How Technology Is Changing Gym and Fitness Trends in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com—Technogym Indonesia says the country’s fitness industry remains well behind those of developed markets, although technology is increasingly supporting fitness activities through data, smart devices and digital platforms that can track performance.

Commercial Director of Technogym Indonesia, Pramudya Bevan, estimates that Indonesia is still about 10 years behind Europe in terms of fitness trends.

“Compared with Europe, Indonesia may still be about 10 years behind. But now, many areas in Indonesia, such as Kalimantan and Bali, are developing very rapidly,” Pramudya said in Jakarta recently.

According to Pramudya, many of the fitness trends adopted in Indonesia are influenced by developments overseas. As an Italian company, Technogym follows emerging trends in Europe and studies how they develop in other markets.

One such development is the use of technology to change the way people measure their workouts. Rather than relying solely on how an exercise looks or feels, users can now collect data that provides a clearer picture of their performance.

The information, he said, can also be used beyond the gym. Pramudya said data from physical activities can be used by doctors and physiotherapists, while athletes can share the information with their coaches to improve performance.

He cited swimming as an example. Someone who swims regularly can use activity data to evaluate their training and provide the information to a coach when developing a new exercise program.

The same approach can be applied to other sports. A soccer player, for example, can use training data to identify weaknesses, including differences in performance between the left and right foot.

“Technology can provide that data and information. The analysis is not based solely on how something looks, but on actual data,” Pramudya said.

For beginners, using fitness technology does not necessarily mean buying gym equipment. Pramudya said people can start with a fitness app and bodyweight exercises at home before deciding whether they need additional equipment.

Smartphones can also be connected to smartwatches and other devices to monitor physical activity. Data from activities such as swimming can then be recorded and reviewed over time.

The growing use of such technology comes as interest in wellness and active lifestyles continues to expand in Indonesia. The trend is no longer limited to Jakarta, with cities such as Bandung, Batam, Semarang and Surabaya emerging as potential markets.

Pramudya said business growth and an increasing number of high-net-worth individuals in those cities have contributed to the development of the wellness sector. The growing number of international events is also creating new opportunities for sports and tourism.

Jakarta, Bali and Lombok are increasingly hosting international events, including sporting activities. Pramudya believes the combination of tourism, wellness and sports could create greater opportunities as interest in active lifestyles continues to grow.

According to Pramudya, the global wellness and health market is also growing at a double-digit rate. Indonesia is seeing a similar shift as more people incorporate exercise and health into their lifestyles.

However, access to fitness technology remains a challenge. Equipment prices and import costs can affect retail prices and potentially limit access for consumers.

Pramudya said government incentives for medical and medical-grade products could help reduce those costs. Lower prices, he argued, could make health and fitness technology more accessible to a broader segment of the population.

The shift in Indonesia’s gym and fitness trends, therefore, is about more than the introduction of new equipment. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into exercise, data and connected devices are becoming part of how people train, monitor their progress and manage their health.