Hapana’s Success with Fitstop Spans Exercise Concepts & Borders

Hapana has Fitstop well-positioned to keep serving the fitness community in inspiring ways and in more places than ever before

Hapana, the gym and fitness studio management software leader, doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. While designing niche marketing campaigns, relaying personalized content and working closely with clients to better understand their goals might be a heavier lift for the tech provider, it’s what helps its partnering brands go far in the long run. 

One of those clients going the distance is Fitstop, both literally and figuratively. The functional fitness franchise is moving more into the limelight after another successful year of facilitating its novel, group-oriented brand of exercise — and into the United States amid its global expansion efforts. 

Hapana is giving the brand all the tools it needs to do both.

“Hapana was able to evolve to meet key requirements of what makes Fitstop unique and we’ve worked very hard to build within our infrastructure to retain their core IP,” Jarron Aizen, founder and CEO of Hapna, told ATN in February. “But at the same time, we’re able to layer in that depth of technology to help Fitstop scale into the United States and other territories as they may arise.”

Helping Fitstop be Fitstop

It’s Fitstop’s unique blend of structured strength training and social connection that makes it a standout fitness offering. The gym environment is built around comradery, accountability, positivity and of course, a commitment to getting stronger. Members are encouraged to support each other, connect in and beyond gym walls and chase progress. 

However, applying a high-end, unique level of support is critical to supplying such a particular brand of fitness. That’s where Hapana steps in. With the software provider’s gamification platform, Hapana gives Fitstop members clear targets to shoot for and support each other in their efforts to do so, fostering the encouraging environment central to Fitstop’s identity. 

“Hapana plays a crucial role in strengthening the Fitstop community by making it easier for members to stay engaged, accountable and motivated,” said Fitstop Founder and CEO Peter Hull. “The gamification and reward system encourages discipline by celebrating members who complete three sessions per week, keeping them engaged and excited about their progress.”

Fitstop’s “You vs. You” initiative resembles one of the standout offerings that’s been amplified by Hapana’s tech, as mentioned by Hull. The 6-week fitness challenge is adaptable to multiple fitness levels, making it applicable to all members. However, Hapana took that a step further.

“The challenge now has a dedicated portal offering personalized goal setting, educational content and tracking tools to keep members motivated and progressing,” Hull remarked. “By leveraging Hapana’s capabilities, we’re creating a more holistic and personalized fitness journey, keeping our community engaged and driven toward their individual goals.”

For the Operators

Hapana’s efforts and impact can be felt beyond Fitstop’s member base as well. The brand’s programs wipe away the pesky, administrative tasks from an operator’s to-do list. With that extra time, they can concentrate on their top priorities. In Fitstop’s case, that’s nurturing the brand’s unique culture. 

“The biggest impact Hapana has had is freeing up time for our owners and managers to focus on what truly matters  — community building and growth,” said Hull. “By automating tasks like member nurturing, scheduling and reporting, Hapana reduces the need for manual input, allowing our team to concentrate on delivering an exceptional fitness experience. The automation of administrative work, from billing to lead nurturing, means managers can focus on in-person engagement, creating events and strengthening connections with members.”

Hapana also lends a helping hand in the communications department, sending out push notifications and personalized updates. While these tasks may not seem as pressing as processing finances or reeling in new members, they can still weigh heavy on operators when draped over their shoulders all at once. 

“The communication tools help us keep members engaged with minimal effort, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way,” said Hull. “These small efficiencies add up, enabling us to scale effectively while maintaining the high-quality experience our members expect.” 

Worldwide Expansion

With all this extra slack generated from Hapana and an exciting fitness product in their hands, Fitstop is currently in the process of expanding further into the United States, building its locations in Pennsylvania and California. While going abroad is a daunting task, with hoops to jump through like cost conversions, catering to new audiences and more, Hapana’s made Fitstop’s landing in the U.S. as soft and seamless as possible. 

“Expanding into the U.S. required a flexible approach to memberships, billing and overall engagement,” Hull recalled. “Our previous tech stack made it difficult to accommodate different membership structures, but Hapana has provided the adaptability we needed to tailor our offerings to the U.S. market.”

Those efforts included creating new membership options, such as session packs, monthly memberships and flexible billing cycles that match with U.S. consumer preferences and without taking away from the Fitstop experience. It also brought a much-needed layer of education. 

“As Fitstop is still a new brand in the U.S., Hapana allows us to customize education and onboarding for each market,” said Hull. This ensures that both first-time visitors and new members understand our training philosophy, community-driven approach, and what sets Fitstop apart.

“By streamlining member engagement, billing, and studio operations, Hapana has freed us up to focus on building brand awareness and growing our U.S. presence with confidence,” Hull added. 

Future Goals

However, Hapana and Fitstop have no plans to stop there, or anywhere for that matter. Innovation continues for both the fitness trailblazer and its digital backbone.

“We are now working on integrations with industry-leading platforms to enhance personalized nutrition and performance tracking,” said Hull. “Hapana’s flexible infrastructure allows us to seamlessly integrate new features that deliver even more value to our members.”

One of which will be a personalized nutrition initiative, which Fitstop expects to launch this year. The project will provide members with tailored meal recommendations based on their fitness goals. Members will also be able to track performance in real-time, inviting interaction and spurring motivation.