ClubPlanner

Stable platform gives ClubPlanner peace of mind and room to focus on what it does best

ClubPlanner develops smart software for fitness clubs, helping them gain better control over their leads and members. The idea behind the software is simple: people who receive proper guidance keep working out for longer. The result? Fewer inactive members, reduced churn, and higher returns for gyms.

There is, however, one important prerequisite: a stable digital infrastructure. If the platform goes down, communication between the club and its members comes to a halt. “The phones here would start ringing off the hook immediately,” says Raymond Steffann, co-founder and CTO of ClubPlanner. “So we simply can’t afford any downtime.”

Quality, personal, and close by

ClubPlanner originally started as an automation solution for the gym owned by Raymond’s parents. In just a few years, that basic idea grew into a mature SaaS platform, now active in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and the Middle East.

“We’re software builders with deep knowledge of the fitness industry,” Raymond explains. “But for hosting, monitoring, and platform management, we rely entirely on Fundaments. That collaboration goes back to the very early days of ClubPlanner, initially just for hosting our website. It made a strong impression: Fundaments was large enough to deliver quality, yet still personal and close. Today, the entire ClubPlanner CRM system runs on Fundaments.”

The foundation beneath ClubPlanner

For ClubPlanner, Fundaments truly forms the foundation of its daily operations. “After nearly twenty years of working together, there’s still no reason to look elsewhere. Of course, internally the question sometimes comes up whether we shouldn’t move to a major provider like Amazon or Microsoft. But if something goes wrong there, you’re left to your own devices. With Fundaments, I know exactly who to call.

Fundaments also takes responsibility for uptime, updates, and platform availability. If we ever receive a notification that ClubPlanner is down—which rarely happens—Fundaments is already working on it or responds immediately. They resolve issues without us having to ask. That proactive approach gives us the peace of mind and freedom to focus on what we do best. As a CTO, that’s incredibly valuable to me.”

Not a test subject, but proven solutions

Raymond also appreciates Fundaments’ approach to new technologies. “If something new enters the market, Fundaments only offers it once the teething problems are resolved and the technology has proven itself. That applies now as well, with AI on the rise. Fundaments deliberately doesn’t offer us AI features yet because they’re often backed by U.S.-based companies.

Many of our customers—especially in Germany—are very critical about where their data is stored and how it’s used. Fundaments’ 100% sovereign cloud is therefore exactly what we need. It allows me to guarantee all our customers that their data is stored locally and securely.”

Trust, proximity, and short lines of communication

Finally, the physical proximity between the two companies—ClubPlanner based in Hengelo and Fundaments in Enschede—also plays a role in the partnership. “The fact that we can easily reach each other when something comes up feels reassuring.”

Raymond also values the human scale of the collaboration. “I don’t want to be just a number; I want to be able to talk directly to an engineer when needed. With Fundaments, that’s possible. And if I have an idea or want something special, Fundaments says, ‘We haven’t done that before, but we can build it for you.’ And if it can’t be done, they communicate that honestly. That really says something about them.”