What Is The Key Threats To Fitbit's Success?

Old is new again, hopefully not tie tied shirts and flared jeans, the Fitbit One is a 21st century update on the basic and time proven method on how to lose weight and improve your health and fitness.

They have begun to also utilize the fitness tracker fitbit into their wellness program. The fitbit program can help with tracking employee’s fitness in real time. This is a great tool to have to motivate people to get in shape. This is a great way to use new technology and also help people connect with other people who have the same type of goals.

Park and Friedman were able to ship around 5,000 units with a further 20,000 orders on the books. Park and Friedman raised more money for their product from Brad Field and teamed up with Best Buy. Fitbit products are now found in 650 Best Buys and thousands of retail stores worldwide. The first tracker was reviewed as “pretty good”. In 2011 Fitbit was improved by adding an altimeter, digital clock and a stopwatch. In 2012 Fitbit One and Fitbit Zip were the first wireless fitness trackers to use Bluetooth 4.0/ Bluetooth Smart. This model allowed people to sync their Fitbit with IOS and Android as well as the Fitbit website. In 2013 Fitbit created a wearable bracelet: Fitbit Flex. Although the product was not entirely successful. The wristband was irritating people’s skin due to the nickel in the product. This resulted in a recall in 2014 and the irritating factor can still be a problem in some of their products today.

The article talks about how for Fitbit going into the smartwatch area could be dangerous for Fitbit because how is it going to compete with Apple and come out relatively ok. The advantage that Fitbit has is that its smartwatch can work on either Android or Apple phones, so it is not limited like the Apple watch. Currently, Fitbit is in a stage of growth, but that does seem to be stagnating a bit. According to Fitbit’s preliminary fourth quarter results from 2016 they reported that they expect to have revenue between “$572 million to $580 milling” (Fitbit announces,

Identifying and evaluating the market would be the best course of action for Fitbit. A global presence is a terrific opportunity. Data surrounding markets which have the capability to leverage the tool would be important. Third world countries may benefit from the product, but not have the electronic capability to support and/or use Fitbit. In addition, the culture and social dynamics of the market would play a factor into how Fitbit is received and would be adopted. A health conscious country similar to the United States dynamics would be ideal. Or segments such as Hong Kong and parts of China may prove as ideal locations, due to the forward thinking

Most of the Garmin GPS watches are targeted towards individuals that exercise outdoors. That’s why most of the features are connected with running, climbing and jogging. Garmin has set the set the standard for sport watches in means of design, features and durability. Yes they’re tough watches that are even water resistant, but don’t you forget them on places like ironing board because they can’t stand too much heat.

Although personally, I believe Fitbit like yoga pants are more of a fashion accessory than life changing. In our generation, today, we have taken many things related to fitness and have made them a trend. There has been a good amount of research studies that have based their hypothesis on the Fitbit, or use the Fitbit in some compacity during their research. Some of the studies I looked at explained that the Fitbit tracks many aspects of your life, but it is not something to rely completely on. It would be more of a complimentary product than a center stage product. I wasn’t able to figure out who exactly funded these studies, but some were posted in the clinical journal of pain, and the journal of science and medicine in sports. I, myself, didn’t sense or see any forms of quackery. These devices are sold in store as well as online. The claims aren’t definite more motivational. On the website, I didn’t see any testimonials

Fitbit is an American company that produces activity trackers, wireless-enabled wearable technology devices that measure data such as the number of steps walked, heart rate, quality of sleep, steps climbed and other personal metrics.

At the heart of every Fitbit is an accelerometer that measures a plethora of factors while exercising and even sleeping, depending on the device. They also all contain some form of a vibration motor that acts as an alert mechanism. All bands come in two sizes: small and large to cater to the variety of wrist sizes people have. Fitbit wristbands are composed of a synthetic polymer substance that is soft enough to rub against skin without harming it, yet strong enough to endure a fair amount of force and strain without breaking. Certain premium Fitbits have sections that are made with surgical-grade stainless steel. Fitbit product has been around for a number of years, but the market is just now warming up to the idea of fitness tracking devices. Consumers care more now than ever before about being healthy and that has led to huge spikes in earnings for Fitbit.

According to Free SWOT Analysis, Fitbit is a San Francisco established wearable device corporation who leads the way in connected health/fitness marketplace in 2007 asserting their device’s assistance individuals become more energetic, increase exercise, sleep improved, and control their weight. They have sold over 20.8 million devices as of March 31, 2015 and held a 68% share of the United States market by dollars in 2014, bragging users including the President of the United States. (Free SWOT Analysis, 2015)

Fresh of the IPO diving block, Fitbit Inc. shares have since soared, more than doubling in price at its peak. The company pioneers an industry of wearable technology, being one of the first to develop and manufacture wearable, fitness trackers. Their products allow users to monitor basic health statistics, such as calories burned and distance walked. Their products also track some unique metrics, such as active minutes and stairs climbed. Fitbit also manufactures the Fitbit Surge, a more complex fitness tracker, but with added abilities comparable to smartwatches. Furthermore, Fitbit offers a premium, subscription based service that allows users to enhance their experience with more insight and analysis on the data collected by the trackers.

The Fitbit is a groundbreaking wearable fitness tracker that is another step in the evolution of the Internet of Things. Everyday items such as toasters and refrigerators are now being connected to the Internet, which is leading to the expansion of the so called Internet of things. The Fitbit is just the next small step in the overall picture, as is offers a user to wirelessly track and upload fitness data to the Internet. As one of the most up-and-coming wearable fitness device companies, Fitbit is a model for the future of fitness devices. It's newest iteration, the Fitbit surge, is the perfect example of that. Since the Fitbit Surge is the newest Fitbit device on the market, naturally it is the most eagerly sought after by consumers. It

This product is a helpful tool for individuals who are truly concerned about their personal health. However, like most products after sometime newer models tend to appear with a variety of upgrades. In fact, the official website for Fitbit does not have the option for consumers to purchase the original model. Instead Fitbit created six new alternative fitness watches and wristbands, for a higher price, at the consumer’s convenience (Fitbit,

Expected technological advancements in health products are likely to contribute to greater spending on health. The FitBit as a technological health device shall greatly meet local consumer’s needs.

This new product launch is new for the New Balance Company, but is not a new product being brought to the marketplace. This could be both advantageous and detrimental to the company. The advantage would include the ability to look at the successes and operations process of companies such as FitBit and Nike who have a similar product in the market. The challenge will be how to differentiate the product and gain market share that might already be taken from other companies. The company will be using the “American made” approach for this product launch with the company opening up their own U.S. manufacturing plants which will help promote the marketing as well as helping to boost the local economy by providing U.S. jobs. The ability to connect this smartwatch to other products, tracking steps on shoes, heart rate on athletic shirts, etc. will also provide a competitive advantage.