The Club Management Software Utilization Debate

IMAGE BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Whether you club works with a third-party provider or develops its own software, the importance of getting the most out of your club management software is undeniable. Here, Adam Zeitsiff, chief information officer at Gold’s Gym, and Greg Cibura, chief technology officer at Fitness Formula Clubs, share tips about how to get the most out of your software platform no matter which route your club takes.

Stay up-to-date.

Zeitsiff: “Always make sure that the software is built on the latest web-based technologies so that you can have a cloud-based platform that is flexible and scalable for you as you grow.”

Cibura: “With how inexpensive the cloud has become and how many options you have to utilize the cloud, it is easier and easier and cheaper and cheaper to extend your club management software specifically for your business.”

Pay attention to payment collection.

Zeitsiff: “Make sure that it can connect to a wide variety of payment processing partners so you can either process your payments through the providers themselves, or pick your own to give you ultimate security and cost effectiveness.”

Know that APIs (application programming interface) are critical.

Cibura: “It’s growing more and more important to have a strong API and well documented API for these club management systems, so that we can continue to utilize the software while continuing to enhance it at the speed of our business.”

Zeitsiff: “There will be more third-party products that you want to bring into your health club to help drive business and provide a better member experience, and the club management software has to be ready and willing to communicate with those platforms.”

Don’t underestimate the importance of automation.

Cibura: “You should be able to granularly control which employees have access to what data so that they can automate their own reports and be more well informed as they have their manager, employee, or staff meetings — to talk more intelligently about the state of the business. I think that is the ultimate goal.”