While many managers still put out fires on a daily basis, other academies are already using AI to gain scale, productivity and control and this is exactly the path that Academ.IA Scalable mentoring will show in practice during Fitness Brasil Expo 2026
By FitBR News Editorial
17/7/2026
While you put out fires, respond to messages, track sales and resolve team issues, other gyms are already using Artificial Intelligence in academia to gain scale, productivity and control. This is the provocation that opens mentoring “Scalable Academ.IA — Structuring Operations with Artificial Intelligence”one of the interactive mentoring sessions at the Management and Business Conference for Academies at Fitness Brasil Expo 2026. The content will be driven by Junior Croccoone of the greatest authorities on artificial intelligence applied to the fitness market in Brazil.
The problem that mentoring solves
Artificial intelligence is, today, one of the most discussed topics in any sector and fitness is no exception. But discussing the concept is very different from knowing how to apply it in the actual routine of a gym. It is exactly this gap that Junior Crocco identifies as the biggest obstacle for managers. “Artificial intelligence is what’s being talked about most at the moment. But people also say: ‘how do I do this in my gym?'”, he provokes.
While most of the content on AI on the market is in the theoretical field, the mentoring proposal is precisely the practical application, designed for the manager who does not have the time or technical structure to experiment alone.
Who is Junior Crocco
Júnior Crocco is an entrepreneur, mentor and one of the greatest authorities on artificial intelligence applied to the fitness market in Brazil. With more than 30 years of experience in the gym sector, he has built a path combining management, sales, technology and innovation to accelerate fitness businesses at scale.
He is the founder of Fitness Digital, a pioneer in digital strategies for gyms, as well as the creator of the ChatPRO and ChatFusion platforms — solutions focused on automation, official WhatsApp, CRM and artificial intelligence agents for sales, service and retention. Throughout his career, he has accelerated more than 700 companies in the fitness market, helping gyms, studios and networks to increase sales, scale operations and modernize their processes through technology.
Today, Junior Crocco is recognized for collaborating with the digital transformation of the fitness sector, connecting artificial intelligence, automation and commercial performance in a practical, strategic and applied way to the reality of companies, exactly the proposal that leads to the mentorship of Fitness Brasil Expo 2026.
What will be covered in the mentoring
Mentoring promises to cover the complete journey of structuring an intelligent operation, from the first contact of the potential student to the recovery of inactive customers. “In the mentoring that I will do at FB Expo 2026, you will understand from end to end how to build all the mechanisms, what the tools are, how to set up the structure and service strategy, where people come from the internet and go to your counter”, explains Crocco.
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The content goes through essential day-to-day processes at any gym: scheduling, sales, student recovery and other actions that make up an operation supported by artificial intelligence. “We will understand how you schedule, how you sell, how you recover, how you carry out all the actions you need from an intelligent operation, with artificial intelligence, but within your reach”, he details.
The proposal’s difference lies in its accessibility. Junior Crocco is emphatic in stating that the objective is not to present abstract concepts, but tools that any manager can implement. “We will understand it from end to end, step by step, in a simple and operational way for your business.”
Why this topic is strategic for the fitness market
Process automation is no longer a competitive differentiator and is becoming a basic condition for operational efficiency. Gyms that still rely entirely on manual processes for scheduling, serving, and retrieving members waste time — and time, in fitness, translates directly into lost sales and retention opportunities.
Structuring an operation with the support of artificial intelligence does not mean replacing the team, but freeing the team for what really matters: the relationship with the student. While repetitive and operational tasks can be automated, human experience continues to be what builds loyalty and it is precisely this balance between technology and service that this mentoring seeks to build.
The interactive mentoring format
The interactive mentoring sessions at the Management and Business Conference take place in a round table format, focusing on exchanging experiences, networking and practical application. Unlike an expository lecture, the model allows each manager to bring their operational reality to the conversation, making learning directly applicable to their business.
How to participate in mentoring
Interactive mentoring is an exclusive benefit of Management and Business Conference for Academies. To participate, you must purchase the Complete Management Conferencea first day registration (08/27) or the FitBR VIP Passportwhich gives full access to the event, including all conferences, mentoring, keynotes and the exhibition area.
