In the past, gyms and health clubs were more frequently used by people approaching middle age. These were parents, especially mothers, who felt that they were aging more rapidly than expected and wanted to fight the signs of aging and putting on weight. Working out provided for them a way to look good and feel good, and gyms in particular also gave them the opportunity to socialize.
The types of people who frequent gyms are changing in a couple of different ways. For one thing, a lot of the people who are parents now are also millennials. Additionally, younger millennials are now just as interested in going to the gym to work out as the older clientele once was. The Nielsen Global Consumer Exercise Trends Survey reports that about 45% of millennials exercise regularly, but not all of those people exercise at the gym. Why? For a lot of millennials, going to the gym just isn’t worth it because gyms and health clubs haven’t updated their management systems. Millennials want to see technology incorporated into their gyms, and they aren’t willing to compromise on it.
Why Is Technology so Important to Millennials?
Millennials rely on technology in their daily lives. They were raised on it in a way that previous generations were not. While the internet and cell phones were new features for people growing up in previous generations, for millennials they were just a part of life. This means that they actually find it harder to function without them, and businesses that aren’t technologically up to date are less convenient and therefore less interesting for them. If a millennial has to call a gym employee to manage their membership, for example, rather than managing their own account online through member account management software, they would probably rather go without a membership at all.
Technology like online gym software also allows millennials to have more individualized experiences. Millennials love being recognized as individuals and tailoring their accounts to suit their specific needs. Rather than having the same type of gym membership as everyone else, a millennial will want a membership that caters to their specific needs. Rather than having more generalized workout experiences, for example, a millennial may want to focus on working out in the pool or on a treadmill.
What Do Millennials Want Out of Health Club Software?
Obviously, not all millennials are going to want the exact same things out of their member account management software. But in general, there are some expectations that should be met for millennials through this software. For example, EFT is a major benefit offered by software for gym management today. EFT refers to electronic funds transfer, and it allows people to pay for their gym memberships by having the funds transferred from their accounts directly to the gym. This can be done automatically, meaning that people do not need to take out their credit cards whenever they want to pay. The encryption used through EFT makes payment safer than it would be through credit cards.
Additionally, millennials want to be able to use member account management software to make appointments and sign up for their ideal classes. Lots of gyms offer different classes, like aerobics classes, weight training classes, and more. It’s much easier for people to sign up for these classes and make appointments through account management software.
Indeed, member account management software is perhaps particularly important in a post-pandemic world. Lots of people feel more comfortable visiting the gym via appointment, rather than spontaneously. This also makes running a gym in areas with restrictions easier, as gym staff can ensure that they do not exceed their recommended capacities. While restrictions may be loosened in the future, many gym members may still like the ability to make appointments with their favorite trainers or to schedule classes online rather than working through staff.
Ultimately, it is easier for both gym members and gym staff to move into the future with online software. As with any business, a gym needs to be managed, and members deserve the ability to manage their accounts remotely. This can only be done through account management software.