As a gym user, it’s annoying to see an ‘out of action’ notice on the same piece of equipment for days, even weeks; as a health club operator, keeping on top of repairs and maintenance can be a headache.

Without surveying your members, it’s hard to put a price on how much revenue broken equipment costs your club, but suffice to say, to neglect it is false economy. Personally I know many people who’ve left clubs because they’re fed up with equipment taking too long to be fixed. This morning, I myself felt disgruntled when I was planning a cycle and there were no bikes working at my gym. The staff are irritatingly vague about when they’ll be working again, and I’ve advised my cycling-mad husband to hold off his membership until the equipment’s repaired.

In a world where customers are ever-more savvy and want value for money, keeping on top of repairs is vital. If members have flagging commitment and find they can’t do their workout because of kit problems, they’re halfway to becoming a lapsed member. Equally, given that many people go to the gym to relieve frustration, the last thing the club should be doing is adding to them.

However, thanks to the proliferation of new web- and cloud-based technologies, it’s become much simpler to report problems, chart progress in the repairs – handy for members who complain – and plan maintenance to avoid breakdowns in the first place. And all this from a quick glance at an iPad, computer or phone, meaning you don’t even need to be on-site to be on top of repairs. No excuses.