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Specifier: At your service
You might be tempted to skip a service, but experts say it will cost you in the long run. Providers tell Steph Eaves why they their work is important to the management of assets
We’ve established long-term relationships with operators such as Nuffield Health, GLL and the Ministry of Defence, to prolong the life of their gym equipment as opposed to replacing it.
These decisions are made off the back of data accumulated over time in relation to member feedback on existing equipment and overall experience of the gym; the number of breakdowns recorded; the availability of replacement parts; the general look and feel of the existing gym equipment; and cost-analysis of maintenance programmes provided by the original equipment manufacturer versus independent providers.
By adopting an approach that focuses on prolonging the life of the existing gym equipment, such operators have not only continued to achieve high levels of member satisfaction, but have also been able to invest funds into other areas of their business due to the savings they’ve made.
Nuffield Health has significantly reduced operational costs by eliminating many administrative tasks associated with managing the maintenance of equipment, such as tracking assets, reporting faults and scheduling engineer visits.
We’ve done this by providing each Nuffield Health site with remote access to its own asset management software, which gives access to its full range of assets, remote reporting of equipment defects and the ability to view the progress of jobs. Such data allows senior management to make informed business decisions regarding the equipment across its estate.
For the past four years, PSLT has maintained an all-inclusive contract with Places for People Leisure (PFP).
In the earlier stages of our partnership, PFP faced challenges such as extended equipment downtime and torn upholstery. We addressed these issues, reducing downtime and enhancing the gym experience and our upholstery team regularly visits PFP’s gyms to attend to repairs. The feedback from members and PFP has been overwhelmingly positive.
The utilisation of our client portal has streamlined the process of reporting, tracking, and completing repairs. This system ensures that servicing is automatically scheduled, without requiring customer prompts.
Proactively investing in maintenance proves more cost-effective than dealing with the aftermath of neglected equipment. Negligence can expose any health club to legal liability if a member is injured due to faulty kit, leading to lawsuits and reputational damage.
Equipment maintenance is pivotal to the success of a club, as malfunctions breed frustration.
Asset lifespan is also improved by good maintenance practices. This not only maximises initial investment, but also reduces the need for costly replacements. Well-maintained equipment also saves money on energy costs.
A health club’s commitment to equipment upkeep signals professionalism and care for members.
Some operators are happy to spend vast sums kitting out their gym with the latest gear but skimp on servicing equipment to save money and while I empathise, missing a service is a false economy.
Prevention is key. Much like having your car serviced, if caught early enough most issues can be dealt with quickly, preventing further problems.
Often, it’s engineers’ travel costs that rack up the most expense and this can be reduced by consolidating call-outs – we strive to book in advance, so we can attend multiple sites in one day.
Health club owners take a sigh of relief when we diagnose and fix a piece of equipment for a fraction of the cost it would take to replace and most equipment can be fixed in situ, meaning members don’t have to go weeks without access.
Luxe Fitness in the UK is one of our clients. We’ve taken on the servicing of all its products and bundled it with a new installation, giving them a cost-saving, first-time fixed rates and fewer call-out charges, because we’re taking care of them in every way we can.
We even service other manufacturers’ products on-site to save them the time and effort of working with multiple providers.
There’s a misconception that you need to commit to stretched-out service and warranty packages, which you pay the earth for, but if the product is as good as the manufacturer states, let them deliver on that promise.
We’re more than happy to stand behind the products we sell and at the end of the term, to give well-priced, sensible extended servicing and warranty terms.
Good maintenance is a strategic investment in the longevity of equipment. Timely and effective maintenance can extend its lifespan, saving significant costs long-term.
Equipment maintenance is paramount to the success of a health club and the utilisation of a digital asset management platform enhances its importance by streamlining maintenance processes, facilitating proactive monitoring and optimising resource allocation.
Our asset management platform includes digital service ticketing. With this feature, our clients can swiftly log and prioritise maintenance requests and issues, ensuring that all the correct information is sent to their maintenance provider the first time. This speed ensures that maintenance tasks are addressed promptly, reducing the time it takes to resolve issues and minimising equipment downtime. Clients can also access records of past maintenance tasks, track the progress of ongoing issues and generate reports for analysis and future planning.
It’s important to note that servicing and maintenance isn’t a generic, one-size-fits-all matter. In reality, each piece of equipment can have unique maintenance requirements based on factors such as usage patterns, environmental conditions and manufacturer recommendations. A digital asset management platform allows for the customisation of maintenance plans, taking these factors into consideration.
Leveraging service and maintenance data combined with asset depreciation information collected in the asset management platform allows our clients to make informed decisions about the lifecycle of their equipment. By analysing historical maintenance data and tracking asset depreciation trends, our clients can accurately determine the optimal time to sell or replace assets.
