latest fit tech news
Samsung has unveiled a suite of AI-powered health features for its Galaxy Watch range, as the technology giant ...
Tech: Smooth operators
Creating fitness spaces customers love and keeping them running smoothly takes savvy use of tech at every stage of the journey, as Julie Cramer discovers
As a full service design, fit out and management contracting business, our operational experience gives us knowledge of usage trends and patterns that help us to drive effective operational design.
At the concept and design stage of any project, we offer in-house CAD and 3D services for visualisations, along with the ability to plan with multiple brands of equipment.
Once the build and fit-out are complete and the equipment installed, our in-house service team can track things such as cardio equipment use to predict wear and tear. We also monitor usage through our white label booking platforms.
We use BigChange project management software to manage our service schedules and planned preventative maintenance visits across the 450 gyms and pools we manage under contract (www.bigchange.com).
This software gives the operators we work with automated updates on when planned preventative maintenance and service visits are due, along with detailed worksheets following each attendance.
We use BigChange software to manage our service visit schedules and planned preventative maintenance visits
Our in-house team are able to service all major brands of health club and gym equipment, as well as wellness eqauipment, to keep things running smoothly.
We work extensively in the residential and corporate markets, providing customer service and additional benefits, such as operational support and compliance checks.
For our in- and out-of-contract services, there’s no cost difference when it comes to billing; the difference is simply the priority status given to those who are in-contract when it comes to call-outs and breakdowns.
More: www.m8group.co.uk
An example of Motive8’s full-service offering is Upper Riverside in Greenwich. This apartment development has three fitness spaces, a pool and steamroom and Motive8 has a permanent on-site presence providing management of the facility, ensuring our client remains compliant at all times, along with serving the needs of the 1,800 residents.
The maintenance team provides weekly pool and spa servicing alongside the regular planned preventative maintenance visits required on the filters, UV and chemical controllers, while Motive8’s gym service team carries out quarterly preventative maintenance, ensuring the equipment is operationally sound and to keep any down-time to an absolute minimum.
Orbit4 provides independent, data-driven insight to support gym space planning. Our platform also aggregates asset data such as equipment age, residual value, failure rates, repair costs and – through trusted partners – usage trends.
This gives operators an impartial view of their gym floor, enabling investment and layout decisions based on asset performance, lifecycle and commercial reality, rather than supplier influence or feedback alone.
We use continuous remote analytics to guide decisions relating to changes in layout and by combining usage insight with reliability, cost and asset value data, operators can objectively determine which equipment should be retained, relocated or replaced, removing bias and avoiding decisions driven purely by anecdotal feedback or changing training trends.
Our role is to independently monitor and benchmark contract performance for operators and service providers
Orbit4 operates a neutral, independent platform and mobile app that tracks all service and maintenance activity across multiple providers. This includes tickets, communications, costs, failure rates and SLA adherence.
By creating transparency between operators and suppliers, Orbit4 improves accountability, raises first-time fix rates, shortens downtime and increases equipment availability, helping reduce member complaints and improve retention.
We don’t provide service or maintenance contracts. Our role is to independently monitor and benchmark contract performance for operators and service providers, ensuring transparency, suitability and accountability.
More: https://orbit4.org
Denbighshire Leisure (DLL) uses Orbit4 alongside its equipment supplier’s warranty and extended service contracts.
We independently monitor whether contractual commitments are being delivered. At contract end, the Orbit4 platform supports data-led replacement planning, determining whether assets are retained, relocated or sold.
If a new service provider is appointed for out-of-contract equipment, they’re connected to Orbit4 and monitored in the same impartial way.
The design packages we offer enable clients to not only ensure the best use of space, but also to visualise how the facility can look in both 2D and 3D. We know flow, optimisation and an inspirational environment are key.
With a portfolio of designs to inspire our clients and in-house interior designers, we tailor space to their needs, leveraging connected equipment, IoT sensors and cloud-based analytics to monitor real-time usage and traffic patterns.
Data helps identify peak times, underutilised zones and workout flows
Data helps identify peak times, underutilised zones and workout flows, with these insights guiding things such as layout adjustments, the redistribution of machines and the creation of functional areas.
These data insights can also improve accessibility, while predictive modelling and continuous monitoring ensure optimal space utilisation and member experience.
When it comes to maintenance we have three levels of contract cover which allows customers to choose exactly the right provision for their needs and budget. These all include preventative maintenance checks.
All our contracts also provide key service-level agreements with a 48-hour response for safety and primary fixes and a 95 per cent first time fix rate.
The cost of our care cover will depend on many things – the level of cover requested and the age and usage levels of the equipment.
Our planning services include 2D floor plans to optimise equipment selection, quantity and layout and these insights guide installation, removal and rearrangement of equipment.
We also create 3D designs to visualise layouts, branding and styling, which can be used for sales and marketing purposes.
Our Asset Management platform monitors equipment usage through remote analytics, providing real-time insights on performance and wear. This data helps optimise gym layouts by rotating high- and low-use machines, extending product lifespan, improving equipment placement and maximising overall facility efficiency.
Assets are managed in our CRM and linked to Microsoft’s PowerBI visualisation tool
The platform uses clear colour coding to show machine status, from operating correctly to errors or offline alerts. Customised reports provide easy access to equipment data, helping identify the ideal product mix.
Assets are managed in our CRM and linked to Microsoft’s PowerBI visualisation tool, delivering live data and detailed reporting to enable data-driven decisions on servicing, equipment placement and member retention.
All our products have a fully-inclusive two-year warranty, which includes upholstery and cosmetic items. Extended warranty and preventative maintenance contracts include parts, labour, callouts and 24/7 portal access, ensuring reduced downtime. Service costs are tailored to each operator, ranging from preventative maintenance and labour-only options, to fully-inclusive contracts or pay-as-you-go callouts.
More: www.uk.matrixfitness.com/eng
The University of Hertfordshire completed a major refurbishment of the Sports Village gym on its de Havilland Campus, creating a 110+ station facility alongside studios, a pool, climbing wall and specialist labs.
Matrix advised on equipment designed to specifically benefit members. A Gymetrix study (now called 'Track My Gym' – Ed), partly supported by Matrix, identified rising demand for strength training, leading to a redesigned layout with expanded free-weight and functional areas.
We involve partners in the design process to ensure we create spaces that resonate with their customers. We start with 2D renders to optimise equipment layout and the user journey before bringing it to life with 3D images and a 360° VR tour. This gives the opportunity to walk through the gym before a single piece of equipment is installed.
Our digital solutions, especially our Facility Connect platform, allow us to understand equipment usage, high footfall zones and exerciser behaviour, while also giving real-time data on equipment status.
In addition to underpinning our service and maintenance work, Facility Connect enables us to continuously optimise the gym floor and suggest equipment that will delight members, while enabling our partners to evolve with their users’ needs and industry trends.
Our digital solution allows us to understand equipment usage, high footfall zones and exerciser behaviour
By logging faults across an estate we’re able to minimise equipment downtime and enhance the user experience.
Through Facility Connect we can monitor remotely to also push through software updates, ultimately maximising equipment uptime without any user disruption.
We’re an open platform provider, meaning our equipment can integrate into existing systems, ensuring flexibility.
When it comes to service contracts, we offer flexible packages to cater for operators’ needs. From annual equipment servicing to all-inclusive, multi-year provision, contracts can include preventative maintenance, unlimited call-outs and labour and quick response times.
Out of contract, our agreements are bespoke to our partners, based on the equipment within the facility. We give costs for each piece of equipment that are aligned with the expected maintenance across the agreed time period.
More: www.lifefitness.com/en-gb
In 2024, Life Fitness / Hammer Strength renewed Nuffield’s flagship Health City club in London.
The mix of product solutions was tailored to evolving member habits using a data-led approach, with data collected from the existing suite of equipment and coupled with membership insights, feedback from the Nuffield Health proposition team and general industry data – including emerging trends.
During the refresh process, new equipment was installed zone by zone, minimising member disruption and ensuring the club remained operational.
The club is now the blueprint for Nuffield, with data being captured via the Facility Connect platform to be utilised in the decision-making process across the 2026 investment framework.
We offer a full consultation option for planning using CAD design and an open conversation on needs and requirements.
Working directly with operators we look at the space and also the volume of users, busy times, key areas that are causing bottlenecks or are an area of business growth.
Our online portal enables customers to manage their assets and the portal is always evolving to ensure KPIs for the operator are achieved and easy to manage.
Our online portal enables customers to manage their assets and the portal is always evolving
PSLT’s full-turnkey services – including new and refurbished equipment supply, nationwide maintenance and emergency call-outs, as well as bespoke logistics and trade-in solutions – differentiate us in the market. This customer-centric, end-to-end approach is our core USP.
Service and maintenance contract costs vary depending on the level of cover selected. We offer labour-only contracts covering call-outs and labour, but excluding parts and all-inclusive contracts covering call-outs, labour and most parts. Pricing is tailored to equipment type, usage and operator requirements.
More: https://pslt.co.uk
Places for People uses PSLT’s planned maintenance and reactive support service to maintain consistent equipment performance across its facilities.
Equipment downtime is significantly reduced through preventative servicing and rapid response to breakdowns, ensuring gyms remain fully operational. This has led to improved equipment up-time, fewer user complaints, enhanced member satisfaction and retention and lower long-term repair costs. Overall, the service supports smoother day-to-day operations, protects revenue and delivers a more reliable fitness experience.
We offer a gym floor design service informed by knowledge of equipment performance and failure rates. This allows us to optimise layouts and plan strategic equipment rotation, ensuring usage is evenly distributed across assets.
By reducing excessive wear on individual machines, we extend equipment lifespan, minimise downtime and reduce maintenance costs.
We use a customer service portal called MyHub – customers log their service and repair requests online
We use a customer service portal called MyHub – customers log their service and repair requests online, after which they’re reviewed by our in-house technical team to diagnose issues before dispatching an engineer. This reduces unnecessary call-outs, speeds up resolution, improves first-time fix rates, tracks full machine history and maximises machine up-time.
Our all-inclusive service contracts cover all parts, call-outs, labour, upholstery and associated costs with no exceptions, providing fixed pricing and eliminating unexpected or unbudgeted maintenance expenses. Customers also receive free access to MyHub for efficiency in equipment management and ease in making maintenance requests.
More: www.servicesport.com
Into the fitaverse
Ali Jawad
Hannes Sjöblad
Jamie Buck
Fahad Alhagbani: reinventing fitness
Building on the blockchain
Bold move
Check your form
New reality
Reverse Ageing
Going hybrid
Physical activity monitors boost activity levels
Two-way coaching
Laurent Petit
Adam Zeitsiff
Anantharaman Pattabiraman
Mike Hansen