According to eMarketer, the future of fitness apps has never been so bright. The research firm predicts the surge in interest in fitness applications* in 2020 will continue well into 2022, and beyond. It also states that app users are expected to remain at 86 million around the world. These numbers are certainly encouraging. If you build a fitness application for the first, you may still experience anxiety and fear. It can even discourage you from starting.
Creating a fitness application can indeed be difficult. (Or a gym app, workout app, diet app – you name it.) With the right team and strategy, you can manage the risks associated with fitness app development. This article will help to allay your fears and provide you with the insight you need to be successful.
Apps for fitness, including yoga, workout, and training apps
What can go wrong when making a fitness app?
We have listed some of the fears you may experience. You will find tips to help you prevent your fears from becoming reality.
Fear #1: My budget will run out before my app is ready for launch
Failory says that financial issues are responsible for 16% of startup failures. It can be difficult to estimate the cost of building your fitness application. You may be concerned that you’ll run out of cash before your app is ready to generate revenue and leave you stranded. In the worst-case scenario, you worry that despite all your hard work, your fitness app will not be ready for launch and won’t bring in any revenue.
- What can you do to avoid this?
- We recommend three main elements:
You should use the time and material method to build fitness application. This model pays the product developer based on how many man-hours they spend on the work. Agile allows you to adapt your product as the scope changes based on continuous feedback from users. You can work with your contractors to agree on the maximum amount of labor you can afford per month. This will help you stay within your budget.
Iterate. You should always have some kind of working prototype after each iteration. So, you can finish elements instead of leaving them in a no-man’s land. You might have many ideas for fitness app features. We don’t have to include all the features in your first fitness app. You can speed up the development of your app by focusing on the right aspects. This can reduce the time it takes to create an MVP.
Last but not least, you must get involved as a product owner. It can be a bit scary, particularly if this is your first time working on an app. It’s important to keep an eye on how the app is progressing. This will help you stay within budget and ensure that everything goes smoothly. This is discussed in more detail in the next section.
Fear #2: I’m not sure how to create a digital product for fitness. What if I’m not able to do it in time and make bad decisions?
It’s normal to worry about making the wrong decisions when you’re developing a fitness application for the first. You might be asked questions you don’t fully understand or you may not know how they are performing. You may fear that the project will take up all your time, and you won’t be able to do anything else.
How do you build an application for fitness if you have no experience?
It is important to prepare. It is important to spend time upfront learning about app development and how you will collaborate with app developers.
You should be able to choose the right technology partner and also work with a specialist who will act as a product owner proxy. A PO Proxy can relieve you of the burden and help you with backlog management, prioritization criteria, scrum planning, and acceptance criteria. You can then use the time you save to grow your business while benefiting from the expertise of an experienced partner. They won’t replace your role but they can be a great help in communicating your priorities and requirements to the development team. They can teach you to confidently manage IT projects over time.
Download our Cooperation Manual to learn more about the first two weeks of app development. This is the handbook that our clients get when we begin working together. It explains daily rituals, such as standup meetings. You will get a taste of the working relationship.
Fear #3: I’ve got a fitness app ready, but can’t migrate the data from my previous solution
Consider one example. You have a large customer base and a variety of assets/content that your users love. You’re worried that your data and goodwill will not be successfully transferred and you’ll end up losing it all. Kroll Ontrack’s survey revealed that 32% had lost data when switching software. You are not alone.
How can you prevent data migration issues?
Do your research before making the switch. Early communication with your technology partner is essential to ensure that your data can be transferred. Determine what is needed to make the project successful, including manual work. Plan out possible solutions with your app team in advance. There will be no unpleasant surprises when the time comes.
Fear #4: Some of my users won’t bother to switch platforms and I will lose them.
Some people are resistant to change. Others may be used to the platform and its quirks. Many of your clients will follow you everywhere you go because they are attached to you and your trainers. However, some people may be resistant to change. The very thought of switching platforms may discourage them. You need to prepare ahead of time and ease them into the new platform.
How can you prevent this from happening and encourage users to download your fitness app?
All it takes is good communication and message. Tell your customers in advance about the new platform you are moving to and let them be part of it. Ask for their feedback regularly and allow them to co-create new features with you. You can sweeten the deal by offering loyal customers free credits, early application access, or exclusive courses. Users are more likely to jump on board if they feel like part of the process. This is a worthwhile endeavor. Bain & Company’s research showed that a mere 5% improvement in customer retention can produce a profit increase of more than 25%.
Fear #5: Your app won’t meet the expectations of your customers and administrators
This fear is similar to the one that was listed before. You are worried that your app will disappoint users if you fail to deliver what was promised. If your new platform does not deliver the features and quality that customers expect, they may switch to a rival.
How can you prevent this from happening and create fitness apps that users will love?
Conduct user interviews before you begin product development to determine what your users expect from build a fitness application. Do not rely on intuition or assumptions. You should talk to as many users as you can so that you know what they value most. You will gain the necessary insights to create an app with the best product-market fit.
United Airlines, as an example, doubled the number of sessions per day and increased online ticketing by 200% by simply conducting user research. It’s important to remember that user research doesn’t have to be conducted on a large sample. Jakob Nielsen has proven for years that testing just five users is enough to uncover up to 85% of usability issues.
Fear #6: My app will not be future-proof and I’ll have to create a new version in 2-3 years
It’s natural to worry about the fitness landscape changing so rapidly that your app will become irrelevant in the next few years. What if you have to start from scratch? It could mean a lot of time and money wasted if you need to rebuild.
What can you do to prevent it?
Read about the latest tech trends to stay up-to-date. Spend some time predicting where you believe the industry will be over the next few years. Working with the right product team is crucial when it comes to tech advances. Speak to the product owner or developers about future trends. Even if you aren’t quite ready to take action, talk about the trends that will be on the horizon. Your app should be up-to-date with the latest fitness app development. if you want to stay on top of the market.
Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality are two trends to keep an eye on. For example, you could agree with the team that your app’s architectural design is AI- and/or AR-ready. It will be easier for you to integrate it into your app when the time is right.
You’ll be in a much better position to make sure that your app will remain future-proof if you keep your finger on it.
Conclusion
Here are six common concerns about building fitness apps. These fears are understandable.
It’s important to choose the right technology partner when you are wondering how to build a fitness application. They can guide you and create a fitness app that your customers love.
Find a company that has experience and expertise in the fitness industry. You’ll avoid most of the problems that fitness app founders encounter. You can put yourself in a better position for success with a bit of planning.
