Suzanne Kopcha, VP of consumer products & retail strategy for Siemens PLM Software has written an interesting blog about smart exercise products. Here’s a summary of the article.
Smart exercise products are revolutionising the sporting goods market and are expected to reach $1.2 billion in sales by 2022.
Consumers and elite athletes are obsessed with how data can help them achieve better health and personal performance, whether its people looking to get into shape or elite athletes aiming to maximise their performance.
What consumers want;
Products marrying aesthetic design and product performance: All consumers want to combine the best aesthetic design with robust functions that deliver reliability and safety. Since the advent of wearable fitness trackers like Fitbits, consumers want sleek, streamlined products that can be worn at any occasion; not just during sports or fitness activities. Elite athletes need the smart part of the product to be virtually invisible. For example, a smart golf club can’t feel or operate differently in the hand than a traditional one.
Real-time information, data synchronization and analysis: Consumers and athletes alike want immediate feedback. Getting information on an app is acceptable for the average consumer, but elite athletes, coaches and trainers are looking for real-time data synchronisation so they can analyse performance, fatigue and even safety conditions.
Competition and community: Smart sporting goods manufacturers have also created virtual communities for their members, and consumers are embracing them. These communities create a movement to better health and performance while increasing brand loyalty. Consumers thrive on being able to compete with other members located all around the world.
The bold new world of smart, connected high-tech sports equipment is already happening but is still in its relative infancy, and it will be exciting to watch its evolution over the next five-ten years.
You can see the full Siemens PLM Blog here.
