WNiF Magazine - Autumn 2013 Edition | Page 46

TRESHNA (www.treshna.com/gym) plan. Treshna Enterprises’s GymMaster software has been involved in the fitness industry for over a decade and provides a wide range of services to a client base that ranges from individual personal trainers to multi-site chains. With between 35% and 40% of the market share in New Zealand, Treshna has been focusing on bringing the benefits of the software to Australia since 2011. Our commitment to our customers is reflected in our high service levels. Our 19 years’ experience in this industry enables us to relate to our customers and understand their needs, such as incorporating their requests into future versions of the software. As the developers, customers enjoy a speedy turnaround on requests and helpdesk support. We can provide a list of reference sites that a prospect can contact to discuss our EZeMember software and the level of after sales support. What’s new or different about your product? We have a number of new franchise models for clients to choose from. With increasing interest from the multi-site market we are now able to offer a number of custom options to our clients so that they can pick which model best meets their budget and functional requirements. What sort of business are you most suited to? The majority of our customers are single site, large multidiscipline fitness facilities, or small to mid size chains that require door access control, sophisticated campaigning and messaging capabilities and want to use a web booking tool. We do particularly well in this market as we offer many custom solutions. In saying this we also have many smaller businesses and PT’s using our economical solutions of the ‘Mini’ and ‘Standard’ which still offer a large range of features. As their businesses don’t have the complexities of a larger operation we can offer a low cost solution with integrated PCI compliant direct debit billing. What sets you apart from other providers? We offer a fully integrated combination of hardware, web prospect management and server solutions. Our clients also have the freedom to make changes as and when they require rather than being restricted to an off the shelf solution. What advice do you have for someone considering a member management system? Before you start downloading demos and surfing the net, sit down and brainstorm a list of what you would like to be able to achieve with your member management system. Then use this as a rating sheet comparing different packages. Remember to include items such as the type of support provided, training available, contract fine-print etc. It keeps the search objective and ensures the right solution is found for your business at the end of the day. The GymMaster software is a package that meets our multi-site needs, through its prospect and current member management, as well as the POS and reporting capabilities. In addition it has provided us some great flexibility with meeting our weekly billing needs. – Con, Lifestyle Fitness, Sydney. PLATYPUS (www.ezemember.info) Based in Brisbane, Platypus has been operating for the past 30 years, 19 years of which have been in the fitness industry. EZeMember is currently used by a range of clients from PT studios all the way up to multi-site gyms. According to Margaret Hutley, Sales and Marketing Director at Platypus, their niche is gyms or smaller chains. Why should a club use member management? There are many benefits to installing a system, an obvious one is control. We have had several customers say to us that once they have installed our EZeMember system they have discovered members using the facilities who are unfinancial (some for considerable amounts of time). Also 46 it reduces administration time through the automated processes, freeing up staff to focus on the most important aspects of their business - their members. What differentiates you from other providers? We allow choice. Some software providers force the centre to use their direct debit providers. We have direct integration with payment providers, or a centre can very easily manage their own. We listen to our customers and implement customer requests in future versions. We also have a high level of customer after sales support. We offer different purchase methods, allowing a choice of subscription basis, purchase outright or use a payment WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - AUTUMN 2013 What recommendations do you have for someone considering a member management system? Don’t just look at price, look at the customer service level you are receiving prior to the sale and check testimonials. Check that there is a willingness to listen to customers’ feature requests for inclusion in future versions. Make sure you have a choice in how you want to manage your business - be it through payment method and payment providers, or the option of whether to have cloud access or not. EzeMember has been a huge factor in the success of our gym since we first installed the program 18 years ago. – Alan Mead, Brisbane Fitness and Aquatic Centre. Gumnut Systems International (www.gumnuts.com) 20 years of experience in providing member management systems globally, including the likes of Virgin Group in the UK and Pharaoh’s Club in Dubai, gave Gumnuts some solid fitness experience before marketing these systems to Australia in 1993. Gumnuts CEO Nedim Aydogdu says as well as this, they are taking their years of experience with multi-site operations like spas and wellness centres (such as Endota in Australia) and producing a system that is completely flexible and scalable to Australian fitness centres and PT studios. How do you differ from other providers? Definitely the support. A lot of other companies say they are 24/7 but then charge you extra for calling outside of business hours or emailing them. Business hours for a gym can be 6am to 10pm including weekends and so we offer true 24/7 support from our global help desk in Manila. There is always someone to take your call and there are no hidden costs. You can even Skype the help desk. As well, we don’t take commissions off your direct debits or web bookings like some other companies do. What’s new or different about your product? While we are used to working with multiple sites, we can also work with individuals. With Gumnuts clients can book sessions, purchase a gift voucher online or from their mobile app, and PT’s can use their iPads to access their bookings and process member information from a park or their studio. What else can your system do? Stock control, retail sales, staff management with various commission structures, and marketing with emails and two way SMS - so you can send out appointment reminders and marketing messages and the member can respond. This system is a win-win for all; my staff love it, my members receive great service and it directly affects my ability to increase the bottom line. In all areas Links exceeds my expectations. – Nigel Sonter, Five Star Fitness Port Macquarie. Links Modular Solutions (www.linksmodularsolutions.com) Designed by experts in the leisure industry, Links Modular Solutions has developed business tools that are shaping WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - AUTUMN 2013 the way that the industry operates. We spoke to Don Hartley, Managing Director of Links, who stated ‘As the 47