Client: BoxUp
Date: January 2025
Location: Europe
Democratising sport requires more than just building infrastructure; it means ensuring access to the equipment that enables participation. A ping-pong table or basketball court alone isn’t enough; without the necessary gear, opportunities for spontaneous, inclusive play are missed.
Sport sharing stations help bridge this gap by removing key barriers to physical activity in urban areas. A sport sharing station is a self-service smart locker stocked with sports and leisure equipment, designed for short-term use, just enough to enjoy a spontaneous game or workout. One of the market leaders of this new infrastructure and service provision is the Swiss startup BoxUp. Bax Innovation partnered with the startup to research the impact of its stations on the access to sports and the increased liveability of public spaces.
Challenge
Sport-sharing stations are still relatively new in European cities, and they often struggle to become a priority or an integrated part of the urban infrastructure. One of the main challenges is the lack of data and clear evidence demonstrating the benefits these stations offer. Are sports facilities used more when a sport-sharing station is available? Do they reach new users who don’t typically exercise?
To explore these questions, BoxUp partnered with Bax Innovation to conduct user research.
Approach
Bax Innovation worked collaboratively with BoxUp to conduct an impact study. This included:
Research into sports policy and priorities
Designing a 24-question survey and distributing it through the BoxUp app
Analysing the responses and producing a presentation and poster, which were published on the BoxUp website
Impact
- Survey distributed to hundreds of BoxUp clients
- 500 survey responses collected
- Support in the business development of BoxUp
“We have had very good feedback on the study from our clients. We really appreciated the methodology used, as well as the scope of the study and the fact that the deliverables were respected. The document is easy to understand, with clear results that confirm and illustrate our hypotheses in a tangible way.”
– Frank Roullier, BoxUp
