5 Factors to Consider When Shopping for a New Club Management System
If your club is shopping for a new club management platform in 2024, it pays to do some research before you make a decision. While a lot of systems might look good on the surface – or “good enough” – a closer look under the hood can reveal some big differences that can cost you in time, money and headache down the road. We could give you a long spreadsheet of features and functions to look for, but let’s start with a few fundamentals.
Below are 5 important factors to consider:
“All-in-One”
“All-in-One” can mean different things to different vendors. If it’s truly “all-in-one,” it means that there is one login, one database and one platform built and hosted by the provider for all your club functions including your website. This means you don’t have to enter data in multiple places. For example, if you enter information about a summer camp on your registration site, it should show up on your website and your app.
Client Support
Who will implement your new system and who will be there to support your admin and families when they have questions or need tech support? Often times, it’s a 1-800 number that connects to someone at a call center who doesn’t know your club or the system. But it should be a knowledgeable employee who is dedicated to your club and delivers top-notch customer service.
Product Enhancements
How often does the company roll out upgrades and enhancements to their software? A system that looks great now will become out of date very quickly without frequent enhancements. The best software companies have in-house tech teams that release enhancements to the system on a regular basis in response to client feedback.
Return on Investment
There are lot of system features out there that look cool and make you think “I gotta have that!” – but make sure you’re not getting distracted by shiny objects that don’t really impact your club. Focus on how well the core functions work to support your business operations and improve your bottom line.
Safe Sport Compliance
Don’t take any chances. A lot of systems say they are “SafeSport Compliant,” but do they automatically enforce compliance? For example, all parents should be automatically copied on messages to/from players under age 18 to ensure compliance.