Running a dance, gymnastics, swim, or martial arts studio already keeps you busy. You're teaching, answering parent messages, chasing payments, and planning next term, often all in the same evening. When the software you use keeps changing too, keeping up can easily slip down the list.
You don't need to be a tech expert to stay on top of it. A few small habits help a lot, and so does choosing software that makes new features easy to pick up. Below we cover what's changing in the sector, how to keep up without it taking over your week, and how Class Manager helps.
What's changing in class management software
Not long ago, most studios used software for registers and payments, and not much else. Expectations have moved on. These are the changes we hear about most from studio owners:
AI built into everyday tasks. Suggested replies to parent messages are a good example. It's less about big promises and more about getting through your inbox faster. In Class Manager, Chats comes with AI Suggested Replies and Actions, so you can answer families in a fraction of the time.
Parents expect to do everything from their phone. Booking, paying, messaging the studio and checking their child's progress. Class Manager's Parent Portal puts all of that in one app, so families aren't chasing you for information.
More automation. Trial follow-ups, reminders and attendance tracking that run without you having to remember them. Class Manager's Automated Trial Emails follow up with new families for you, automated billing takes care of payment chasing, and teachers can mark attendance from any device.
Visible progress. Skill tracking and grading let students and families see how they're getting on, which helps keep them with you. With Skill Tracking in Class Manager, you set the skills and levels that suit your studio and choose whether families can see progress in the Parent Portal.
Fairer pricing. Plenty of studios are asking why their software bill goes up every time they add students. Class Manager has no monthly subscription. You only pay a small fee on payments processed, and you can add as many students and teachers as you like without moving up a pricing tier.
These changes aren't slowing down, and the studios that get comfortable with them early tend to feel the benefit first.
5 ways to keep up with new technology
Join your software's user group. Other studio owners are often the quickest way to find out how a feature works in practice.
Watch the walkthrough videos and webinars. A five-minute demo usually beats an hour of clicking around.
Try one feature at a time. Test it with one class or a handful of families first, then roll it out once you're happy with it.
Ask your teachers and parents. They use your systems every week, so they'll soon tell you what's working and what isn't.
All of these are easier when your software provider puts effort into helping you learn, which is where your choice of platform matters.
Choose software that does some of the work for you
We built Class Manager with this in mind. Here's how it helps studios stay up to date without extra effort.
Regular updates based on studio feedback
A lot of what we release comes from conversations with the studios already using Class Manager. Recent additions include Multi-Teacher Classes, Attendance Overview, Notes, Skill Tracking, and Waivers.
AI where it's useful
Chats brings broadcasts, one-to-one and group messages with families into one place. AI Suggested Replies and Actions help you answer faster, so you spend less time in your inbox and less time hopping between WhatsApp groups.
One place for families
The Family Portal lets parents book, pay and get in touch with you from one place, and you can choose to share their child's skill tracking progress there too. Spotlight, the in-app social feed, gives you a simple way to share news and celebrate your students.
Less admin
Automated Trial Emails follow up with new families for you. Attendance tracking and Finance and Student Reports show you how the studio is doing, without building spreadsheets.
Help when something new lands
Each new feature comes with a walkthrough video, and our help guides explain how things work step by step. We also run community webinars where you can see updates in action and ask questions live.
No monthly subscription
Class Manager has no monthly subscription, so new features don't come with a bigger bill. You can read more about how Class Manager compares to subscription software.
Ready to get started?
Class management software will keep changing, and most of those changes are there to save you time. Build a few small habits, make the most of the support your provider offers, and new features stop feeling like extra work.
Want to see the latest features in action? Head over to our YouTube channel for walkthroughs of every new release.
Or, if you'd like to find out more about Class Manager and how it can save you hours of admin every week, book a demo with our team, who can take you through it all. Or, create your free account.
Or, learn more in our past blog posts here:
