If IHRSA 2023 taught us anything, it’s that product development in the fitness industry is back in full swing.

Three years after the outbreak of COVID-19, which served as both a disruptor and a catalyst for innovation, the technology sector has emerged with renewed vigor. During the pandemic, manufacturing came to a halt, leading to a shortage of components for fitness hardware. This forced fitness organizations to rethink how they deliver services, prioritizing remote fitness solutions over commercial delivery. Now, at IHRSA 2023, we’re seeing significant investment in innovation and a strong appetite for new product development.

Connected Strength Training

One of the standout trends at IHRSA was the focus on bringing productivity into strength training, aiming to provide a fully connected experience in the physical gym space. The industry is asking critical questions: How do we measure performance using weights? How can we do this effectively with the help of equipment and wearables? At the conference, we saw the beginnings of this concept turning into reality, with digital weights and wearables leading the charge.

AI as a Standard

Another key observation was the widespread adoption of AI technology. More companies are integrating AI into their products than ever before. AI is no longer just a futuristic idea; it’s now an essential part of product development. Organizations are asking themselves how AI can enhance their offerings, and it was a central topic of discussion at IHRSA, particularly during the panel on ‘The State of AI and Predictive Analytics’—highlighting AI as the future of health and fitness.

Health Meets Fitness

A significant trend at IHRSA 2023 was the ongoing convergence of health and fitness. For the first time, a healthcare provider (OPTON) was the title sponsor of the conference, reflecting the growing investment by insurance companies in this space. With rising healthcare costs, gym memberships are increasingly viewed as a preventative measure, linking fitness to healthcare rewards. Health tracking by companies like OPTON and Tivity is becoming a standard practice to incentivize healthy behaviors.

For SweatWorks, this is a positive development in our mission to deliver ‘wellness for all’ through technology-driven health improvements. While the impact of COVID-19 is still felt, the fitness sector is clearly ready to innovate and move forward.

We’re excited to be part of this new wave of progress and look forward to what the future holds.