This article will compare Styku 3D Body Scanner to Inbody and other BIA devices
Comparison to Inbody and other BIA devices
Explaining the differences between Styku and BIA devices can be a very convoluted conversation, as there are many. This can be quite a lengthy explanation but hopefully the overview below will highlight some of the key points:
Technology Type/Body Composition Prediction Method
This starts with a complete difference in technology as Inbody uses Bioelectric impedance making it completely reliant on hydration levels and limiting on who can use the technology. Because InBody is reliant on hydration levels to predict body composition, and hydration levels are hard to control between scans, it can cause a high degree of error (aka unreliability).
Styku, on the other hand, uses 3D depth sensing to measure body circumferences which is then used to predict body composition in correlation to DEXA data. Noting, also, that Styku is not reliant on hydration levels so it allows us to be less error prone and more reliable in proving change over time.
Limitations
InBody is limited on who can use it. If you have a pacemaker, are pregnant or have certain acute/chronic diseases you should not use InBody.
Styku is the complete opposite as anybody can use it. Styku is completely non-invasive.
Pre-test Requirements
In order to get accurate and reliable results on InBody the user will need to fast (not eat or drink water 12 hours before scan), not workout, not shower, remove any ointments or lotions, scan at the time of day compared to the previous scan, wear the same clothes and more. I've attached, below, Lifetime Fitness's pre-test requirements for their InBody scans which includes 14 different bullet points!
Styku only requires you to wear form-fitting clothing (or undergarments work well also). You can eat, drink, shower, work out etc. - as these variables will not affect the results.
Data
InBody's results range from a prediction of body composition and a measure of hydration levels.
Styku's results are a prediction of body composition, 21 body circumferences, segmentations in body surface areas and volumes, and risk factors for obesity related disease based on the waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. Soon, Styku will be reporting risk for metabolic syndrome, metabolic age, a full postural analysis, and body symmetry screening.
But the biggest thing is that Styku is a 3D body scanner... so we actually provide a 3D image of the scan subject to drive a visual representation of change from scan to scan. Comparing and contrasting visually, over time, is much more impactful than quantitative data by itself.
How Data is Presented
InBody presents all data on a printed-out piece of paper so in order to compare and contrast over time, you need to file that piece of paper away to hold for future InBody scans. This also leaves for a very bland/dry type of an assessment "experience".
Styku is fully software driven. All of the data is interactive through the tablet that we provide with the system. You can navigate through the 3D images (zooming in, rotating, and panning around), highly body circumferences, compare and contrast data, create fat-loss goals and inch loss goals, and much more. Please find a quick demo of our software here: Styku Demo
Monetization
InBody is saturated in the space as you'll likely find one in your competition's clinic. Not to mention, you can go to a Supplement/Nutrition shop down the street and get an InBody scan for free. This does not allow for a differentiator or as a new revenue stream within the business.
Styku, while in over 1600 locations globally, is still not saturated as you'll likely be one of the very few, if not only, businesses in the area that has Styku. And, because the system is driven by software, it allows you to provide more of an experience which is easily monetizable. We find that 65% of our customer base does, successfully, charge per scan at an average of $50 /scan - upwards to $150 /scan.