features
Software: Future intelligence
Tech is enabling deeper levels of personalisation to drive results for members, while making it easier for clubs to build more engaged communities, as Julie Cramer reports
We’re consistently evolving the Orbit4 platform and apps to meet customers’ needs and we’ve delivered a number of recent releases.
The first is our Checklist Module, designed for operational, equipment, and facility management. This helps operators improve efficiency by streamlining workflows and ensuring tasks are completed.
By minimising the risk of errors through clear instructions and reminders, checklists promote consistent standards across teams and locations. They also serve as training tools for on-boarding employees, ensuring they follow best practice from day one.
We’ve also launched our Action Centre in Orbit4 for site-level managers and head office management. Important triggers and alerts flag up immediate tasks relating to assets that need attention, service tickets that are overdue and soon-to-expire contracts. Thirdly, we’ve introduced our ‘League Table’ feature to rank service providers and assets, providing operators with insights into the performance of partners and equipment. Finally, we’ve built a gamification feature whereby each user is rewarded with points when they complete actions and tasks in Orbit4. The user can go from a Novice to a Top Dog and then a Wizard.
AI will transform health clubs by enabling hyper-personalised experiences, advanced performance tracking and virtual assistance. By analysing member behaviour, AI will identify patterns predicting cancellations, prompting timely retention efforts.
Orbit4 is utilising AI in its app, learning from user’s behaviour when raising tickets, completing checklists and communicating with service providers. For example, when tickets are raised, fault requests are stored. Common faults become available for future users in a dropdown to describe the fault, with fixes based on what’s selected. The advice provided could fix the asset before being sent to a service provider, enabling assets to be up and running much quicker.
More: www.orbit4.org
We’re releasing the ClubManager app. Integrating the functionality that’s available to standard web users, it provides centralised management that can be accessed quickly and easily.
The management app allows push notifications to staff to be included within automation chains, so staff can be more reactive to members. Our automation templates include notifications on receipt of messages from members, to the sales team on new referrals, alerts to retention staff when a ‘red alert’ member enters and if an expired member has ignored previous renewal notifications. Clubs can also create their own automation chains.
The management app extends to the enterprise level, giving franchisors, chains and groups a complete overview of the performance of all of their clubs in the one space. This has been one of the most requested features by customers over the last few years and it’s great to now deliver this.
We’ve seen a shift towards reducing running costs whilst providing greater value to members; whether this is creating a community, providing a wellness experience, or demonstrating efficacy.
Automation, member self-management and unmanned access are examples of the suite of features we’ve introduced or extended that are designed to cut costs. We’ve also been helping to elevate the member experience through gamification, rewards, feedback and priority systems.
It’s important to separate hype from fact: AI will not shift the mindset of the population into becoming healthier. In the future, we’ll start to see greater joined-up thinking with exercise prescribed by medical practices and wellness hubs that are complementary to, or maybe even a replacement for, current therapeutics.
More: www.clubmanagercentral.com
We’re especially thrilled with the new Dunning Module within our integrated payment platform, Virtuagym Pay. This feature automates invoice collections, removing the hassle of chasing overdue payments and chargebacks. By automating these processes, it ensures steady cash flow and minimises work, making financial management smoother and more reliable.
Virtuagym Pay simplifies financial operations across billing, payments, and customer follow-ups. The Dunning Module sends customisable reminders to clients with overdue payments, helping to automatically collect. It also categorises overdue payments, allowing for efficient prioritisation. With flexible payment options, it ensures a smooth payment process while reducing manual work and interventions.
Additionally, the feature can apply late fees to recover transaction and administration costs and maintain professional client relationships with personalised, yet automated communication. It streamlines the entire payment collection process, saving time, improving efficiency, and boosting accuracy.
The potential applications of AI within the health club market are numerous. One of our latest innovations is the AI Coach, which provides tailored workout plans based on individual input in a virtual chat app, integrated with our workout tracking platform.
After one year of testing and optimising, we’ll launch this early next year. Looking ahead, AI will further transform health coaching by integrating with wearable devices for deeper training insights. AI will be able to streamline operations through club metric evaluation and business coaching, making health clubs more efficient, data-driven, and responsive to member needs, ultimately enhancing user experiences and business growth.
More: www.business.virtuagym.com
We’ve recently launched our gym member app. Powered by customers’ Xplor Gym software, it’s designed to help clubs engage, motivate, and retain members.
It’s available as a standard branded option or custom-branding. The custom-branded option helps clubs differentiate themselves, as when members download the app they see the club’s name and logo in the app store. Both options let members manage their memberships, book classes and receive club updates.
Clubs can use dynamic QR code technology for secure access control, tracking visits, and preventing unauthorised entries.
To help clubs maximise revenue, we’ve created a secure, intuitive store experience within the app, so they can sell memberships, products, and services through the app. Soon they’ll be able to offer members access to AI-powered training and nutrition plans personalised to individual goals.
Intuitive apps that members genuinely enjoy using are now imperative for clubs. This is why we’re investing in creating an app that’s future fit. Beyond this, clubs are telling us they want to deliver personalised experiences and value that members can’t get elsewhere, so we’re arming them with a flexible all-in-one platform that powers engaging member experiences and can flex to suit different business models.
The best applications come from understanding what you want to achieve with AI. Advances in tech will make it easier for clubs to predict member behaviour and recognise the signs that a member is at risk of leaving. At the same time, tech will take the legwork out of creating highly personalised member journeys from on-boarding, right through to the end of a membership. It’s exciting to see the market develop and operators embrace new possibilities.
More: www.xplorgym.co.uk
BRP’s Loyalty Programme offers gym owners an innovative way to attract, engage, and retain users with a digital experience designed to elevate fitness journeys. This programme goes beyond traditional membership perks by creating a fully immersive, interactive platform for gym-goers, setting a new standard for user engagement in the fitness industry.
Our programme incorporates gamification elements, including challenges, rewards and achievements that bring a sense of fun and motivation to workouts. By completing challenges and earning rewards, users feel a sense of accomplishment that inspires them to return to the gym and reach new milestones. These features foster a unique environment where users are encouraged to push their limits, setting and achieving personalised fitness goals.
Additionally, the programme provides health club operators with valuable insights into user behaviour and preferences. This allows managers to make informed decisions, customising services, classes and offerings to better serve their members.
It also helps gym facilities distinguish themselves in a competitive market, attracting a community of fitness enthusiasts who feel genuinely connected to their gym.
Those that keep members engaged and motivated on their health journey – loyalty does just that, through challenges and rewards. It also allows members to refer a friend which can help increase sales.
AI-driven software is set to revolutionise health club operations by automating and optimising both administrative and customer support functions. Advanced AI systems are streamlining complex tasks such as dynamic class scheduling based on demand forecasts, automated equipment maintenance alerts and predictive staffing, helping gyms adjust resources efficiently.
In customer support, AI will soon offer personalised assistance that understands individual member needs, from suggesting workouts to answering specific health inquiries – delivering a concierge-like experience. Future systems will integrate voice recognition and real-time sentiment analysis, enabling more natural interactions and proactive support that addresses issues before they arise, enhancing overall member satisfaction.
More: www.brpsystems.com
In November 2024 we launched Exerp Go, a solution designed to streamline fitness club operations and empower users with powerful tools on the move. Exerp Go brings the power of Exerp to the palm of the hand.
This new functionality allows health clubs to sell memberships and products, while also managing bookings from anywhere, at any time. Key features include a dashboard with access to real-time sales, check-ins, and capacity management directly from a browser; and customisation features, including language options, light and dark modes and menu orientation.
With Front Desk, clubs can manage these operations remotely, both inside and outside the club, while subscription sales allow them to sell memberships and product packs with customised payment methods for a seamless transaction.
Designed with club operators in mind, Exerp Go focuses on enhancing efficiency and providing a superior user experience for health club members.
Operators are looking for ways to communicate, engage and motivate members to increase lifetime value and create a sense of community.
We offer a customisable app, powered by myFitApp, that enables them to increase revenue with ‘refer a friend’ campaigns, share marketing messages and allow users to manage bookings, upgrade memberships, pay at vending machines and enter their club.
More: www.exerp.com
In Q3 of 2024 we launched Gamification, whereby every booking, digital video watched, referral and more unlocks badges. As members progress through their fitness journey, they earn virtual badges, trophies, rewards and prizes.
Gamification with MyFitApp is all about infusing elements of gaming into the fitness routine. By incorporating friendly competition, we transform workouts into an engaging experience.
This creates more loyal members, who are engaged with and in turn are more likely to return to the club. Gamification allows users to reach fitness goals and milestones. Push their limits, beat previous records, and see improvements over time – creating happier, healthier members.
More: www.myfitapp.com
