On this week's Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O’Rourke discusses the Fitness Industry Technology Council's 2019 Tech Trend Report. Established in 2008 as a nonprofit membership organization, FIT-C's mission is to promote the responsible and effective adoption of technology in order to enhance user experience and improve business models for operators. Their annual trend report is a great way to keep an eye on the trends that will impact the market for years to come.
Powerful Quote:
“There are a lot of new shiny new baubles in technology in all industries, and the real questions we have to consider regarding them is what difference does it make to our businesses, and how is it going to effect our customers and the marketplaces we serve.”
Highlighed key topics discussed:
Bryan talks about the importance of contextualizing trends so that they aren't viewed in a vacuum and instead become a part an organization's mindset, or rather, a new lens through which to enhance the marketplace and user experience.
Bryan touches upon each of the five macro-trends that will impact the industry, starting with escape experiences, ethical technology (5:45), re-mixing/re-inventing (also referred to as open sourcing) (6:45), engineered wellbeing (7:25), and hybrid brands (8:12). He talks about each of the five trends briefly, and provides examples of businesses and models taking these new trends into consideration.
Bryan discusses the Fitness and Well-being Initiative 2020, to provide more cases studies around these trends moving forward.
Resources:
http://www.fittechcouncil.org/
https://www.slideshare.net/Bryankorourke/2019-fitness-industry-technology-trend-report/1