Twice a year, we pause to take stock of where we’ve been and understand where our products are headed.
Our State of the Nation is more than just a release update. It’s a look at how our customer feedback is shaping a more modern, reliable, and connected experience across the products of Zen Planner and SugarWOD, on both web and mobile.
Every improvement highlighted below supports the same goal SugarWOD and Zen Planner have always focused on: reducing friction, improving performance, and strengthening engagement for gym owners, members, and staff alike.
Building with you, not just for you
Over the past six months, customer input guided every major product decision.
- 112 customer calls
- 42 in-person visits
- 30 feature releases
- 50% fewer incidents
- 52% fewer open bugs
From early testers for access to long-time partners, customer feedback helped the team move faster, fix smarter, and prioritize what matters the most.
Zen Planner feature highlights
A faster, simpler staff experience on mobile
The all new Daxko Zen Planner Staff App is designed to keep your day moving effortlessly and reduce manual tasks and admin time on the floor.
What’s live now
- Everyday tasks run up to 2× faster
- Clock in and out straight from your phone
- Apply discounts in just seconds
- Track member notes and milestones with ease
- A personalized home screen highlighting daily priorities
So far, 17% of customers have downloaded the app within the first 90 days, with early feedback highlighting improved usability and better 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
- Streamlined navigation with single-click access to key pages
- Favorite the tools you use most
- A complete modernized dashboard experience
Download the Zen Planner Staff App today on iOS and Android to manage your day more efficiently, stay connected, and keep your gym running seamlessly.
A modern dashboard built for better decisions
We’re rolling out a fully redesigned Zen Planner dashboard to help you spot trends early and faster to focus on what matters most.
Early access includes
- Clear, visual charts that track performance over time
- Well-organized insight cards that highlight key metrics
- Faster load times for a smoother day-to-day workflow
This update focuses on clarity, helping you make confident decisions without digging through data.
More transparency with the status page
You will now have real-time visibility into system uptime, maintenance, and historical performance data.
Greater transparency builds trust faster, and we’re committed to both.
What’s coming to member management
We’re continuing to modernize the member experience with upcoming enhancements, including:
- Simplified membership and billing management
- A more intuitive, member-facing calendar and class booking experience
- Improved belt tracking and ranking tools for martial arts schools
- Streamlined family sign-up experiences
Sign up here to preview upcoming features and share feedback to help shape what’s coming next.
SugarWOD feature highlights
A cleaner, more connected mobile experience
SugarWOD’s mobile updates emphasize on bringing workouts, conversations, and community together in one centralized experience.
What’s live
- See today’s workout activity at a glance—no scrolling needed
- Connect with others completing the same WOD
- Coaches can respond directly using threaded comments
- Workout questions stay organized within a single conversation
The result is a faster, more streamlined, and more engaging experience for both athletes and coaches.
Community that actually shows up
SugarWOD’s community feed has evolved into a hub for connection and motivation.
- A single shared space for comments, photos, and celebrations
- Drives daily interaction and accountability
- Now seeing 11,000 monthly engagements, up from 700 in 2024
This is community seamlessly integrated into the workout experience.
Notes that work your way
Athletes can now:
- Share workout notes with friends to get encouragement or feedback
- Keep notes private for personal tracking and reflection
Share what you want. Keep what’s just for you.
What’s coming next for SugarWOD
We’re continuing to enhance the athlete journey with upcoming features, including:
- Redesigned profiles that provide faster access to workout history and progress tracking
- Simplified switching between gyms and online subscriptions
- GPS-based run tracking that directly records outdoor runs as workouts
A firsthand look at growth with Zen Planner Engage AI
One of the main highlights in this cycle is how customers are using Zen Planner Engage AI to drive growth 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 automates conversations, simplifies follow-ups, and converts interest into booked appointments so your team can stay focused on coaching.
More integrations, more possibilities
We’re continuing to grow the Zen Planner integrations marketplace, giving you greater flexibility to build a tech stack tailored to your business.
Looking ahead
What’s next is very clear: we’ll keep listening, keep refining, and keep building, together with you.
Ready to experience what’s new in action?
Watch our webinar for a walkthrough of the latest Zen Planner and SugarWOD updates.
You can also start a free trial to see how these enhancements can help drive your gym’s growth. And if you’d like to dive deeper into AI and automation best practices, download our detailed guide here.
To get a sneak peek into what’s coming or to share your feedback, our team is always here to help. Contact us anytime at hello@sugarwod.com.