Technogym: The Evolution of an AI-based, End-to-End Open Platform

Technogym traces its roots as a wellness leader back to the early 1980s when it was founded by 22-year-old Nerio Alessandri in his family’s garage. Alessandri’s development of a unique Hack Squat machine in 1983 paved the way for a series of constant innovations, including the launch of Technogym’s Wellness System—among the industry’s true software packages—in 1996; the first online equipment in 2007; the first cloud platform in 2012; and the Technogym Ecosystem today (see “Technogym’s Innovation Timeline,” later in this article).

Technogym’s Unique AI-based Ecosystem: A Blueprint for Innovation

Over the years, Technogym has developed a unique ecosystem composed of connected smart equipment, software, apps, artificial intelligence, on-demand exercise content, and tech services.

“This allows end-users to live a frictionless experience fully personalized on their goals, passions and aspirations and operators to manage their business, improve the customer journey and its personalization, while accelerating attraction, retention, and secondary spend,” notes Alessandri, Technogym’s founder and CEO.

Technogym data reveals that the ecosystem works to improve members’ experiences increasing ROI through increased retention up 20%), upselling and secondary spend (up 100%). Moreover, the AI-based Technogym Ecosystem Coach adjusts training programs to enhance engagement and maximize results and supports marketing efforts through advanced profiling, allowing operators to run more successful loyalty campaigns.

Technogym Ecosystem encompasses an open platform that seamlessly integrates software applications already in use in the club (e.g., membership software, marketing platforms, body analysis, and assessment devices); fitness equipment from any manufacturer; payment methods (i.e., Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, and others); and members’ fitness apps and wearable devices to provide fitness, health, and sport enthusiasts with fluid and hyper-personalized training experiences.

At the same time, for those operators willing to offer their members a premium, fully seamless experience, Technogym is the only brand in the industry that allows the collection and tracking of cohesive and consistent data for 360-degree profiling, based on its extensive line of cardio, strength, functional equipment, and digital platforming, creating a single ecosystem under a single brand.

Best-in-Class Profiling, Personalization, and Engagement

“Technogym Ecosystem embodies a multi-touchpoint powerhouse for a truly fluid experience: through the Technogym App, users can easily access Technogym Ecosystem, keeping the training experience contiguous and customized in every detail,” adds Enrico Manaresi, Technogym’s international PR & media director. “This is also possible thanks to the connection and integration between Technogym Ecosystem and external apps, wearables, and trackers, such as Strava, Runkeeper, Apple, Garmin, Polar, Fitbit, and many others. This means members can train anywhere, anytime.”

The company’s Technogym Checkup—native to Technogym Ecosystem and launching at IHRSA 2024—is the ultimate access point to Technogym Ecosystem. Using its artificial intelligence, users can start their personalized, targeted training programs based on their individual physical and functional parameters, track their improvements along the way, and get adapted training protocols over time.

This innovative AI-based assessment station is the way to personalize each single training program: Technogym Checkup scans body composition, analyses strength performances (from activities performed on strength-training machines within the Technogym Ecosystem), balance, mobility, and cognitive abilities. It then combines all data in its Wellness Age metric and Technogym Coach—with AI unifying the entire ecosystem—and prescribes effective training protocols that adapt over time.

Finally, Technogym’s smart equipment and app adapt and guide members: after logging in via the app, the system recognizes profiles, past sessions, and preferred goals, and tracks and stores all improvements. Strength equipment automatically adapts metrics like load, range of motion, correct posture, speed of execution, number of sets, repetitions, and optimal recovery times. The built-in interface also comes with various modes and graphics depending on the training session, all stimulating motivation and accomplishments through gamification.

Overall, says Alessandri, Technogym’s industry-unique ecosystem offers operators the possibility to deliver AI-based data, integrations, and more resulting in both greater retention and ROI.

With over 2,500 employees Technogym is present in over 100 countries. More than 85,000 wellness centers and 400,000 homes globally are equipped with Technogym. Technogym has been appointed Official Supplier to the Olympics for the ninth time, including Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Turin 2006, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024.

Over 30 Years of Innovative Milestones: A Timeline

Technogym’s pioneering spirit is embodied by just a few of its groundbreaking technological milestones:

• 1992—The Constant Pulse Rate (CPR) system, a scientific algorithm through which training intensity on cardio products was determined by the user’s heart rate.
• 1996—Wellness System, the world’s first-ever solution to track and store every of the user’s activities within a club through a user-specific key to be inserted into each machine.
• 2007—The first online-connected equipment, which revolutionized how individuals approached their workouts and laid the foundation for a new era of interactive and connected fitness experiences.
• 2012—Mywellness, the first digital cloud born to help operators manage their business, improve the customer experience, and accelerate attraction, retention and secondary spend.
• 2013—Unity, the most advanced, built-in user console in the market back then, featuring tailored content, virtual training and entertainment options through Internet, TV, and games.
• 2020—Technogym Live, the ultimate evolution of Unity, allowing users to choose their preferred training experience from the library of on-demand video workouts, including trainer-led sessions, goal-specific routines, immersive virtual outdoor workouts, that adapt to users’ speed and adjust the incline according to the chosen route, as well as endless entertainment options (Netflix, YouTube, TV, social media).
• 2021—Technogym App, the first-hand and essential touchpoint to allow users to easily access Technogym Ecosystem anywhere, anytime, keeping the training experience fluid, seamless and always customized in every detail.
• 2023—Technogym Checkup Assessment Station.

Learn more about Technogym Ecosystem at its website.