How Kenamju Reduced Barriers to Entry and Achieved 60% of New Sign-Ups Online
From Judo Club to Full-Service Fitness Center
Founded in 1948 as a judo school, Kenamju has grown into one of Haarlem’s most complete sports and fitness centers. Today, the club offers fitness facilities, a swimming pool, group classes, physiotherapy, and martial arts — while maintaining a strong focus on community and member experience.
Under the leadership of Joey Wensveen, Kenamju has embraced innovation and digitalization to support the club’s growth and deliver a more efficient and personalized service.
“Entire families work out here, and everyone talks to each other. You don’t see that at large gym chains. We create an environment where community and personal connection come first.”
As the club expanded its sports offering and daily operations became more complex, the team needed a technology solution capable of centralizing processes and improving the experience for both members and staff.
After evaluating several providers, Kenamju chose Virtuagym for its ability to combine all essential functionalities into one platform.
Virtuagym was the only platform that offered everything we needed in one solution — from bookings and training plans to point-of-sale functionality.
Digitalization has also transformed the member onboarding and management process. Thanks to Virtuagym, the club has significantly lowered barriers to entry and improved the member experience from the very first interaction.
Fewer Barriers for New Members
Kenamju has always focused on delivering the best possible experience for its members, using technology to support the club’s continued growth.
During the pandemic, the need for digital class and session bookings made it clear that the old system was no longer sufficient. Members especially appreciated being able to check availability before booking their favorite activities.
The growing demand for bookings and a smoother digital experience made it clear that we needed a more robust solution with Virtuagym.
With Virtuagym, we now work much more efficiently and can provide a better service to our members.
From Paper Registrations to Online Sign-Ups and Automation: How Kenamju Did It
Membership management
Today, 60% of new members register online. Kenamju lowered the barrier to entry with a faster and simpler digital registration process.
Fewer Manual Errors
Staff no longer need to manually enter payment amounts. With Virtuagym Pay, payment data is automatically sent from the POS system to the payment terminal, significantly reducing errors.
Better Retention Insights
Kenamju can identify members at risk of leaving, follow up proactively, and use real data to improve member experience and retention.
Online Registrations and Less Administrative Work
Kenamju has fully integrated Virtuagym’s features to optimize both business operations and member experience.
By centralizing all member information into one system, Virtuagym has streamlined the registration process and made member management far more efficient.
The transition from paper registrations to a fully digital system has had a major impact. Today, 60% of new members sign up directly from home — something that wasn’t possible just three years ago.
The ability to register instantly has significantly improved conversion from prospects to active members.
Member feedback on the Virtuagym platform has been overwhelmingly positive.
Previously, many administrative processes had to be handled manually and only upon request, which consumed a significant amount of staff time.
I’m very satisfied with Virtuagym because of its all-in-one concept. It’s the market leader and a safe choice.
Fewer Errors and Faster Service
In addition to member management, Kenamju has integrated card payment terminals into its operations.
The integrated POS system has become an essential part of daily operations, supporting the sale of coffee, snacks, sports products, and merchandise in both the café and shop area.
As a result, transactions are processed quickly and efficiently, improving customer service.
Previously, employees had to manually enter payment amounts for every transaction, which often caused discrepancies between registered payments and actual transactions.
Now the payment information is sent directly from the Virtuagym POS system to the terminal, which means errors have almost completely disappeared.
The payment terminals were activated quickly and easily, and the team immediately noticed improvements in speed and efficiency.
Because amounts no longer need to be entered manually, payment errors have been virtually eliminated.
The integrated terminal makes the payment process much smoother and eliminates human error.
According to Kenamju, this not only reduces administrative workload but also improves the experience for both reception staff and members.
For group classes, Kenamju uses Virtuagym’s booking system, allowing members to reserve spots in advance and secure participation. This prevents overcrowded classes and increases member satisfaction.
One particularly unique feature at Kenamju is the dedicated section within the Virtuagym app for booking appointments with the physiotherapy and nutrition clinic, further enhancing the service offering.
Many members also actively use the nutrition app included in their Pro membership, helping them achieve their health and fitness goals more effectively.
The appointment calendar has become essential for scheduling training sessions and coordinating with coaches, allowing for more efficient communication and better follow-up.
Joey also regularly uses Virtuagym’s reporting and analytics tools to monitor business performance.
These insights help the team make smarter decisions, such as:
- Identifying peak hours
- Discovering the most popular classes
- Monitoring sales performance across products
Better Insights to Take Better Care of Members
Kenamju strongly focuses on member retention and continuously improving service quality.
The club’s main goal is to ensure that members enjoy every minute they spend at the facility. This means continuously improving the offering by introducing new equipment and expanding the class schedule based on member needs and feedback.
In this process, Virtuagym’s retention tools play a key role by helping the team monitor and improve both member satisfaction and retention.
The system allows staff to proactively identify members who are at risk of canceling their membership. This enables the team to reach out early, provide additional support and motivation, and increase long-term engagement.
The in-app community also gives members a space to share feedback and ask questions, allowing Kenamju to respond quickly to member needs.
The nutrition app — which tracks both food intake and calories burned during workouts — is especially valued for its detail and ease of use.
In addition, allowing members to access and manage invoices directly within the app has reduced administrative workload while improving customer experience.
All of this contributes to stronger engagement and higher member satisfaction.
Measurable Results with Virtuagym: A Club Focused on Quality and Retention
One of the most tangible benefits Kenamju has experienced since implementing Virtuagym has been improved member retention. The club continues to evolve and refine its services based on active member feedback.
At the moment, rapid growth is not Kenamju’s primary focus. Thanks to its strong member base, the club does not rely on aggressive sales strategies or constant discount campaigns.
Instead, the focus remains on maintaining high-quality standards and ensuring member satisfaction.
Long term, Kenamju aims to continue improving the quality of its facilities and services.
By actively listening to the needs and feedback of its members, Kenamju’s mission is to remain a sports center where people not only enjoy coming — but also choose to stay
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