyWellness is a cloud-based platform accessible from any device, seamlessly integrating with Technogym equipment and third-party systems.
* Technogym Check-up is an assessment tool that gives a Wellness Age across measures of wellbeing.
More: www.technogym.com
Breedon Priory Health Club has partnered with Technogym for the use of its fitness equipment and digital ecosystem since opening.
In 2024, Breedon Priory decided to replace the club’s gym management software, choosing Xplor Gym in part due to its seamless integration with the Technogym Mywellness CEM.
Members were placed into the Xplor Gym system before it went live, giving the club time to train team members and the integration has made operations easier, improving the member journey from initial enquiry to in-club visits and streamlining the business.
Perfect Gym has enhanced its AI capabilities, upgraded analytics dashboards and expanded its member app features, improving personalisation, engagement and retention.
We’ve also strengthened integrations with global tech partners via our open API, allowing operators to fully tailor their ecosystem. Enhanced enterprise tools such as centralised reporting and advanced billing workflows now support more complex fitness operations.
These updates help operators cut admin time, optimise performance across locations and offer a more connected member experience, leading to measurable gains in efficiency, revenue and satisfaction.
Perfect Gym uses AI to power insights, predict churn and personalise communication. Operators can also extend functionality with AI-enabled integrations via our open API, helping them make smarter decisions and automate more processes.
Our cloud infrastructure ensures secure, always-on access, supported by ISO 27001 certification, firewalls, real-time monitoring, and frequent data backups.
More: www.perfectgym.com
GymNation, one of the largest fitness chains in the Middle East, uses Perfect Gym’s open API, webhooks, and AI-driven modules to personalise communication and boost retention.
With AI churn prediction reaching up to 87 per cent accuracy, GymNation can proactively engage at-risk members. Its automation engine responds to leads within 12 seconds, streamlining onboarding and driving conversion.
One-Click booking is our newest feature that removes all barriers from the booking process and routes clients to class and pack purchases within seconds.
We know how powerful word of mouth is and with the member referral link feature, operators can measure and reward their most loyal members.
Used as a quick way to both grow and retain, the referral link directly engages in exciting ways.
BSport’s plans in 2025 include incorporating AI in the form of intelligent agents and generative AI to create smarter, effective studio management.
A recent update to BSport’s marketing tools is CoachMail – an AI-powered email editor that enables users to create beautiful, captivating campaigns in no time with AI that handles copywriting, photos and more with ease.
BSport offers an entirely cloud-based software, accessible anytime, anywhere. With provider AWS, BSport runs on the largest and one of the most trusted cloud infrastructure providers globally. Our servers are located in Europe, giving our UK partners the benefit of reliability, smoother client experience and lower latency.
The recent addition of a London office demonstrates our commitment to further developing our presence in the UK, alongside our offices in Barcelona, Paris and Berlin. Our team is growing, with the goal of creating a larger network of operators while maintaining the premium level of support our partners expect.
More: www.bsport.io
One partner who has been able to optimise everything BSport has to offer is Onyx London, which has been able to treble its revenue over the four years it has been working with the company.
The multi-activity studio has been able to keep clients loyal thanks to the custom app and widgets. Onyx’s members can easily book into classes, with a seamless user journey for every purchase. Member retention is achieved instantaneously, with automated communication via SMS, email and push notification, all based on their synchronised data in which member behaviour is effectively tagged in smartlists.
We’ve added the ability for people to book on behalf of others who are known to them. This has enabled greater flexibility for users when booking for family members. In addition, we’ve added the ability to award digital badges for app behaviours, which contributes to motivation and ultimately retention of members.
Users can also now add carousel tiles which enables additional content to feature in the app and highlight promotional items.
We’ve recently partnered with an AI solution to bring a customer service chat function into our app solution.
It’s a flexible, hybrid fitness platform for any leisure, fitness or sport facility using the unique power of mobile. Our configuration cockpit is web-based while each app can be downloaded from the App/Google Stores.
More: www.myfitapp.com
In 2020, Abbeycroft Leisure – a not-for-profit social enterprise that manages 12 facilities across west Suffolk – partnered with us to create a branded member app to enhance engagement and streamline operations. The app enables members to easily book classes, view timetables, discover products and services on offer, check in at the centre and manage their membership.
It also enables managers to communicate with members instantly via push notifications – whether that’s delivering centre news and latest offers or sending booking reminders and class waiting list alerts to help increase class occupancies.
Since its launch, the app has grown to over 650,000 active mobile users, with 500,000 app hits per month.
Over the past year, we’ve launched ABC XLerate CRM, a custom-built CRM tool, AI-powered billing, which allows for intelligent billing systems and AI churn‑prediction tools which provide real-time updates at the member level to identify risks and retention strategies.
We’ve also rolled out enhanced wearable support through ABC Trainerize, with new Apple Health and Google Fit sync integrations and a partnership with myFitnessPal, giving professionals more tools to support member progress with real-time insights and personalised recommendations.
Our software is AI-enabled and fully cloud-based. Our open, scalable platform integrates AI across key functions, helping operators optimise performance, boost retention and increase revenue.
Being cloud-based ensures seamless updates, remote access and scalability, making it easy for gyms and studios of all sizes to grow efficiently in a data-driven, digitally connected fitness landscape.
We’re set on expanding our UK and European footprint, working to bring in critical new hires to support the market and becoming more involved in the industry through events such as FIBO.
We’re combining our North American success with local insights tailored to these markets to work with high-performing gyms and studios across the region.
More: www.abcfitness.com
Crunch Fitness has grown from eight to 500+ clubs across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico with ABC Fitness as its tech backbone, leveraging our open API architecture to enable seamless membership sales and operations at scale.
In EMEA, we’ve partnered with Xtreme Fitness in Poland, where our platform is already driving impressive results as they expand across the region.
In 2024, Mindbody introduced Analytics 2.0, an upgrade to its reporting platform built to meet the evolving needs of fitness and wellness operators.
The tool centralises critical metrics, such as sales, visits, lead conversion and memberships into one intuitive, visual dashboard, making insights easier to access and act on.
A key Analytics 2.0 feature, comparative analytics, uses anonymised data from 30,000 businesses to help operators benchmark performance and uncover growth opportunities.
With YoY tracking, franchise-wide comparisons and accounting-aligned precision, over 90 per cent of Mindbody’s clients have adopted Analytics 2.0, using it to drive smarter decisions, save time and boost retention.
Mindbody has been built with AI-driven capabilities that automate data processing and improve insight accuracy. It’s also cloud-based, meaning customers can access and manage their business operations from any device at any time, via a web dashboard and a mobile app.
More: www.mindbodyonline.com
Mindbody’s Analytics 2.0 is being used at Somaspace, a Pilates studio in Austin, Texas. Owner Amanda Vernor relies on the overview page, which consolidates sales, visits and member trends, to spot fluctuations and take action. For example, she identified the need to promote free consultations after noticing they were underperforming.
When sales are up but ‘clients served’ is down, she can resolve issues. She can engage at-risk clients, coach staff based on performance trends, resolve challenges and adjust marketing.
Audience Builder has been a real breakthrough. It allows operators to segment and target communications with precision and has already led to stronger engagement and improved retention across multiple sites.
Alongside that, we’ve also launched Single Sign-On (SSO) which has been brilliant for streamlining access and strengthening security, saving teams valuable admin time.
Our Direct Debit Managed Service is taking the headache out of payment collection, and Service Flex gives customers the freedom to tailor the support they need. It’s all about giving operators the tools to stay in control, work smarter and deliver better member experiences.
We’re embedding AI across the product, enabling smarter analytics, better forecasting and quicker decision-making.
Operators can personalise member experiences, spot usage patterns early, and automate reporting. It’s smarter software, and it’s already making their day-to-day smoother. Our platform is fully cloud-based, so it’s secure, scalable and flexible by design.
Live Borders runs more than 30 venues across the Scottish Borders and moved to our cloud-based platform to modernise its operation. The rollout gave customers a slicker, self-service booking system, cutting down on front desk queues and admin.
Scott Weir, head of commercial, says it’s been transformational for staff and members. They’ve reduced manual work and empowered the community. It shows how our technology can make a real operational impact.
More: www.gladstonesoftware.com
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