THE CEO’s POV - Technological Transformation in the Sports Industry
The start of a New Year is always a time of contemplation. One thing is for sure, we are all still living through unprecedented times.
Sport - mirroring society - has done a lot of soul-searching in the past two years as it has reacted and rebounded to the impact of Covid-19.
One of the major impacts of the pandemic has been the acceleration in development and adoption of digital technologies across all sectors as business and consumers seek to navigate the new challenges we face.
Sport is no different and that leaves decisions-makers grappling with how best to grow and engage audiences and drive participation levels. These factors, whether you are a Premier League football club, a national or global governing body, a league, event or a grassroots team, are absolutely key to your future.
The impact of technology on sport has already been fundamental over the past decade, both at community and elite levels.
On one hand, tech innovation has meant it has never been easier to connect with your audiences through social media, as discussed here.
On the flip side, there are so many interests competing for the younger generations attention there is the chance that physical activity loses out to virtual and digital pastimes, such as gaming and esports, particularly if the related sports aren't supported by technology.
This trend was exacerbated by the pandemic when many people around the world had competitive sport curtailed by Covid and were looking for things to fill the void.
I’m biased but I’m extremely bullish on the future of sport and especially for those who have been underserviced and undervalued for far too long. For me, technology, harnessed in the right way, has the ability to transform sport for those who need it the most and that’s the purpose of Joymo.
Our aim is to democratise the value that exists across sport at all levels by providing affordable streaming technology that empowers sport organisers to become a part of the creator economy and engage their passionate fans more effectively than ever before.
We believe that every single athlete, team, club and competition can find value in creating and streaming content. Whether that be for the benefit of participants and coaches to review and analyse performance. To enable family and friends to see their loved ones in action. To provide local supporters with the ability to watch live or on demand if they cannot attend physically. Or maybe it’s a marketing tool for new players to prove you are a progressive organisation looking at all opportunities to promote your club in new ways.
There are a multitude of reasons why streaming makes sense, and that’s before you consider the financial benefits from digital ticket sales and the added commercial opportunities that the Joymo platform provides.
So, as we enter 2022, there are still many unknowns, but for all those with a vested interest in sport the need to evolve and embrace the technology at our fingertips has never been clearer. Recent macro challenges have enforced the mantra that only the strongest and most adaptable will survive and thrive.