{"id":15230,"date":"2016-11-16T21:04:47","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T02:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/technogym-digitalization-helping-you-to-get-in-shape\/"},"modified":"2016-11-16T21:04:47","modified_gmt":"2016-11-17T02:04:47","slug":"technogym-helping-you-to-get-in-shape-for-the-summer","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/technogym-helping-you-to-get-in-shape-for-the-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Technogym: helping you to get in shape for the summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time for a six-pack abs<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know, winter has barely started and we are already thinking in the summer. Actually, most of us are already dreaming with our end of the year break at Rio de Janeiro\u2019s famous Ipanema beach. Hence, now is the perfect time to get in shape, right?<\/p>\n

Getting in shape \u2013 be for esthetic or healthy purposes \u2013 is now a hot topic. Baby boomers want to look younger, millennials want to stay younger. Gyms are our second home and boy, we are spending a lot of money and time to optimize our exercises.<\/p>\n

Companies such as Nike and Apple are already shifting their focus to fitness digitalization. Be investing in fitness trackers, be investing in \u201csmart clothes\u201d and mobile applications that are built to leverage your train, the fitness market is expanding at a fast pace. Even traditional companies such as Polar and Suunto are now facing higher competition from newborns such as Jawbone and Fitbit.<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, the major shift is actually taking place in the gyms. One of the most traditional gym equipment companies is heavily investing in digitalization to make your exercises not only more pleasurable but also more efficient. Technogym, a company founded in 1983 in Cesena, Italy, is one of the world\u2019s biggest manufacturer of fitness equipment [1] who is taking the lead on digital transformation. What was once a simple treadmill or a chest press bench, are becoming fancy machines that help you to get in shape and better understand your body and daily exercises.<\/p>\n

Push for digitalization<\/strong><\/p>\n

Technogym embraced digitalization as a driver for future growth as recreational sports enthusiast grow their interest in using data to track their progress. The company is not alone: in its 2015 annual report, Adidas referred digitalization as one of the main trends affecting the sector [2]. The increase in competitiveness also pushed the company to offer more reliable and smart products targeting not only professionals but in especial, amateurs practicians. Despite being a $21.8 billion (revenue) industry [3], US health clubs are struggling to justify pricey memberships: having a cutting-edge gym equipment became a useful marketing tool that ultimately benefits its members.<\/p>\n

Initially, Technogym invested in design as an outcome of new technologies that enable a better understanding of the human body muscle mechanics. The company employed new technologies creating gym equipment that isolates muscle members and concentrate efforts in specific geometry movements. It also incorporated different materials in its machines to improve its durability, resistance, and design. R&D is, indeed, a core division within the company: it first fitness software was launched in 1996 integrating TV to treadmills. Later on, in 2003, Technogym enabled web connectivity and launched several online\/offline applications to enhance fitness training.<\/p>\n

But it went far beyond: from a mobile application that allows users to connect its gym machines to their smartphones [4], to a stand-alone touch-screen kiosk that allows trainers and practitioners to manage training sessions and workout routines [5], and a machine attached LCD screens with sensors that track the exercise movement\u2019s quality and speed, providing real-time guidance to improve users\u2019 training performance (see photo below)[6].<\/p>\n

\"screen-shot-2016-11-16-at-8-52-49-pm\"<\/a>
\nChallenges just a few reps away<\/strong><\/p>\n

Technogym is facing a new challenge as smartphones ownership increase and fitness mobile applications are becoming very popular. As a consequence, gym-goers are increasingly changing their in-door exercise habits [7] to more social outdoor fitness training activities at little to no costs such as group cycling, group running, open-air yoga, etc. [8]. Simple digitalization of gym machines and mobile integration delivered short-term gains for the Technogym, however the company needs to adapt.<\/p>\n

Technogym has been aware of such shift in trend and is increasingly investing in R&D to develop equipment that combines technology and open air activities. Taking digitalization outdoor is the nowadays main challenge at the company. The shift: instead of focusing on gyms as final consumers (B2B), the company is pushing for a higher focus on the final users (B2C), leveraging its brand recognition and quality association. Is this enough? So far, few new disruptive products have been taken to the market and the company still has to prove itself as a fast responder to the needs of modern fitness adopters.<\/p>\n

(704 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References:<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1] “Who we are” – Technogym website, accessed in Nov\/2016. http:\/\/www.technogym.com\/us\/who-we-are\/nerio-alessandri-technogym-founder-and-president<\/p>\n

[2] Adidas 2015 Annual Report. http:\/\/www.adidas-group.com\/media\/filer_public\/e9\/73\/e973acf3-f889-43e5-b3c0-bc870d53b964\/2015_gb_en.pdf<\/p>\n

[3] Sawers, P. \u201cThe future of gyms\u201d, http:\/\/thenextweb.com\/insider\/2013\/10\/19\/the-future-of-gyms\/<\/p>\n

[4] Technogym App \u2013 company website, accessed in Nov\/2016. http:\/\/www.technogym.com\/us\/\/wellness\/technogym-app<\/p>\n

[5] Technogym Unity Self Skillmill App \u2013 company website, accessed in Nov\/2016. http:\/\/www.technogym.com\/us\/unity-self-skillmill.html<\/p>\n

[6] Technogym Selection Pro \u2013 company website, accessed in Nov\/2016. http:\/\/www.technogym.com\/us\/line\/selection-pro\/<\/p>\n

[7] Gym vs Outdoor Fitness Training: The Pros and Cons. Accessed in Nov\/16. http:\/\/www.fitday.com\/fitness-articles\/fitness\/cardio\/gym-vs-outdoor-fitness-training-the-pros-and-cons.html<\/p>\n

[8] Reynolds, G. \u201cThe Benefits of Exercising Outdoors\u201d. http:\/\/well.blogs.nytimes.com\/2013\/02\/21\/the-benefits-of-exercising-outdoors\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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