In sports management, we often fall into the trap of comparing isolated numbers without looking at the value behind them. In my meetings with climbing gym managers, one debate consistently arises: the fee of a traditional bank terminal (POS) versus the service commission of a technological ecosystem like Lizcore gymOS.
At first glance, it looks like a simple cost comparison. But if we analyze the reality of the business, we discover that we are comparing a passive expense against an investment with a direct return.
The Mistake of Comparing Carabiners to Chalk (Apples to Oranges)
Your bank charges you a commission for a single function: moving money from one account to another. It is what we call a “passive pipe.” The bank doesn’t know who your client is, what motivates them to climb, and certainly does nothing to ensure that person returns to your gym tomorrow.
In contrast, the Lizcore ecosystem is an “active engine.” The service commission is not net profit for us; it is the fuel that finances the tools that professionalize your center, automate processes, and increase your revenue through retention.
| Feature | Traditional Bank Terminal | Lizcore gymOS Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Operating Expense (Passive) | Growth Engine (Active) |
| Objective | Process a payment | Retain and engage the climber |
| Connectivity | Isolated technological island | Global Network (Climbing Tourism) |
| Added Value | None | Gaming, challenges, and brand prizes |
| Operations | Manual / Cash desk errors | Cashless / Total automation |
Total Transparency: Where Does Your Investment Actually Go?
To understand the value of Lizcore, we must break down what the climbing gym receives in exchange for that small fraction of each managed sale:
- Transactional Cost: The mandatory fee we pay to payment gateways (Stripe, Redsys, etc.) to securely process national and international cards. This is often the only cost a traditional bank covers.
- R&D and the Network Effect (iOS/Android App): Maintaining an updated App costs thousands of euros per year. With Lizcore, you enter a global network that encourages “climbing tourism”: a user from one city can find, book, and access your gym with a single click while traveling. You aren’t just another app on their phone; you are part of their daily climbing habit.
- Gaming and Sponsored Challenges Reinvestment Fund: This concept is unique. A portion of the commission returns to your center in the form of gaming technology. Lizcore acts as a bridge with major industry brands (such as Garmin, Tenaya, MaxiRope, Boreal…) to create sponsored challenges. This generates a direct return: brands provide prizes and incentives that motivate your users to climb more at your gym, turning your wall into a high-value digital advertising platform.
- Support and Cashless Operations: We guarantee that the Lizy wristband system and integrated payments work 24/7. This not only eliminates cash desk errors but also reduces queues and frees up your staff to focus on what matters: the customer.
Your Bank is an Expense; Lizcore is a Retention Engine
The question every manager should ask is not how much the transaction costs, but what is a returning customer worth?
- The bank is neutral: If a customer doesn’t return, the bank doesn’t care.
- Lizcore is proactive: If, thanks to our gamification, we get a climber who used to come once a month to now come twice, you have doubled your revenue from that customer. The service margin is an insignificant figure compared to the revenue growth generated by loyalty.
Custom App or the Lizcore Ecosystem?
Many managers consider developing their own application. However, the technical reality is unforgiving: a custom app is born with constant technological debt. It requires a massive initial investment and never-ending monthly maintenance.
With Lizcore, you eliminate that financial risk. You don’t just get cutting-edge technology that always works; you benefit from a community of thousands of climbers who already have the app installed. Having your own app locks you inside your own gym; being on Lizcore opens you to the world. Furthermore, there is only a cost if there is a sale; it is a shared success model.
Conclusion: Technological Partner or Simple Gateway?
When you choose Lizcore, you aren’t just hiring a payment processor; you are integrating an engineering and marketing team working to make your center the most technological, secure, and profitable in your area.
The next time you analyze service fees, don’t think of a cost. Think of the “climbing tourism” arriving at your door, the brand challenges exciting your members, and the security of having a partner who reinvests every cent into your success.
Do you prefer a cheap bank that does nothing for you, or a technological partner that drives your growth?
Written by Edgar Casanovas, CEO of Lizcore®
Ready to transform your gym’s profitability? Book a demo with our team here.