By Igor Epshteyn,
CEO of Coherent Solutions 

 

  • Interactive fitness market: $5.73B in 2024 → $6.22B in 2025 → $13B by 2034 (CAGR ~8.6%)
    Global Growth Insights

  • Virtual & online fitness market: $3.98B in 2024 → $4.90B in 2025 → $25.9B by 2033 (CAGR ~23.1%)
    Global Growth Insights 

  • Gamification in fitness: AI-powered platforms $2.14B in 2024 → $16.08 by 2033 (CAGR ~24.1%)
    DataIntelo

Community-driven engagement

 

consumers say they value personalized fitness experiences

retention saw gyms with community-focused programs

  • Core Health & Fitness reports that 51% of consumers value personalized fitness, while gyms with strong community programs see retention rates above 75%.

Key fitness market trends

  • The global fitness industry is projected to reach $257B in 2025, with fitness centers alone worth $90B+.(Wellness Creatives Industry Stats 2025)

  • 18.5% CAGR - Growth rate of the digital fitness ecosystem (2024–2033) .

  • Top trends 2025 (ACSM): Wearable technology (1), mobile exercise apps (2), and data-driven training (7). 

 

The fundamentals of fitness haven’t changed. People are still lifting weights, running, training, and seeking healthier lives. What has changed is the environment around these activities. The fitness industry is now one of the most competitive markets in the world, spanning fitness franchises, boutique studios, connected equipment providers, and digital fitness platforms. Member expectations are higher than ever, and technology has become inseparable from how people experience fitness.

The global fitness industry today is worth $257 billion and fitness centers alone account for more than $90 billion. At the same time, the online fitness market is projected to reach $25.9 billion by 2033.

As consumers search for seamless, digital-first ways to engage with their health beyond the walls of the gym, the real competition is who can deliver the most connected and engaging connected fitness digital ecosystem. 

In this environment, digital modernization isn’t optional — it’s the baseline for relevance, and it isn’t about buying the latest app or adding a new gadget. It’s about building connected digital ecosystems that make fitness more engaging, more personal, and more valuable — not just inside the gym, but everywhere your members are.

 

What digital modernization really means for fitness businesses


Modernization in fitness does not mean reinventing business models or chasing new workout trends. The focus needs to be on the digital layer that surrounds the fitness experience.

Most people spend maybe 3–5 hours a week in a gym or studio. That leaves more than 160 hours outside those walls where choices and habits matter even more. Modernization is about creating systems that extend into that time — keeping members motivated, informed, and engaged throughout the other 95% of their week.

This is the real opportunity of fitness modernization and when it works, members don’t just see the gym as a place to visit, the brand becomes a part of their daily life.

But modernization isn’t a one-size-fits-all playbook.

 

How fitness operators can fix digital fragmentation


Not every fitness business needs to look like a Silicon Valley startup. A low-cost franchise, a premium lifestyle brand, and a boutique studio will each need very different approaches. In fact, some brands thrive by leaning into a retro, rugged identity where technology is intentionally minimal. But when modernization is misaligned — either underbuilt or overbuilt — members notice. 


This creates fragmentation and members notice. They expect the kind of seamless digital journeys they get from other parts of their lives — streaming platforms, retail, even healthcare. When fitness experiences feel clunky or disconnected, loyalty often suffers.

Too often, companies overestimate their readiness and chase advanced features before they’ve mastered the basics. It’s the equivalent of buying an aerodynamic helmet to shave off two seconds in a race when most members can't even finish the course. Without the right digital fitness software foundations, flashy add-ons do little to drive real results. The result is frustration for members and operators alike.

 

Extending engagement 


Too many fitness companies still treat the digital side of their business as something separate — a companion app, a website, a bolt-on feature. Members don’t think that way. To them, their health journey is continuous. 

Digital modernization is about making sure that all the apps, wearables, devices, and services people already use connect into a seamless ecosystem. No operator can (or should) try to build everything themselves. The real value comes from integrating what’s out there — apps, wearables, and digital fitness platforms — into a unified experience. 

Imagine a member who logs a workout at the gym, sees it integrated with sleep and nutrition data from a wearable, and gets personalized insights on how to recover and improve all through their connected fitness technology. That’s not just convenient; it creates a sense of progress and continuity that keeps people coming back.  It creates a loyal customer base.

Community also plays a huge role in engagement. Gyms with community-focused programs enjoy retention rates exceeding 75%. In an increasingly digital and sometimes isolating world, online communities extend engagement and help members feel accountable and connected, even when they’re training alone.

Done well, communities and unified experiences become powerful retention tools. 

Turning digital modernization into measurable results

Coherent Solutions’ strength lies in building digital fitness solutions that elevate the member experience. Our focus is simple: creating digital value through stronger loyalty, greater efficiency, and sustainable growth. That’s the future we’re building with our fitness partners.

 

Gamification and personalization 


Since engagement is the goal, gamification is one of the most effective tools available with digital fitness apps. Gamification makes fitness sticky. It introduces fun, competitiveness, and accountability into routines that might otherwise feel repetitive. And it’s a fast-growing market, projected to expand from $2.1 billion today to more than $16 billion by 2033. This growth reflects a simple truth: people are more likely to stick with their fitness routines when they feel less like an obligation.

Personalization takes this even further. With AI, fitness experiences can be adaptive and dynamic. Imagine an app that not only tracks your progress but adjusts your plan automatically, balancing your goals with your actual behavior. AI can create personalized fitness experiences helping members set realistic goals, provide feedback in real time, and create routines that evolve with them.

But collecting meaningful, consistent data to be able to offer real personalization is difficult. It requires members to opt in, systems to integrate, and insights to be applied in real time. Most operators are still in the early stages of making this work. It’s important to get this right because 51% of consumers value personalized fitness experiences from providers.

 

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A framework for fitness modernization


Digital modernization isn’t about copying competitors or chasing the latest gadget. It’s about building the right foundation and aligning every digital choice with outcomes that matter. A simple framework helps cut through the noise:

  • Start with outcomes, not tools: Decide what matters most — retention, growth, or efficiency. Every digital initiative should directly tie back to one of these goals.

  • Define your non-negotiables and measure progress with clear digital benchmarks:

    • Engagement: Are members actually using it?

    • Adoption: Is it becoming part of their routine?

    • Integration: Does it connect with the rest of the ecosystem?

These benchmarks make it easy to separate flashy add-ons from digital fitness solutions that create real value.

  • Confront your legacy limits: If outdated systems block integration or prevent personalization, modernization is no longer optional. Leaders need to recognize when old tools are holding them back and replace them.

With such a foundation in place, the next step is understanding where the industry itself is headed.

 

Winning in the digital era of fitness


Five years from now, the fundamentals of fitness will remain the same — people will still be running, lifting, and training. What will change is the digital layer that surrounds these experiences. Software development is evolving at a pace that redefines efficiency, and AI-powered tools are reshaping what’s possible every week. Soon, members will take for granted that their activity, recovery, and nutrition insights are automatically gathered and integrated.

The future of fitness will belong to brands that treat modernization as an investment in digital value creation. Success won’t come from piling on more technology, but from building ecosystems that feel invisible to members — personalized, connected, and always on. Those that get it right will turn modernization from a cost into a business advantage. In a market this competitive, that could make all the difference. 

 

FAQs - Digital modernization in fitness

  • Digital modernization in the fitness industry means upgrading beyond physical facilities to create connected digital ecosystems that engage members inside and outside the gym. It involves integrating digital fitness solutions like apps, wearables, and connected fitness technology with existing operations to deliver seamless, data-driven, and personalized experiences.  

    Rather than treating digital tools as add-ons, modernization connects them into one ecosystem that supports member motivation and drives retention. This allows fitness brands to extend their value beyond workout hours and become part of members’ daily health journey.

  • Connected fitness ecosystems improve member retention by unifying fitness digital products into a continuous health journey. When workouts, data, and nutrition insights flow together through connected fitness technology, members see real progress and consistency across platforms. That continuity encourages them to return and engage more often.  

    Communities built into these digital ecosystems increase accountability and belonging, which is why gyms with community-driven programs achieve 75%+ retention. In a competitive market, retention grows when members feel their fitness provider is present with them 24/7, not just during gym hours. 

  • Gamification makes digital fitness apps more engaging by turning routines into rewarding, interactive experiences. Features like challenges, progress tracking, leaderboards, and rewards transform workouts from obligations into motivating activities.  

    The gamification market is growing rapidly because people are more likely to stick with their fitness routine when it feels fun and social. By embedding gamification into digital fitness software, operators create loyalty loops that keep members connected to their community.

  • AI-driven personalization is critical for digital fitness platforms because members increasingly expect personalized fitness experiences that adapt to their goals and behaviors. AI can analyze workout history, recovery data, and lifestyle inputs to create dynamic training plans that evolve in real time. This means recommendations are specific to each member’s progress, motivation, and health patterns.  

    With 51% of consumers saying they value personalization in fitness, operators that invest in AI gain a competitive edge.  Ultimately, AI-powered personalization turns technology from a tracking tool into a trusted fitness coach and helps drive retention.

  • By 2030, the industry will be shaped by digital fitness platforms that unify health data, connected fitness technology that integrates equipment and wearables, and AI-powered digital fitness software that automates personalization.  

    The shift toward fitness modernization also means that ecosystems, not single tools, will define success. Members will expect their workouts, recovery, and nutrition insights to be automatically tracked and connected — making invisible, integrated ecosystems the new standard for digital value creation in fitness. 

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