GymGo – Live Streaming Fitness App
About GymGo
GymGo allows real-time workouts where sportsmen interact with a trainer who can see their performance, provide immediate feedback, and motivate them to keep going.
First, sportsmen can choose one of the dozens of training categories: HIIT or Yoga. In addition, users can filter training by duration and difficulty level. These filters ensure that users can find a suitable session based on their physical fitness level.
On top of that, users can check trainers’ profiles, read reviews about their performance, and make an informed decision on whom to work with.
Once you have chosen the right training and coach, all you have to do is schedule session time. What makes GymGo unique is the ability to schedule sessions a few days out or up to 10 minutes before the start time. This function is convenient in case of a travel.
Expertise
Scope
Vertical
01 The Challenge
The client came to us with the idea of a multi-platform fitness marketplace where trainers can stream workouts in real time and train sports lovers wherever they are. The idea was born while he was on vacation, and he imagined how cool it would be to have a coach nearby and to work out on the beach.
Hence GymGo app grew bigger than simple “vacation coaching”. The app covers a huge targeted audience: freelancers, homemakers, people with little kids, and those who prefer home to the gym. In addition, GymGo meets the needs of people who require remote training, travel a lot, or prefer individual training.
In a nutshell, GymGo was created for those with too many excuses not to go to the gym. The app brings the gym to wherever you are now.
The platform is also a marketplace for trainers and fitness instructors. The app helps trainers promote their training services and grow their client base beyond the gym, city district, or even country limits. GymGo app allows training up to 6 people at a time, thus growing their client base and income faster.
The value of GymGo app is growing with the number of offers it provides. The more trainers are involved, the more choice and interest from clients you get. That’s why we needed to streamline the trainer registration process as much as possible. By doing so, we enhanced user base growth and acquisition rate.
Sport lovers
- Personal profile to personalise training
- Pairing with wearables
- Personal goals & performance statistics
Trainers
- Individual or group sessions
- Optional training duration
02 The Solution
Getting started as a trainer
- Submit application
- Verify training certifications and insurance
- Schedule workout session
- Pair the app with a phone camera
- Lead your session & earn cash bonuses
Admin panel
Since fitness chains are a targeted audience of the app, we created dedicated admin roles for chain owners. That’s how two admin roles appeared: Super Admin and Group Admin.
Super Admin has all the privileges in the GymGo app. Only the owner has this kind of access. Super Admin can create groups, see the whole site analytics, manage billing settings, release coaching payments, and manage sessions.
Using the Group Admin role, gym supervisors can manage their trainers. For example, you can create profiles of trainers in your gym and livestream their sessions through the GymGo app to attract new clients.
Development
MVP
First, we decided to develop MVP to test the core functionality of future products: joint sessions, video streaming, and health data reading from wearable devices.
Here’s a use case we’ve developed for MVP:
- The trainer creates a workout session.
- The app connects to the trainer’s camera and enables video stream.
- The user joins the workout session and joins the video broadcast from the trainer’s side.
- GymGo connects to the user’s wearable device and camera.
- The app acquires health data from the Apple Watch or Android Smart Watch.
- Health data and video are streamed to the trainer in real-time.
This use case was replicated on three targeted platforms: Web, iOS, and Android.
The client has successfully used this MVP to get additional funding from investors. Thus, we moved to the development of a full-scale fitness app.
Video streaming
Video streaming is a core feature of GymGo, so we paid great attention to its development. We started by testing different technologies and software products available on the market. We wanted to ensure that the video streaming function performs flawlessly without lags and slowdowns.
The most important thing in training is to keep the pace. That’s why the main criterion for selecting the software was its ability to stream video without lag, even if the user has low Internet bandwidth or speed.
We chose a bundle of technologies, including TokBox and Amazon Elastic Transcoder, to process and convert media files in one format. Unified video format ensures that video stream will play on all devices regardless of brand or performance capabilities.
Video streaming specifications:
- Media container format: MP4
- HDTV format: 720p (HD Ready)
- Video compression format: H.264
- Max bit rate: 2.5 Mbit/s
Wearables integration
The app focuses on the delivery of the best training experience possible. That’s why we were required to create a near real-life environment. For this purpose, it was decided to integrate the app with wearable devices.
Synchronisation with users’ wearables allows trainers to adapt sessions to the performance of the group by checking their health characteristics:
- Heart rate
- Calories burned
- Running speed
- Miles covered
- Steps made
Wearable OS supported:
- WatchOS
- Samsung Tizen
- Android Wear
Virtual wallet
As with gyms, we have created a dedicated virtual wallet system. Each user has a wallet, which can be topped up through PayPal. Thus, users can top up their wallets once, and that train without transferring money after each workout.
In addition, the virtual wallet system ensures flawless monetisation of the app. That is because only paid users can access live streams and contact trainers.
03 The Result
Our team successfully developed a cutting-edge digital platform encompassing both mobile and web applications. We also conducted rigorous development and testing phases, ensuring the platform’s stability, security, and scalability. Overall, the platform has set a new standard in digital platform functionality, user experience, and performance.
Features
- Live streaming
- Wearables support
- Instant messaging
- Mass payment system
- Push & email notifications
