Episode #444: The Future of Technology in the Fitness Industry | Insights from Alex Peacock of Leisure Labs

On today's episode we chat with Alex Peacock from Leisure Labs. He joins us from the UK to discuss the future of technology in the fitness industry, and how to prioritize your tech investments for maximum impact in 2023. With over 20 years of experience, he has witnessed the industry's shift toward embracing new technologies, but there's still work to be done, and Alex shares his insights on where we currently stand and what lies ahead.

Pete and Alex dive deep into the top three technology priorities for fitness operators. They discuss the importance of operational foundations, choosing the right platforms, and how to leverage technology as an accelerator rather than a hindrance. They also touch on the challenges of change management and the role of employee training when implementing new technologies.

On the role of tech Alex states, "I always view technology as an accelerator. It will accelerate things, but that can be good and that can be bad. So if you're doing things badly, if you have the wrong operational processes in place, technology is going to make that more of a problem than it is today."

Some key moments: 

• Operators still have work to do. Hospitality and retail are making progress. Technology investment is increasing in fitness.
• Software suppliers are being challenged but are getting more investment.
• Platforms and member management systems are opening up. Chat, AI, and machine learning becoming practical at scale.
• Evolution of technology blurs human-AI boundaries.

A few key takeaways: 

• Alex focuses on the direction of technology in the industry, the importance of prioritization for operators, and the impact of technology in 2023.  
• The fitness industry has been slow to embrace new technologies in the past, but there has been a recent shift with more investments in tech and innovation. However, there is still work to be done, particularly in comparison to other sectors like hospitality and retail.
• Operators should prioritize getting their operational foundations right before implementing new technologies. It is essential to have the right systems in place and ensure they are properly integrated. 
• Doing this will allow for easier implementation of "newer" things like conversational chatbots, data science, machine learning, and personalization engines. Change management and proper training for employees are also crucial factors in successful rollouts.

Resources: 

• Alex Peacock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexpeacock/?originalSubdomain=uk 
• Leisure Labs: https://leisurelabs.co.uk/

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