As with all systems there are teething problems. But once everything is running smoothly, there are advantages and disadvantages.
For the members it is easier - you present your card at the paying desk and the system knows if you have a countdown, or if you owe back fees, etc. Once you have paid you go to be weighed and the results go into the computer, which calculates what you have lost/gained, any awards that you have gained, who is slimmer of the week/month, etc.
All the information goes into a hand-held device called a PDA. When the weighing is finished, the PDA is given to the consultant, who uses it, instead of the usual paperwork, for image therapy.
When the consultant goes home, instead of hours of paperwork, she can just upload all the information to the SW main computer which calculates how much money she receives from the class revenue, overall gains and losses, and all the other statistical information.
Initially, the consultant has a LOT of work to do in learning how to use the system, setting it up and registering a card for each member, training her paying and weighing people, and explaining it to the members. This is offset against the huge savings in time after each class (if you don't know a consultant well, you won't have realised how much paperwork there is!!). There is also the advantage of all the calculations being automatic.
There are some disadvantages too. The SW rules about holidays, shifts, back fees, etc., will have to be strictly applied. If your consultant has been lenient in certain circumstances, that will stop. Some consultants feel that the system takes away some of their autonomy, which is true, but most seem to think that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Also, if someone comes in very late, they will have to wait until the consultant has finished with the PDA and image therapy is over, before they can get weighed.
What I would say is this - when your group changes to the new system, PLEASE be patient while everyone gets to grip with it. There will be glitches to start with, it is to be expected, but once everyone is used to it then I think you will see the benefits.