VOR 2024 Wrapped
What a year.
As 2024 draws to a close, we've been reflecting on our achievements over the past 12 months and what we think 2025 holds for the industry.
VOR Tech Developments
We've been busy in the tech department under CTO Jesse Shanahan's stalwart leadership. Here are the headlines:
Gym customisation. A key differentiator of VOR technology is how we adapt it to each and every gym we work with. For a multi-site gym, this is layered - firstly, we tailor the tech at a brand level, so this might include training styles, workout lengths or preferred equipment. Then, we adapt the tech at a per-site level, optimising workouts according to its unique gym floor layout, equipment restrictions and even trainers.
Beginner support. We developed a training type aimed at absolute beginners to reduce gym intimidation and gradually build confidence.
Mobility programs. We added our first mobility programs to the Engine, which embed stretching and mobility movements throughout each workout, not just warm-ups and cool-downs. This means that exercisers can improve their mobility as well as their strength and fitness, and it helps those suffering from bad posture, joint aches and pain and general poor movement.
Progressions, regressions, and alternatives. Another key VOR differentiator provides real-time flexibility for members and trainers as they complete their workout program. Every exercise has assigned dial-ups/dial-downs or like-for-like alternatives for when equipment or space might not be available.
We re-examined how the Engine tackles the concept of difficulty, and, after an extensive literature review, we redesigned this feature so 'difficulty' is tailored to our members' experience levels and goals, rather than an arbitrary score.
Circuits. We built circuit capability into the Engine, starting with EMOM, AMRAP and Interval circuits.
To support our injury recovery programmes, we added joints, ligaments, tendons, and bones to how the Engine processes data. This advancement means we can provide specific recovery exercises and work with physiotherapists to treat a wide range of physical conditions.
Beyond the Engine itself, we've been developing a simple trainer interface that will allow any personal trainer to use the VOR engine for workout generation. This is especially useful for phased rollouts and can give trainers early access while the Engine is integrated with a gym's larger tech stack. The first version is our demo web app, and we're developing a mobile version to match the day-to-day workflow of personal trainers.
From an infrastructure perspective, we improved the speed and scalability of our tech, which now benchmarks at a 100-200 X faster workout generation for personal trainers when compared with writing programs manually.
Partnerships, Events and Milestones
We started the year building our AI engine in stealth mode and still operating as a B2C online personal training business. When we officially launched VOR midway through the year, this marked a significant milestone in our technological evolution and ambition for the industry. The media took notice of our breakthrough, with coverage in Business Cloud, Startups Magazine and Well Nation.
Before VOR's public launch, we showcased our technology to the industry at Elevate in London, where our workout automation demos created an excting buzz. Head of Product, Sam Brown Abreu and I attended the Independent Gyms Conference in Solihull to round out the year.
In the Autumn, Health Care Magazine published a nine-page feature about us in their printed magazine, distributed at the first-ever HCM summit.
Additionally, we announced our partnership with Leisure Labs, the technology consultancy and development company supporting gym operators worldwide. More will follow on this partnership and others in the new year.
The industry
AI adoption. ChatGPT was launched in November 2022, marking a significant technological milestone. These past two years have since accelerated the general desire to adopt some AI technology, partly due to the fear of being left behind but also driven by the exciting opportunities the tech promises.
During this time, the industry's general understanding of AI technology hasn't advanced as much as it needs to in order to make good decisions about its adoption.
Looking ahead to 2025
We see a big part of our role in the industry in helping improve understanding and adoption of automation technologies in a way that centres ethics and safety in an industry aimed at extending human longevity and quality of life.
Whilst we continue to approach our technology developments from this standpoint, communication will be increasingly important in 2025. The health and fitness industry is on the precipice of a vast technological revolution. Still, technologies that aren't fit for purpose carry a considerable risk, not just in terms of commercial failure but also litigation and physical harm.
We predict that in 2025, the AI hype will start to be replaced by more critical thinking and cautious adoption - this is a shift we're fully behind, as it will yield the best long-term results for all of us.
2024 has been a whirlwind of a year as we continue to build game-changing technology and adapt to the needs of the market. I've never been more confident in our product's capabilities and VOR's position as the highest-quality workout automation in the world.
To our partners, clients, investors and colleagues around the world - I wish you a restful break and all the best for 2025.
Max
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