TL;DR: Triib is shutting down, but this forced migration does not have to be a setback. Studio owners who transition smoothly focus on five things: choosing white-glove support over DIY, avoiding restrictive multi-year contracts, timing member communication carefully, reviewing waitlist automation settings, and testing the mobile experience before committing. Treat this as an upgrade opportunity, not just a platform switch.
If you’re a Triib customer right now, you’re staring down a forced migration you didn’t ask for. Xplor is winding down Triib by the end of 2027, and they’re already raising prices to push you toward their recommended alternative: Mariana Tek (owned by Xplor).
It’s a frustrating position to be in. But here’s the thing—you’re not the first studio to go through this.
We’ve helped many studios migrate from other platforms to ABC Glofox. We’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and what owners wish they’d known before they started.
There are the five topics that come up again and again
Table of Contents
- Lesson 1: White-Glove vs. DIY Migration
- Lesson 2: The Multi-Year Contract Trap
- Lesson 3: Member Communication Timing is Everything
- Lesson 4: Waitlist Automation Can Backfire
- Lesson 5: Test the Mobile Experience Before You Commit
- The Real Lesson: This Migration Is an Opportunity
- Your Next Steps
Lesson 1: White-Glove vs. DIY Migration—Choose Wisely
When you first hear “migration,” your instinct might be: How hard can it be? I’ll just export my data and figure it out.
That instinct will cost you.
DIY migrations almost always take longer than expected. Data doesn’t map cleanly between systems. Payment methods don’t transfer the way you thought. Class schedules have formatting issues. Member records are missing fields.
And while you’re troubleshooting spreadsheets at midnight, your members are getting frustrated. Bookings are failing. Payments are getting declined. Your front desk is fielding complaints they can’t answer.
The studios that transition smoothly? They work with a team that’s done this before.
White-glove migration support means:
- A scoped plan before anything moves
- Data validation at every step
- Training materials so your team is confident
- Go-live support when you flip the switch
- Someone to call when something goes wrong
Over 50% of ABC Glofox customers migrated from other platforms. We’ve seen every edge case, every data quirk, every “wait, that wasn’t supposed to happen.” We know how to handle them.
Takeaway: You’re already spending time on this migration. Invest it with a team that’s done it before—not figuring it out alone.
📝 Read More: Triib Migration Playbook
Lesson 2: The Multi-Year Contract Trap
Xplor is pushing Triib customers toward Mariana Tek, and they’re offering onboarding incentives to sweeten the deal.
Sounds reasonable—until you read the fine print.
Mariana Tek may lock you into a long-term contract. Before signing, make sure you understand the full term and renewal terms—that’s a significant commitment you’re making before you know whether the platform actually fits how you run your business.
Think about it: You’re being forced to migrate because your current platform is being discontinued. And the “solution” is to lock yourself into another multi-year agreement with the same parent company?
What happens if Mariana Tek doesn’t fit your workflows? What if the boutique-focused design doesn’t support your hybrid membership model? What if you outgrow it in 18 months?
You’re stuck. Likely for a few years. Paying $649+/month plus that $1,250 onboarding fee.
The alternative: ABC Glofox offers flexible contracts. No long-term contracts required. You stay because the platform works for you, not because you’re locked in.
Takeaway: If you’re being forced to change, don’t lock yourself into another forced situation. Keep your options open.
(Did you know? We have a checklist to help you understand What Your Contract Actually Says)
Lesson 3: Member Communication Timing Is Everything
Here’s a scenario we see too often:
A fitness business owner is so focused on the technical migration—data exports, system setup, payment transfers—that they forget to tell their members what’s happening.
Then go-live day arrives. Members open the old app and it doesn’t work. They try to book a class and get an error. They show up to the studio or gym confused, frustrated, and asking questions your front desk can’t answer.
The migration was technically successful. The member experience was a disaster.
Your members don’t care about your software. They care about booking their class, checking their credits, and getting their workout. The more invisible you make the transition, the better.
Here’s the communication timeline that works:
2 weeks before: Send a heads-up email. “We’re upgrading your studio experience. Here’s what’s changing (better app, easier booking). Here’s what’s NOT changing (your membership, your credits, your community). In two weeks, we’ll ask you to download a new app. That’s it.”
3 days before: Send instructions. “The big day is almost here. Here’s exactly how to download the new app and log in. Your membership transfers automatically.”
The Customer
Engagement Playbook
for Your Fitness
Business
Discover more Go-live day: Send the launch announcement. “It’s live! Download now and book your next class.”
Frame it as an upgrade, not a disruption. Because if you do it right, that’s exactly what it is.
Takeaway: Don’t surprise your members. Communicate early, communicate clearly, and frame the switch as a positive change.
Check out our full Triib Migration Playbook that includes full, copy-paste emails to notify your members of the exciting app upgrade.
📝 Read More: Triib Migration Playbook
Lesson 4: Waitlist Automation Can Backfire
This one catches studios off guard.
Mariana Tek uses automatic enrollment for waitlists. When a spot opens up, the next person on the waitlist is automatically moved into the class.
Sounds efficient, right?
Here’s the concern: During the auto-fill window, members can be automatically enrolled in classes without confirming they can attend.
Mariana Tek does offer a hold-and-confirm process after the auto-fill window closes, but during that window, enrollment is automatic. For studios with early-morning classes, that means a member on the waitlist for a 6am class could be auto-enrolled at 4am without actively confirming. While Mariana Tek has added SMS notifications to help, the experience still depends on the member seeing and acting on that notification in time.
Now you’ve got a member who’s frustrated (“I never said I could definitely make it”), a spot that went unused, and potentially a refund request or awkward credit adjustment.
Multiply that across dozens of waitlist movements per week, and you’ve got a recurring admin headache.
ABC Glofox gives you a choice: You can use auto-enroll if that’s what works for your studio or gym. Or you can use notify-first, where members get alerted when a spot opens and choose whether to claim it.
You control the member experience. Not the software.
Takeaway: More automation isn’t always better. Make sure your waitlist handling matches how your members actually behave.
Lesson 5: Test the Mobile Experience Before You Commit
Your members live in the app. It’s how they book classes, check their credits, and stay connected to your studio.
Before you commit to any platform, put yourself in your member’s shoes. Download the app. Try to book a class. See how it feels.
Here’s what to test:
- Booking flow: How many taps to book a class? Is it intuitive or confusing?
- Notifications: Does the app send push notifications, or only email? (Push is faster and more visible.)
- Class visibility: Can members easily see what’s available and when?
- Payment experience: How easy is it to add or update a payment method?
- Branding: Does it feel like YOUR studio, or like a generic software platform?
One thing to watch for: For class rosters, Mariana Tek’s documented flow is email. That means when you need to send an urgent update (coach change, room change, last-minute cancellation), your message is competing with everything else in your member’s inbox. ABC Glofox supports push, SMS, and email for both automated journeys and one-to-one messages, which helps urgent updates get seen.
Takeaway: Your members will judge your studio by the app they use every day. Make sure the experience matches the quality of your classes.
The Real Lesson: This Migration Is an Opportunity
Triib ending isn’t the disruption you wanted. But it can be the upgrade you needed.
You’re being forced to migrate anyway. That means you get to choose what comes next.
You can rush into a 3-year contract with Mariana Tek because Xplor is offering incentives. Or you can take the time to find a platform that actually fits—one with flexible terms, transparent pricing, and features built for how you run your business.
The studios that come out of this transition stronger are the ones that treat it as an upgrade opportunity, not just a checkbox to get through.
📝 Learn how one of our customers used ABC Glofox as a partner in growth.
Your Next Step
We’ve helped thousands of studios navigate migrations just like this one.
Book a migration consult and let our team show you exactly what switching from Triib to ABC Glofox looks like—timeline, data transfer, member communication, go-live support.
No pressure. No 3-year commitment required just to have a conversation.
