Tired of Your Studio Software? What You Can Learn from Studio Owners Who Made the Switch

"All studio software is the same, and it’s just about price."

If you’ve ever said this as a studio owner, you’re not alone. For years, this has been a more than common misconception in the fitness industry, and legacy platforms like Mindbody have thrived on it. But what if that simply wasn't true?

In an unscripted webinar, Walla co-founder Laura Munkholm sat down with two of Walla's clients and studio partners—Julie, owner of Labarre Studios in San Jose, and Whitney, owner of The Beau Collective in Park City—to have a candid conversation about what it's really like to transition from a long-time software provider to Walla.

Here’s what they revealed about their journey and the lessons they learned.

The Pain Points: Why They Knew It Was Time for a Change

Both Whitney and Julie had been on Mindbody for 7 and 10 years, respectively. The decision to switch tech providers wasn't made lightly, but it was driven by some shared, core frustrations:

• Lack of Support: As a new owner, Julie was "blindsided" by the lack of support she experienced with Mindbody. "I had a lot of questions... and I couldn't get answers in real-time."
• Complicated Reporting: Whitney knew she couldn't scale her business on a platform that wasn't "systematized the right way." Julie agreed, calling Mindbody’s reporting "overly complicated." They both needed a system that not only provided data but told them what it actually meant.
• Ineffective Marketing Tools: For Julie, the marketing suite was a major source of frustration, as clients often did not receive messages, hindering her ability to grow the business effectively.

The Migration: It's Not as Scary as You Think

The biggest fear for any studio owner is a messy transition that alienates clients and staff. And change. Whitney and Julie proved it doesn't have to be that way.

• Change is a Process, Not an Event: Whitney emphasized that the change "is a continuous part of the cycle for months after launch." It's not a switch you flip, but a process that's "so worth it."
• A Project Management Plan You Can Trust: Both owners praised Walla's highly organized onboarding process. Julie loves the "checkboxes," which broke down the overwhelming task into "bite-sized pieces." Whitney appreciated the clear deadlines and felt she was in the hands of an experienced team. "It’s a set plan that we're just executing," she said.
• Staff Fears are Real (and Fixable): Julie's staff was more concerned about the switch than her clients, fearing it would take months to learn. But she quickly discovered the new system was intuitive. "The day-to-day basics, they picked up more quickly than they expected."

Benefits: The Freedom to Run a Tighter Ship

After the six-week onboarding process, both owners found themselves running a more efficient business. The most significant benefits they highlighted were:

• Clean Data and Peace of Mind: The migration was an opportunity to "scrub your data" and clean up years of messy records. All of their clients' booking and payment history was transferred over and made accessible in a way it wasn't before. "All of my worry was for nothing," Julie said.
• Delightful User Experience: Both owners were thrilled with Walla’s clean, modern interface. They were surprised to find that the Walla app and website widgets were so easy to use that some clients preferred them to the branded app. "It's like buying something on Instagram," Whitney said.
• A Shift from Dread to Delight: Whitney shared the most powerful takeaway: she probably "left so much money on the table" by dealing with the old software. The transition was a "lift," but now she feels she has a partner and a tool that helps her run a "tighter ship" with "a better piece of mind."

Are You Ready to Stop Settling?

The candid conversation with Whitney and Julie made one thing clear: staying on a platform out of habit or fear is costing you time, money, and peace of mind.

It’s time to stop dreading your software and start thriving with a platform built to support your growth.

Ready to find out what Walla can do for your fitness business? Watch the full webinar here to get your own actionable playbook for a smooth transition.