Is Iterpro the way forward for Australian clubs?

UK-based Iterpro is the first company to provide a business intelligence solution in the football industry, that gives clubs, federations and leagues a centralised system for asset management.

Iterpro’s system aims to improve the communication between each football club department.

As the role of each department within a club continues to grow, so does the use of the accompanying technology.

For example, there are GPS businesses with accompanying software, medical and financial software specifically used for football clubs, tracking technologies, performance analysis tools and much more.

A range of athlete management software businesses also exist, which collect important information but are reliant on experts at the clubs to make sense of the data.

Because of the use of all of this specialist software, communication problems exist between departments.

Iterpro’s goal as a company is to simplify and display the most relevant information to the most relevant departments.

If a sports scientist within the organisation completes a detailed report on the squad, it makes sense to want the manager and other departments to have an easily readable overview of the report.

Showcasing the right information to the right people is extremely valuable.

Dr. Alberto Calicchio, Head of Medical at the AC Milan Academy said: “Iterpro has almost eradicated communication problems between staff members, and simultaneously expanded the opportunity to share data remotely with other departments. This, together with the possibility to analyse data and performance statistics, has been a huge step forward for us.

“What I like the most is that every step, from medical and rehab to the return to play process, is easily understandable by an external figure. It’s not only for doctors and sports scientists.

“In practical terms, the manager, or eventually the Director, can check the players’ status in every moment, even if he doesn’t come to our training ground in Vismara. This is vitally important for us.”

AC Milan renewed its partnership with Iterpro in December 2019 for a further three years.

Other clubs in partnership with Iterpro include Serie A sides Bologna FC and Torino FC, as well as Serie C side AC Monza.

Simon Barjie, Performance Manager at AC Monza said: “Since Iterpro was implemented at Monza we noticed that we became way more time-efficient: being able to collect and interpret data in order to give prompt feedback to the coaching staff – as well as individual players – has been something extraordinary.

“We now have a clear general overview, but at the same time a specific real-time snapshot of the squad, which allows us to effectively share information between departments (coaching, performance, medical).”

Iterpro’s focus on communication allows club partners to make better decisions, faster. This is a vital element in the football landscape.

Andrea Tedesco, Assistant Manager at UC Craivoa said: “Sharing information is progressively becoming crucial in football since important decisions need to be taken in a very limited amount of time. Iterpro has revolutionised the way we work.”

Iterpro continues to work with its partners and third parties to build new features to expand its system.

They have an integration with Wyscout, which gives scouting departments access to information from every professional league in the world.

Other features include a transfer dashboard on the Iterpro platform, which can be used to run simulations on the transfer window. This gives clubs the understanding on how these transfers will affect club budgets. Therefore, this data is of benefit to both the scouting and finance departments.

In the finance department, Iterpro’s system gives partners the chance to use data from player management to asset management. Every transfer and wage payment are a significant investment, with a player being the main financial asset for a club.

Player contracts are recorded on the Iterpro system, with a contract and clause builder functionality also incorporated. The finance department has the ability to receive alerts when a player is getting close to triggering a certain clause, such as an extra payment for a performance related bonus.

An app has also been designed for partners, which showcases the same data as the platform version. It is presented in a more condensed way however, with directors and key personnel at clubs finding it extremely convenient.

Finally, Iterpro offers clubs, leagues and federations further opportunities to expand revenue streams with their system. Recently, a league approached the company asking how their member clubs could reduce insurance premiums to focus on other financial benefits.

With a firm focus on product development and growth of the company, Iterpro has partnered with a significant player in football finance to enhance its offerings. The company has recently hired workers with experience in the financial side of professional football.

The time could be approaching for Australian clubs to consider Iterpro as a worthwhile investment.

 

 

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Philip Panas is a sports journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy and industry matters, drawing on his knowledge and passion of the game.

Premier League Productions combine with Genius Sports to bring Premier League Data Zone

Premier League Data Zone

Genius Sports Limited, Football DataCo’s Official Tracking Provider, has announced a new relationship with Premier League Productions (PLP) to improve live broadcasts for fans in over 185 countries across the world through rich tracking data insights and data-driven augmentations.

PLP creates and distributes all of the Premier League’s overseas content, including the telecast of all 380 league matches each season. PLP broadcasts now include a live ‘Premier League Data Zone’ viewing option, bringing fans closer to the action with rich data and tracking metrics in a highlighted match every match round as part of a cooperation between PLP, the Premier League, Football DataCo, and Genius Sports.

Everything from player names to passing accuracy, shooting velocity, sprints, total distance travelled, touches in the final third, and field maps is integrated into live broadcasts via a distinctive L-bar, answering the ever-increasing demand for data-driven insights among Premier League fans worldwide.

To enhance the fan entertainment experience, Data Zone will also include official Fantasy Premier League updates and standings.

Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke spoke on the deal and what it meant for both parties.

“Through Premier League Productions and their international broadcast partners, Genius Sports is revolutionising the viewing experience for millions of Premier League fans around the world,” he stated via press release.

“Powered by our Second Spectrum AI technology, we deliver an enriched visual experience with advanced analytics and key performance metrics in the live broadcast.”

Genius Sports is also FDC’s authorised supplier of official live data to the worldwide sports betting business, offering the most up-to-date and accurate feed on all Premier League, English Football League, and Scottish Professional Football League games.

Genius Sports’ Second Spectrum technology provides enhanced, data-driven Premier League, NFL, and NBA broadcasts on CBS, ESPN, NBA League Pass, and TSN.

U.S. Soccer and Ticketmaster to streamline the match day experience

U.S. Soccer and Ticketmaster

U.S. Soccer have recently announced a strategic partnership with Ticketmaster to become the Federation’s official ticketing partner for the next several years.

The partnership is set to use Ticketmaster’s industry-leading technology to support all ticketing initiatives and solutions with a goal to enhance the match day experience for fans at the stadium.

Ticketmaster is one of the world’s largest ticket sales and distribution companies. They have serviced millions of events across many different countries they operate in, providing a quick and reliable online service for fans that is focused mainly on convenience.

There is an unprecedented line-up of soccer events coming to the United States over the next few years and the Federation is being proactive in its approach to ensure a reliable ticketing service.

The features being brought in will be a fresh change for fans who have previously struggled acquiring tickets to matches because of the multitude of unreliable services that were selling them outside of the U.S. Soccer website.

Ticketmaster plan to incorporate features such as mobile app integrations, use of a 3D Interactive Seat Map to enhance seat selection, and the ability to save tickets to mobile devices which eases access at the gates.

U.S. Soccer and Ticketmaster will also recognise fans through custom content that will highlight the undying commitment of fans and their journeys to U.S. Soccer-controlled events, including U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Team matches, and create unforgettable moments through engaging sweepstakes.

U.S. Soccer Chief Commercial Officer David Wright expressed his excitement for what the partnership was going to bring to U.S. Soccer

“Fans are the heartbeat of our business. Supporting our commitment to super-serve our passionate fans, we are excited to partner with Ticketmaster in our efforts to enhance the customer experience,” he said in a U.S. Soccer press release

“Ticketmaster has been at the forefront of technology and innovation in this space for years and is the perfect match as we continue to elevate and evolve as a property.”

Ticketmaster Executive Vice President & Co-Head of Sports Clay Luter explained how the partnership was going to improve fan engagement.

“The expansion of our partnership with U.S. Soccer is a testament to our commitment to celebrating passionate soccer fans,” he added via press release.

“As the game’s popularity continues to rise, we’re eager to take engagement and connectivity to the next level while actively discovering and connecting with new fans. Through our platform, we’ll deliver must-have ticketing solutions, unique content and innovations that further fuel the interest in soccer across the country.”

The focus on fan engagement through augmented reality and app activations is a fantastic touch from the U.S. Soccer Federation, doing something that Australia has yet to attempt.

The country would definitely benefit by following the U.S. in their fan-first mentality, with an overall goal of making the matchday experience memorable and addictive, especially off the back of the Matildas World Cup success story.

This partnership is attempting to put the building blocks in to ensure crowd numbers are healthy as this new generation of soccer fans start to emerge. It is very strategic and has a forward outlook that must be applauded.

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