It is always interesting to analyze the role of technologies in the digitalization and transformation of different industries. And the sports industry is definitely the one that has already greatly changed with the introduction of various software tools built for it. But what is even more exciting is that the “tech revolution” in this sphere is still going on.
And here, it is impossible to underestimate the role of startups. While huge corporations usually work on more traditional solutions and tools, young startups are brave enough to wow the market with some cutting-edge apps that have never been introduced before.
In this article, have a look at the most promising technologies that are transforming the industry, including IoT in sports and fitness apps, and discover some great ideas for sports solutions that may inspire you to build your own unique app.
Technologies Behind “Sports Tech Revolution”
Of course, it will not be a full list of all the technologies that are used in sports app development. However, they will be the most popular ones that are applied today for creating the most advanced and feature-rich software products that bring real value to professional athletes, sports fans, and fitness lovers.
- AR and VR. These technologies are among the top choices for building entertainment apps. With AR and VR solutions you can feel the atmosphere of real-life matches without leaving your home.
- IoT. IoT-powered solutions for the sports industry are often coupled with different types of wearable devices (from standard fitness bracelets to unique smart sneakers) and smart sensors. The data, like vital parameters, speed, and distance among others, gathered by these sensors can be transferred to mobile devices and servers in real-time so that coaches can better track the health state of athletes and create more result-oriented training and game strategies.
- AI. AI and ML-based tools can greatly increase the efficiency of planning and enhance prediction accuracy. Software of this type is able to process huge volumes of content and training data which helps not only to save coaches’ time but also to avoid mistakes caused by a human factor. For instance, there are special AI tools that can analyze different video records for detecting a better game strategy.
Ideas for Startups That Are Planning to Launch a Sports Tech Solution
Sports and fitness apps are quite popular these days. And probably you also have one or two on your smartphone. But what can you create to wow the audience? What tasks should your app fulfill in order to win the hearts of end-users? We’ve gathered a couple of ideas for you that definitely are worth your attention.
Idea 1. Apps for Sports Fans
Some people say that there is nothing better than going to a stadium to see how your favorite team is winning. However, modern technologies provide a wide range of new opportunities for supporting your favorite team and tracking its performance. Startups can create a cool app for boosting fan engagement and bringing their experience to a completely new level.
It can be a VR or AR app that will allow them to feel the atmosphere of stadiums from any corner of the world regardless of their location. While for using some apps people will need to have special smart glasses, some other applications will be able to work only with the help of mobile devices.
Apps for fans can be also enriched with various social features for communication with other people who have similar interests as well as different types of news feeds for getting the freshest updates from athletes and teams.
Idea 2. At-home Training
Applications of this type gained enormous popularity during the coronavirus lockdowns when people simply didn’t have the possibility to go to gyms. But for many people, it is not enough just to have an app with some video records to guide the training process. They should have something motivating and encouraging. And modern IoT technologies can help. Special sensors on stationary bicycles and treadmills can gather vital parameters and metrics, while mobile apps can analyze historical data, compare them with the results of other users, set new goals, and even provide recommendations for increasing the efficiency of training.
Idea 3. Athletes’ Performance Monitoring
Special performance trackers are of great use for coaches as they can collect and store metrics on players’ performance and results, provide analytics, and help to introduce valuable changes to training strategies. While vital parameters are usually collected by wearables, performance, and game tactics can be recorded by cameras and analyzed by special AI-powered tools.
Today, it may seem that there are already too many sports tech solutions in the market and it is impossible to win a good position for a new product. However, this is not true. Given the growing demand for reliable fitness and sports apps, there is still enough space for newcomers who have excellent ideas and high-quality tech products to address the needs of athletes, coaches, and fans.
