CrossFit Ace
“Since switching to Boxbase, members were happy from day one. No complaints, everything just works.”
CrossFit Ace is one of Vienna's biggest CrossFit boxes, with more than 300 members. But behind the success, owner Johannes Neusser (Jo) felt his old system wasn't keeping up. This is the story of how he built his community, why he decided to switch, and what changed once Boxbase became part of his gym.
Building a Big, Loyal Community
Jo founded CrossFit Ace in 2011. From day one he put in the hours himself, coaching every day of the week and building strong personal connections. What started small grew steadily into a thriving community of over 300 members.
“For years I coached every day, Monday to Sunday. That's how we built such a strong bond with our members. The box grew steadily, in a healthy way. Never too fast, but always strong.”
That consistency and personal touch created a family-like atmosphere. Members didn't just come for workouts, they stayed because they felt at home.
We hear this often: the community within a box is what makes it special. A great management system should support that.
Hitting the Limits of the Old System
Before switching, CrossFit Ace used Box-Planner mainly for personal workout tracking. A few members logged benchmarks and workout scores, but the team did not run class bookings through it.
When COVID restrictions arrived, regulations required controlled class sizes and sign ups. That is when Jo turned on class bookings. Once bookings were in daily use, recurring issues became visible to Jo, his staff and the members. Nothing catastrophic, but noticeable friction.
“Members complained about sign-ups, admin work was clunky, and we didn't have real insights into class usage.”
With 300 members, the system had to be reliable. Instead, it slowed them down. That's when Jo started to look for alternatives.
You can see the difference between Box-Planner and Boxbase in our comparison page here: Box-Planner vs Boxbase
Discovering Boxbase
In mid-2023, we had our first conversation with Jo. Sahin, one of our founders, already knew Jo and his Box from previous Drop-Ins. Jo was open to a conversation about how he was operating his gym business and what challenges he was facing.
Together we discovered some issues and also some opportunities. The more we talked, the more it felt like Boxbase was the solution Jo didn't know he was looking for. He mentioned problems he was facing: Outdated UI, missing insights and a poor experience for his members. Also the path Boxbase was taking aligned with Jo's vision of how a gym management system should be.
“What I really liked was the idea of being part of something young and evolving - here my feedback actually matters.”
Making the Switch
Switching a system for 300 members might sound intimidating. But for Jo and his team, the process turned out to be simple.
"The migration was very fast and very smooth. The Boxbase team took care of everything. Boxbase feels so intuitive that we had zero issues with our members. Everyone was happy from day one."
It doesn't matter if you have 50, 500, or 5000 members. We take care of the migration with the same care and attention to detail.Learn more about our migration process.
Life After Switching
The difference was felt immediately. Members loved the new look and how easy it was to book classes.
"From the first day, members were super happy. No complaints. Everyone said it looks cool and it's easy to use."
Coaches also noticed an upgrade. They no longer just saw numbers.
They saw exactly who was coming to class. That meant they could adapt sessions for new members, trials and injuries.
"It makes the coaching more personal, and members notice that."
For Jo, Boxbase also brought something new: data insights. Waitlists, class utilization, real numbers he could finally analyse.
"I could actually show members why it's worth joining a waitlist: 90% of the time they get a spot. That was never visible before."
Looking ahead
For Jo, switching was just the beginning. He's excited about what's next: integrated communication, billing, deeper insights and more.
"For me it feels like just the beginning. The sky really is the limit with Boxbase."
Advice for Other Owners
By the end of our converstation, we asked Jo what advice he would give to other box owners who are in the same position he was before switching to Boxbase. His response hit basically what we are trying to achieve with Boxbase:
"Sometimes you just need a little push to make the change. And it's worth it. Don't get stuck in an system which doesn't fit you. Better tools don't just make your life easier, they improve the coaching and the member experience too."
Our conclusion
We are thrilled to have CrossFit Ace as part of the Boxbase family. Jo and his team are a perfect example of what we envision for our customers: passionate, community-focused box owners who want to provide the best experience for their members with a sustainable business. We appreciate the trust Jo has placed in us and the various feedback he has given us to make Boxbase even better.
The journey so far has been incredible, and we are excited about what the future holds.