Health club operators are under more pressure than ever to improve retention, tighten operations and justify every capital expense. Yet for some, their clubs still operate like “black boxes” relying on rules of thumb instead of real-time insight.
That’s the problem Alan Thompson, the founder of Groe Solutions, set out to solve.
The Problem: Running a Club Without Clear Visibility
Before launching Groe Solutions, Thompson planned to open a gym himself. However, he quickly noticed a disconnect within the fitness industry.
Many gyms rely heavily on best practices and experience, but lack integrated, accessible data to guide decision making. Operators often use multiple software platforms that don’t communicate with one another. Data becomes siloed, fragmented and underutilized. As a result, decisions around staffing, marketing, security and capital expenditures are frequently made without a complete operational picture.
Without clean, centralized data, even strong operators are left relying on assumptions.
The Guide: A 24/7 Operational “Employee” Without the Headcount
That gap led to the creation of Groe Solutions, a technology company designed to help gyms improve operations and member experience through better data.
He describes the company as functioning like a 24/7 gym operations and member management employee — without adding payroll.
Groe’s solution is structured in three tiers.
Tier 1: Data Integration and Churn Risk Analysis
The first step is connecting siloed systems and unlocking actionable insight. This includes:
- Churn risk analysis so operators can take a proactive approach to retention.
- Market penetration and saturation insights.
- Data-informed marketing decisions.
Rather than relying solely on annual consulting engagements, operators can access ongoing insights throughout the year.
Tier 2: Computer Vision for Operational Intelligence
In its second tier — the company’s current focus — Groe uses computer vision and AI-powered tools to improve day-to-day operations.
Key applications include:
- Identifying tailgating and security gaps.
- Detecting missed sales opportunities at the front desk.
- Monitoring consistent late openings.
- Tracking equipment and space utilization to inform smarter CapEx and layout decisions.
Notably, Groe does not use facial recognition technology, prioritizing member privacy while still capturing operational insights.
Tier 3: Hyper-Personalization
The third tier connects operational and behavioral data back to the individual member level, enabling hyper-personalized campaigns and retention plans. The goal: move from reactive to proactive engagement.
The Stakes: Retention as a Matter of National Health
For Thompson, improving gym operations is not solely about profitability. With rising health care costs tied to physical inactivity, he believes retention plays a broader societal role.
At scale, better retention means more people staying committed to health and fitness. In that sense, operational efficiency and data-driven engagement contribute not only to business performance but to community well-being.
The Warning: Not All AI Is Created Equal
Despite building an AI-enabled platform, Thompson advises operators to approach the term carefully. AI is an umbrella term that can encompass everything from basic algorithms to machine learning and deep learning. In many cases, it is used loosely in marketing materials.
He encourages club leaders to conduct due diligence, understand exactly what a vendor means when referencing AI, and prioritize clean, integrated data before investing in advanced solutions. Even the most sophisticated tools will underperform if the underlying data is inconsistent or incomplete.
The Plan: Clean Data First, Then Smarter Decisions
Before layering on advanced analytics, Thompson believes gyms must focus on strengthening their data infrastructure. Integrating systems and ensuring data accuracy unlocks meaningful insight and long-term value.
With reliable data, operators can:
- Make smarter staffing and scheduling decisions.
- Improve security oversight.
- Optimize facility layouts and equipment investments.
- Implement more targeted retention strategies.
The transformation is straightforward but significant: shifting from rule-of-thumb management to data-informed leadership.
In an industry built on community and personal transformation, operational clarity is becoming just as important as programming innovation. By turning fragmented information into actionable intelligence, Groe Solutions aims to give operators something they’ve long lacked: visibility. Because in today’s competitive fitness landscape, knowing is more than half the battle — it’s the difference between reacting and leading.
