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Nike Technology

Nike's redesign of its popular running app angers users

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By Tony Connelly | Sports Marketing Reporter

August 29, 2016 | 3 min read

Nike has come under heavy criticism from runners after it redesigned its Nike+ Running app and left a number of key features out in the process.

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The app, which has between 10 and 50 million installs on Google Play and many more on iOS, has been rebranded as ‘Nike+ Run Club’ with a tagline claiming the new version has been made "for runners, by runners”.

The reception has been overwhelmingly negative however, with many users angered by the sudden switch and subsequent loss of functionality and features which originally made the app popular in the first place. Its average rating on the iOS app store was previously 4.5/5, however its appeal appears to have plummeted following the changes with it now holding a 1.5 rating.

Many users have taken to the App Store, Google Play store and the Nike + Facebook page to voice their discontent with the update to the app.

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While the core functions such as distance, pace, and GPS route remain following the update, other social aspects have been stripped. The app no longer has motivational goals for users such as trophies and challenge programs between friends. Sharing progress to Facebook and other social media platforms has become cumbersome too.

Other changes which have upset runners are the replacement of the competitive community challenges, which have been replaced with hashtags and many users have saw their in-progress marathon training disrupted or erased completely due to the update.

The sports tech space has become increasingly competitive in recent years and Nike’s decision to revamp its running app is an attempt to hold off competition from its rivals in the digital fitness space. Under Armour has made significant moves in challenging Nike’s position in the market with the creation of its own digital fitness hub designed to support the line of apps it purchased such as MapMyFitness and MyFitnessPal.

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