GETTING
SAVVY
WITH
TECHNOLOGY
By Bryn Whales
Here are some of the trends and
tools that are changing the lives
of customers and providers in the
leisure industry for the better.
P
eople are getting
smarter about
the way they use
technology, and this
certainly applies to our
industry. This means
leisure, recreation and
health facilities, as well
as technology providers,
have to stay on their
toes to satisfy customer
expectations and
anticipate their future
needs.
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Over the past five to ten years, we’ve
seen a range of technology develop,
at different speeds and with varying
degrees of success. Here are some of the
trends and tools that are changing the
lives of customers and providers in the
leisure industry for the better.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS
TOOLS
Digital communications tools like email
and SMS have been around for some
time, but customers are embracing them
more than ever. These communications
tools may be reasonably traditional and
familiar to users, but the technology is
becoming more sophisticated. Whether
it’s reminders, invoicing or notifications
about events such as a gym closure due
to a power outage, the communication
is better, more timely, and clients feel
well informed and like they are getting
value for the money they’re spending.
VALUE-ADD SERVICES
When people enter competitions and
they’re asked if they want to be kept upto-date with news and information, they
tend to say ‘no’. But when it’s something
like their gym, most people don’t think
twice. They’re paying and they want the
extras that come with their membership,
whether it’s information about a special
promotion, or extra support from their
personal trainer when they need it. Many
customers today expect that.
Sports and leisure facilities have taken
that on board. And they are also a
great deal more aware of the fact
that the communication has to be
effective. Customers don’t want to get
bombarded with meaningless content,
they only want information that is useful
and relevant.
Centaman uses a product called
WordFly, a digital communications tool
WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - WINTER 2016