State of the Nation: what’s new and what’s next for Zen Planner and SugarWOD

Twice a year, we pause to reflect on where we’ve been and share where our products are headed.

Our State of the Nation is more than a release update. It’s a look at how customer feedback is shaping a more modern, reliable, and connected experience across Zen Planner and SugarWOD, on both web and mobile.

Every improvement highlighted below supports one goal: reduce friction, improve performance, and strengthen engagement for gym owners, staff, and members alike.

Building with you, not just for you

Over the last six months, customer input guided every major decision we made.

• 112 customer calls
• 42 in-person visits
• 30 feature releases
• 50% fewer incidents
• 52% fewer open bugs

From early access testers to long-time partners, your feedback helped us ship faster,
fix smarter, and focus on what matters most.

Zen Planner feature highlights

A faster, simpler staff experience on mobile

The new Daxko Zen Planner Staff App is designed to keep your day moving and reduce admin time on the floor.

What’s live now

• 2× faster performance for everyday tasks
• Clock in and out directly from your phone
• Apply discounts in seconds
• Track member notes and milestones
• Personalized home screen with daily priorities

Already, 17% of customers downloaded the app within the first 90 days, with early feedback pointing to improved usability and visibility.

“It’s visually appealing and I like the modern feel. I love seeing member anniversaries and birthdays right on the home screen.” — Ella E., Office Manager, Heavy Mettle Jiu Jitsu

What’s coming next

• Simplified navigation with one-click access to key pages
• Favorite your most-used tools
• A fully modernized dashboard experience

Download the Zen Planner Staff App today on iOS and Android to manage your day faster, stay connected, and keep your gym running smoothly.

A modern dashboard built for better decisions

We’re rolling out a redesigned Zen Planner dashboard to help you spot trends faster and focus on what matters most.

Early access includes

• Clear visual charts showing performance over time
• Organized insight cards highlighting key metrics
• Faster load times for smoother daily workflows

This update is designed for clarity, so you can act with confidence instead of digging through data.

More transparency with the status page

You now have real-time visibility into system uptime, maintenance, and historical performance data.

Greater transparency builds trust, and we’re committed to both.

What’s coming to member management

We’re continuing to modernize the member experience with upcoming improvements, including:

• Easier membership and billing management
• A more intuitive member-facing calendar and class booking flow
• Enhanced belt tracking and ranking for martial arts schools
• Optimized family sign-up experiences

Do signup here to preview upcoming features and share feedback to help shape what comes next.

SugarWOD feature highlights

A cleaner, more connected mobile experience

SugarWOD’s mobile updates focus on keeping workouts, conversations, and community in one place.

What’s live now

• View today’s workout activity without scrolling
• Connect with others doing the same WOD
• Coaches can reply directly in threaded comments
• Keep workout questions organized in a single thread

The result is a faster, cleaner, and more engaging experience for athletes and coaches.

Community that actually shows up

SugarWOD’s community feed has become a central place for connection and motivation.

• One shared space for comments, photos, and celebrations
• Encourages daily interaction and accountability
• 11,000 monthly engagements, up from 700 in 2024

This is community built directly into the workout experience.

Notes that work your way

Athletes can now:

• Share workout notes with friends for encouragement or feedback
• Keep private notes for personal tracking and reflection

Share what matters and keep what’s personal.

What’s coming next for SugarWOD

We’re continuing to deepen the athlete journey with upcoming features, including:

• Redesigned profiles for faster access to workout history and progress tracking
• Easier switching between gyms and online subscriptions
• GPS-based run tracking that logs outdoor runs directly as workouts

A firsthand look at growth with Zen Planner Engage AI

One of the biggest highlights this cycle is how customers are using Zen Planner Engage AI to grow without adding more work.

“Conversation AI is a game changer. It’s booking 3–4 meetings a day without me or my team chasing leads. It’s like having a staff member who follows up 24/7.” — Dr. Matt Klingler, Co-Founder, Village Fitness & Physical Therapy

Engage AI helps automate conversations, streamline follow-ups, and turn interest into booked appointments, all while your team stays focused on coaching.

More integrations, more possibilities

We continue to expand the Zen Planner integrations marketplace, giving you more flexibility to build a tech stack that fits your business.

Looking ahead

What’s next is simple: keep listening, keep improving, and keep building alongside you.

Ready to see what’s new in action?

Watch our webinar to explore the latest Zen Planner and SugarWOD updates.

You can also book a demo to see how these improvements can support your gym’s growth. In case you want to explore AI and automation best practices, download our detailed guide here.

To preview upcoming features, or share feedback, our team is here to help. Contact us anytime at support@zenplanner.com.