Here are the main questions on gym cards and their many applications in leisure.
SMART CARDS FOR GYMS
Smart cards for gyms are an essential tool for access control and service usage in leisure facilities. From spas to fitness classes, gym membership smart cards simplify users’ experience and streamline facility management.
The installation of a smart card system for gyms has many benefits:
- Immediate recognition and tracking gym member attendance with smart cards: a simple swipe of the card at the reader recognises the user at the entrance.
- Gym access control using smart cards: each user can enter restricted areas based on their membership, from the wellness zone to specific classes.
- Gym membership management with smart cards: the cards record training sessions, services used and allow an effective check on the status of subscriptions.
- Integrated electronic purse: e-wallet functionality can be integrated into the cards for convenient and quick payments of extra services, such as sunlamps, bars and vending machines.
Smart cards for gyms operate with various technologies: magnetic stripe, contact chip, or RFID chip, using LF 125 kHz, HF 13.56 MHz, or, in some rare cases, even UHF 868 MHz frequencies. RFID cards are considered the best choice for gyms, swimming pools, and the leisure industry due to their ease of use. Additionally, if the reader is connected to management software, the reception desk can verify all the information stored on the card (such as membership validity, subscription status, medical certificate availability, and access times matching the chosen class). Smart cards for gym access are secure, because the advanced encryption makes them tamper-proof, protecting user data.
RFID cards integrate seamlessly into gym access control systems, offering many benefits: unlocking doors, turnstiles, and lockers with a simple gesture, tracking user access and attendance at any time, and enhancing safety for both the facility and its users.
Cards for gyms are available in ISO standard format or in non-ISO formats, such as minicards, a compact and versatile alternative:
- Space-saving solution: minicards are ideal for those looking for a practical card to carry at all times, in a bag or attached to keys.
- Customised to fit: they can be trimmed to suit the customer’s specific needs.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SMART CARDS FOR GYMS
How do smart cards for fitness centres work
The use of smart cards for gyms and fitness centres is simple and intuitive: just bring the card close to the RFID reader located at the entrance or restricted areas. A sound or visual signal will confirm that the card has been read, granting access to authorised areas. Additionally, these cards can be used to access the facility's equipment and to enjoy extra services.
DISCOVER HOW TO CUSTOMISE GYM SMART CARDS
Smart card printing for gym memberships
At Partitalia, we provide the best gym access control smart cards, available in various materials:
- PVC: Polyvinyl chloride, it is resistant to high temperatures, flexible, moderately priced, and offers the possibility of lamination.
- Degradable PVC: This material allows for eco-friendly smart cards for gym access control. While maintaining the same properties as standard PVC, it offers environmental benefits, such as faster degradation.
- Recycled PVC: Eco-friendly smart cards for gyms can also be made from recycled PVC, a material derived from PVC production waste, with the same technical characteristics as standard PVC.
- PETG: Polyethylene terephthalate + glycol, it is resistant to chemicals, flexible, and fully recyclable.
We create customised smart cards for gym access with:
- Logo, colours, and sponsors: Strengthen branding for immediate recognition.
- Customer’s first and last name: Enable clear identification of members and a personalised experience.
- Customer's photo: Increase gym smart card security, preventing unauthorised access.
At our facility, we offer gym smart cards printing services using various techniques to provide customers with a fully customised product: offset printing, silkscreen printing, digital printing, UV spot varnish, hot stamping; gym smart cards customisation with thermographic printing, laser printing, inkjet printing, and embossing.
FAQs smart cards for gyms
What are the benefits of using smart cards in gyms?
Gym cards offer multiple benefits: they restrict access to authorised individuals in reserved areas, improve security, and facilitate user identification, preventing unauthorised entries. Using the card simplifies access and cashless services, speeding up entry and automating management. Additionally, gym cards can include an electronic purse for quick payments at bars and vending machines.
Can smart cards track gym usage and attendance?
Smart cards are useful for access control and user identification inside gyms, sports centres and swimming pools. They allow doors, turnstiles and lockers to be opened, entrances and exits to be recorded, and activities and training sessions to be monitored. Thanks to these cards, each user can access restricted areas and courses according to their subscription.
How can smart cards help manage gym memberships?
If the gym’s RFID reader is connected to a management software, through the smart cards the reception desk can check information such as the validity of the subscription and membership, and presence of the medical certificate.
How secure are smart cards for gym access?
RFID cards are considered the best for gyms and swimming pools: in addition to being convenient to use, they are particularly secure thanks to advanced encryption, which protects user data.
How do smart cards work for gyms?
RFID cards contain an integrated contactless chip that stores data such as: Unique card ID, user information, subscription data and remaining credit for payments. When the card is approached by an RFID reader, the chip uses the electromagnetic field generated by the reader to send a response signal containing the data. The reader decodes and sends this information to a management system that verifies the user's authorisation.
Are smart cards eco-friendly for gyms?
Smart cards for gyms can be made of eco-friendly materials, such as degradable PVC, which degrades faster, and recycled PVC, which is obtained from PVC processing waste. Both materials retain the same technical characteristics as standard PVC but have less impact on the environment.
What information is stored on gym smart cards?
The data stored on a smart card for gyms varies according to the specific needs of the facility. In general, the information stored is: Unique ID, first name, last name of the user; subscription information: monthly/annual, start and expiry date, access permissions; optional data: remaining credit for extra payments, contact information, workout data. Data security is ensured by encryption and secure protocols to prevent unauthorised access.
