Glossary

Gym glossary

Plain-language explanations of key industry terms, from capacity utilization to tailgating. For everyone making decisions about gym operations.

Business and metrics

Member retention

The share of members keeping their gym membership over a chosen period. The gym's single most important business metric.

Capacity utilization

Actual use of the gym or equipment relative to maximum capacity. Reveals where revenue is created and where it is lost.

The metrics that show business performance. The most important ones connect to members, capacity, equipment and finances.

Yield management

A method from hotels and airlines applied to gyms. Pricing and communication adjusted with data to maximize capacity value.

Operations

A gym open without continuous staff presence, typically 24/7. Requires reliable remote monitoring and access security.

The period when gym utilization is clearly above average. Managing peaks is one of the biggest levers for member experience.

Equipment fault alert

An automatic notification when a gym machine breaks down. Faster detection reduces downtime and protects member experience.

An unauthorized entry where one person slips in on another member's credentials, on the heels of a legitimate entry, or otherwise.

Technology and tools

A visual view of where in the gym members spend their time. Colors reveal the busiest and quietest spots at a glance.

A top-down view of the gym. Combined with usage data, it becomes a strategic tool for space and equipment planning.

RTSP video feed

The standard way an IP camera or video recorder transmits video in real time. Important when adding analytics on existing cameras.

NVR video recorder

Network Video Recorder, the gym's centralized camera recorder. The foundation for modern surveillance and analytics.