Your club management software is the core of your operations – it manages your day-to-day, keeps your team running smoothly, and so much more. Transitioning to new club management can throw that order into chaos if you’re not careful.

When software transitions go well, your club comes out ready to drive your business forward.

When software transitions go poorly, they can cost you time, money, and even members.

You need to be confident you’re making the right choice before you take the plunge. Here are three big mistakes to avoid when switching fitness club software systems.  

If you catch wind of any of these, run the other way!

Mistake #1: Losing Your Time and Data

Using your data efficiently is crucial to successfully managing your club. You can’t afford to lose the data stored in your current club management system in a software transition.

Maintaining your data’s integrity should be at the forefront of all your transition conversations.

Set your team up for success by ensuring all business processes and data structures are updated, organized, and clearly defined. Your potential software provider should spend time with your team to learn your processes and ensure a smooth transition.  

If your new software provider causes you to doubt whether they understand your data and are committed to a smooth, secure transition, get out of there! It’s not going to end well.

To avoid wasting your time, consider how your new software provider approaches implementation and how their processes will impact your team.  

Ask yourself:  

1. How will this provider work with my team to clean up data and save us time?  

2. How many dedicated training opportunities will they provide so my team can focus on day-to-day operations?
   

Mistake #2: Spinning Your Wheels

If you switch software providers, will you end up experiencing the same problems you have with your current provider?  

Before you implement a new club software system, study your potential provider to make sure they offer tools that’ll address your problems and improve your day-to-day.  

List the problems your team experiences with your current system on a day-to-day basis. Ask yourself:  

1. Are there any inefficiencies slowing you down?

2. What regularly causes frustration when using your current software?

3. How does your current software keep you from achieving your revenue goals?  

4. What questions do you have about prospects, leads, and members that you can’t answer with your current software?

Once you have a detailed list, work with your potential provider to ensure they can meet your needs. What tools do they offer beyond the software’s baseline capabilities to solve the problems your team is facing?

Mistake #3. Not Understanding Your Success Measures

Do you have confidence in the long-term value your new provider offers? Define the real value of investing in new software and clarify how you’ll judge its impact.

Cost is an important consideration when switching software providers, but it should never be the only deciding factor. Will new software impact your team’s efficiency? How about the number of new member joins?  

Set your success measures before making a decision and use them to guide your software search. If a software provider is a true, long-term partner, they’ll be able to provide data on how your goals align with your investment.  

Trying to find the right software provider?

Choosing the best fitness club software system is an overwhelming process. We created the Software Buyer’s Guide to walk you through it and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.  

Download the free guide to learn:

1. How to get team buy-in when switching software

2. Which features to look for when comparing providers

3. Common complaints you can solve with the right software