Creating Futuristic Sports And Fitness Apps: Case Study Of The Popular Sport-Planner App And Website

Connecting Sports and Outdoor Enthusiasts, and Offering Enough Sporting Activities For Everyone

Sport-Planner Application

Sport-Planner enables people to easily find and book all kinds of sporting and outdoor activities anytime anywhere, or organize their own activities and invite others to join, and start earning ! We developed this app for a Netherlands-based company using Android, iOS, Ruby on Rails and HTML.

It lets people choose and participate in any sport, also including Pilates, walking, hiking and running, without membership, and is currently available in the Netherlands on iOS, Android and the web for free.

This app has been designed for everyone including trainers and associations/ clubs, employers, employees and athletes.

Challenges and Objective

We are often unaware of the events happening in our locality. It is time-consuming to browse through different websites to know about various sporting events.

Wouldn’t it be good if the management of all sporting events and team communications were available via one app? Our client wanted to address this problem by developing a mobile and web solution which would allow organizations and people to discover and organize nearby sporting events with the provision to invite friends with ease and RSVP. The software solution had to be intuitive to increase user engagement and notify users about upcoming events based on their interests, and motivate and encourage all users to better themselves.

Approach and Solution

Preparing for Development and Structuring the Idea

Before getting into full-blown website and mobile app development, we conducted extensive research to implement location-based event creation and various user notification functionalities in the custom sports event planning solution according to the requirements. One of the key challenges faced while developing the solution was how to best manage the various sports packages according to the interests and preferences of the users, and catering to multiple smartphones and tablets. The mobile-first approach was focused on creating a highly mobile-friendly interface with smooth navigation, and a backend administrator portal to manage the users and events. The overall plan was to deliver a modern technology product with a great user experience and an increase in user adoption.

Tools and Technologies Used

Ruby on Rails, iOS, Android, Amazon Web Services, HTML5, Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CSS3, JavaScript, Bootstrap 4

We designed the app using ConstraintLayout, MotionLayout, animations and Material Design, and made the app 100% mobile-friendly.

We helped the client with social media marketing through Facebook and Instagram. We also helped with offline marketing by designing small advertisement boards that were placed at appropriate places beside roads.

Dedicated Resources Used

1. Project Manager
2. UI/UX Designer
3. Android Developer
4. iOS Developer
5. Ruby on Rails Developer
6. HTML Developer

How does the app basically work for regular users?

• Select the sport and timings in the week of your preference
• Choose a package that suits you
• Buy it and sign up
• Tell your friends
• Download the Sport-Planner app for many more options

The app is currently available in Dutch and English.

Features and Functionalities

The Sport-Planner app makes it easier to exercise and play sports more often (even during COVID).

• Organize sports events for others to join, and meet new people
• Employers/organizations can easily let employees exercise more often through all sports activities along with options for trainers, clubs, or associations, and less administration and significant cost savings.
• Employees can exercise together for a good cause, and this can also be arranged through their employer. They can also sport together for a local sports club or for a higher purpose, such as for UNICEF.
• Users can share which sporting or outdoor activity they plan to do in any area, so others can find and join them.
• Users can challenge their friends to exercise more.
• Find locally organized sports events and book sessions directly through the app which has a handy dashboard. Also, find a trainer nearby
• Keep track of the exercise schedule and frequency. Set weekly plans or goals for activities and be rewarded on achieving them, in the form of virtual “medals”. Trade medals for great offers, sports merchandise and discounts. Users are also rewarded for participating in groups.
• Users can “save” activities, and also participate later in recurring activities, if they can’t take part at a certain time.
• Users are given suggestions for activities based on their preferences.
• Various convenient payment options
• The app encourages the users by letting them view their real-time history of achievements sport-wise.
• Users can add friends and interact through messages, phone and email-based on privacy settings.
• Users can also opt for various subscription packages for different sporting activities that last different time periods.

Major Features and Benefits for Trainers and Clubs/ Associations:

• Easy for their (new) customers
• Don’t need to waste much time on marketing or administration
• Monthly report with revenue overview
• Free Features to improve their marketing: multiple services that allow them to connect with more customers such as extra visibility to friends of customers.

For example, customers are automatically reminded to introduce their friends.

The app enables to easily increase the reach to thousands of athletes and companies: offers will be suggested to users if relevant.

• Advanced Customer/Member Management
• Pay only (and not much) for premium features such as training plans, and links to extra trainers.
• They can create training schedules that they sell as a package. Customers can book a training/lesson with them based on their availability.
• Offer customers online classes/training. Ideal for the times we live in now
• No restrictions on the number of athletes or activities

After-launch Support

We have been supporting the client for even more functionalities and requirements to keep on exceeding the expectations of end-users.

Success, And The Road Ahead

We developed a high-performance, user-friendly and fast app on-time. We exceeded the client’s expectations within deadlines with an app that their customers were really looking for.

Client’s Review on GoodFirms

The end-users are finding the app very easy to use, and feel extra motivated and inspired for more outdoor activities and sports, safely even during COVID. They can organize any sport with friends easily and properly. They are also training remotely with teammates and trainers. They are indulging in exercise more than before.

As a result, the client plans to expand with features such as more languages and multi-currency payment options.

Hands-on Experience with Fitness and Sports Apps and Websites

i-Verve’s sports and fitness app developers have been accelerating businesses in the fitness and sports industry through powerful and future-ready software, web and mobile solutions with a high return on investment. Our dedicated developers have years of experience in creating a comprehensive range of high-quality sports enterprise mobility solutions for startups, sports clubs, businesses and prominent sports brands.