{"id":23829,"date":"2017-11-15T15:49:13","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T20:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/flywheel-anywhere-the-digitalization-of-flywheel-sports\/"},"modified":"2017-11-15T22:47:33","modified_gmt":"2017-11-16T03:47:33","slug":"flywheel-anywhere-the-digitalization-of-flywheel-sports","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/flywheel-anywhere-the-digitalization-of-flywheel-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"Flywheel Anywhere: The Digitalization of Flywheel Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Ruth Zukerman co-founded Flywheel Sports, an indoor cycling studio, in 2010, her mission was: \u201c\u2026to create a workout that enabled all of our riders to elevate their performance \u2013 \u00a0in the stadium and in life.\u201d1<\/sup> Seven years and 42 studios later, her vision has translated into a national (and even global)2 <\/sup>phenomenon. Powered by music, lights, and dynamic instructors, Zukerman helped Flywheel become a first mover in digitalizing the indoor cycling experience. After co-founding competitor SoulCycle, Zukerman created a technologically-enhanced workout that provided riders with metrics for speed and resistance, real-time in-studio competition, and the ability to track historical performance through an app. However, in the face of increasing digitalization and consumer demand for instant gratification, can Flywheel translate its mission further into the digital age?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I agree with Regis McKenna, author of Real Time: Preparing for the Age of the Never Satisfied Customer<\/em>, that Flywheel must try. McKenna writes, \u201cManagement must be prepared for the eventuality of anything-anytime, anywhere.\u201d3<\/sup> In this respect, Flywheel faces a formidable competitor in Peloton. Co-founded in 2012 by John Foley (HBS \u201901), it allows consumers to purchase their metric-based proprietary bike and live-stream or watch recorded workouts. Peloton also solves the limited-capacity studio issue as thousands of riders can simultaneously ride and interact with other users. Despite a cost of $1,995 per bike plus a monthly subscription fee4<\/sup>, the value proposition of convenience has helped Peloton soar to unicorn valuation.5 <\/sup>For Flywheel, Peloton poses a legitimate threat because it creates the opportunity for virtual fitness to cannibalize studio business. As a result, Flywheel must find a way to offer a digital value proposition.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Source:<\/strong> Peloton, \u201cShop,\u201d https:\/\/www.onepeloton.com\/shop\/bike, accessed November 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With increased competition and demand for digital wellness solutions, Flywheel announced its own at-home product, \u201cFlywheel Anywhere,\u201d in May 2017, with launch planned for that November. Flywheel Anywhere will feature streaming and recorded rides.6<\/sup> Unlike Peloton, Anywhere will allow users to utilize their own electronic devices with the bike. According to Flywheel purchasing analyst Alex Garson, the company expects that in the short-term, demand will be generated largely from the 19 geographical areas where Flywheel has a studio presence. In the medium-term, Flywheel hopes Anywhere will generate business in new markets (for example, the American Midwest).7<\/sup> With the virtual fitness trend still emerging,8<\/sup> Flywheel\u2019s strong studio brand coupled with a digital presence may help the company capitalize on new growth in the digital fitness industry.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Source: Flywheel Sports, “Shop,” https:\/\/shop.flywheelsports.com\/, accessed November 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Digitalizing the Flywheel experience poses several key logistical challenges to integrated planning and execution. For example, whereas the supply chain process was relatively simple for studios, Anywhere requires new adjustments. Flywheel is not as vertically integrated as Peloton.6<\/sup> After making proprietary adjustments to bikes manufactured by ICG,9<\/sup> each studio receives a specified number of bikes that are serviced by trained Flywheel staff. Flywheel Anywhere, however, will require the integration of distribution company XPO into the Flywheel supply chain. In preparation for the release, Flywheel has coordinated 42 XPO distribution centers throughout the US to help deliver, set up, service, and warehouse bikes.7<\/sup><\/p>\n

In tandem with adjusting the supply chain, forecasting demand requires art and science. Following the May announcement, Flywheel\u2019s purchasing department worked with marketing and financing to forecast an initial number of bikes to order based on the number of inquiries the company fielded.7<\/sup> However, it will be difficult to develop a demand plan following the release of the new product for some time. Although committed to a roughly 90-day rolling forecast to ICG, longer lead times further complicate determining inventory.<\/p>\n

As Flywheel Anywhere becomes an increasingly important part of the business model, it will be important to have a transparent logistics platform that integrates information between Flywheel, ICG, and XPO. Stefan Schrauf and Philipp Bertram of PWC argue, \u201cthe key to success for any supply chain is the efficient exchange of information\u2026any outsourcing of many necessary elements only makes it harder to understand the supply chain in full.\u201d10<\/sup> By having a closely connected supply chain with heightened visibility, Flywheel will be able to better communicate demand and attend to customer support issues. To further differentiate itself, Flywheel could also consider integrating its complementary workout, FlyBarre, onto the Anywhere platform. Not only will this offer a diversified workout platform, but barre materials (typically a ball, resistance band, small weights) are cheaper and likely easier to deliver. However, Flywheel will also need to consider whether ordering more equipment could add more complexity to its new supply chain.<\/p>\n

Flywheel Sports is excited about its next venture. However, will the company be able to gain meaningful market share against existing competition and should it have initiatives beyond Anywhere? Does having outsourced aspects of its supply chain hinder its ability to respond to demand? Perhaps most importantly, can Flywheel Anywhere truly translate Zukerman\u2019s vision for the studio workout experience to homes world-wide?<\/p>\n

(Word Count: 793)<\/p>\n

Footnotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1<\/sup> Zukerman, Ruth . \u201cAbout Flywheel Sports,\u201d www.flywheelsports.com\/about<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/p>\n

2 <\/sup>Flywheel Sports operates two studios in Dubai.<\/em><\/p>\n

Flywheel Sports, \u201cHome,\u201d https:\/\/www.flywheelsports.com\/<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/p>\n

3<\/sup>Regis McKenna, Real Time: Preparing for the Age of the Never Satisfied Custome<\/em>r (Boston: 性视界 Business School Press, 1997), \u00a0https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/citation.cfm?id=523019&CFID=829122912&CFTOKEN=83592015<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/p>\n

4 <\/sup>In addition to the cost of the Peloton bike, $1,995, there is an additional $250 setup cost and $39 monthly subscription fee. <\/em><\/p>\n

Peloton, \u201cShop,\u201d https:\/\/www.onepeloton.com\/shop\/bike<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/p>\n

5 <\/sup>Zakrzewski, Cat, \u201cInvestors Bet on Unicorn for Spinning Classes,\u201d Wall Street Journal, <\/em>May 24, 2017, \u00a0https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/investors-bet-on unicorn-for-spinning-classes-1495625403<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/p>\n

6 <\/sup>Kauflin, Jeff, \u201cWhy Your Next Spin Class Could Be In Your Living Room.\u201d Forbes, <\/em>May 17, 2017, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/jeffkauflin\/2017\/05\/17\/why-your-next-spin-class-could-be-in-your-living-room\/#1576c8d93d97<\/a> , accessed November 2017.<\/p>\n

7 <\/sup>Interview with Flywheel Sports Purchasing Analyst Alex Garson, Phone Interview, November 13th<\/sup>, 2017.<\/p>\n

8<\/sup> According to this source, only ~15% of consumers regularly paid for a fitness subscription in 2016. <\/em><\/p>\n

Dawson, Gloria, \u201cSpin Class Full? Feel the Burn From Your Living Room,\u201d New York Times<\/em>, September, 17, 2016, \u00a0https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/09\/18\/business\/spin-class-full-feel-the-burn-from-your-living-room.html<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/p>\n

9 \u00a0<\/sup>Indoor Cycling Group (ICG) is a major indoor cycling manufacturer. It is owned by leading fitness equipment company, Life Fitness. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLife Fitness Plans to Add Indoor Cycling Group to Its Brand Portfolio,\u201d Life Fitness press release (Rosemont, IL, July 28, 2016).<\/p>\n

10 \u00a0<\/sup>Schrauf, S. and P. Berttram, Industry 4.0: How Digitization Makes the Supply Chain More Efficient, Agile, and Customer Focused, PWC Strategy& \u00a0(2016).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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