Long read
How do you feel about funeral home software?
🤔 It helps me manage cases, but I also have to create workarounds to complete tasks.
😕 It makes things more inconvenient. Sometimes I wonder why I’m paying for it…
💁 I don’t have software - finding the right solution is too much of a hassle.
If you resonate with any of these, you’re not alone. There are many options, and not all funeral home software is created equally. And paying for software that makes your job harder or slows you down is a no-go.
But what if we told you this: Funeral home software that will make your life easier and help you save time in all areas of business does exist.
But you’ll have to do more than a quick Google or ChatGPT search to find this dream software. First, you need to research your options and identify what your business needs in a software solution.
Lucky for you, this guide’s got everything you need. In it, you can explore topics like top features to simplify processes, ways to use software to connect with families, and even how to evaluate software security and support services. Ultimately, you’ll discover the best funeral home software out there.
Ready to get started?
Dive into this first section and learn what takes a funeral home software from “good” to “great” and the benefits you will experience with a system that saves time in more ways than one.
What takes funeral home software from good to great?
As a funeral director, your time is precious.
But too often, it's eaten up by tasks like paperwork, scheduling, billing, and coordinating with vendors. These responsibilities can take over your day and keep you from focusing on what really matters – helping families.
But what if there was a way to reclaim those lost hours? 🙌
Funeral home software can simplify how you run your business and communicate with families.
But first, what is funeral home software?
Funeral home software or “case management software” is essentially any digital system that replaces the work of pen and paper. It helps you manage your cases and day-to-day business operations all in one place, while allowing you to better connect with families. Sounds great, right?
At a minimum, software should have tools that help you manage 4 key areas of your business:
-
Financial tools: These are features like inventory management, payments, check writing, and more.
-
Family tools: You need options to work better with families, including gathering electronic signatures and offering an at-need planning platform and online arrangements tool.
-
Collaboration tools: Team productivity and collaboration require digital notes and notifications, barcode tracking, and event management.
-
Data tools: You deserve full control over your data with tools that help with reporting, tracking dashboards, and case management.
>>> Get more details about these tools.
The ultimate goal of funeral home software is to save you and your staff time.
And the difference between good software and great software is how much time it saves you and how many areas of your business it saves that time.
Let’s explore 3 qualities that take funeral home software from good to great.
#1. Easy access from anywhere
When looking for software, you want to make sure it’s easy to use, but it should also be easy to access. Here’s what we mean.
There are two widely known types of funeral home software: install-based and cloud-based.
Install-based funeral home software does a decent job of replacing your filing cabinets, record books, and fax machines by keeping information organized. But it has some serious limitations, such as using valuable computer storage, needing manual updates and backups, and more.
But the worst offender? It keeps you tied to the one computer that has it installed.
Cloud-based software eliminates all of these headaches.
“The cloud” isn’t just one of those buzzwords you’ve heard over the years. It’s internet storage for your data and tools that you can easily access from any internet-connected device. For example, you would no longer have to drive to the funeral home to log into a specific computer to make case updates. With cloud-based software, you could log into the platform on your personal computer at home.
It also securely stores documents and sensitive information, keeping your data safe from natural disasters like fires and floods.
>>>>> Interested in learning more about cloud-based software? Check out this blog.
What takes cloud-based from good to great:
Cloud-based funeral home software should be the bare minimum these days. But what takes cloud-based from good to great?
See if the software company has a mobile app for even more convenience and extra tools to make your life easier. Christine Swagerty, Administrative Assistant at Bersticker-Scott Funeral Home, explains how she benefits from using our mobile app.
"We have a trade business, and I use mobile for trade cases. I can create a case or notify staff about changes all without ever having to sit at a computer, make a phone call, or send a text. It’s been convenient if I am ever away from the office."
Christine Swagerty, Administrative Assistant
Bersticker-Scott Funeral Home | Toledo, OH
Let’s face it - sometimes you might not have your laptop or tablet nearby to access case details or send a note to your team. With a mobile app, your business tools fit in your pocket.
And remember the extra tools we mentioned? Your cell phone could become the ultimate tracking tool, helping you scan barcodes for decedents and personal effects, take photos for your records, and improve your chain of custody for better peace of mind.
The point is that great software saves you time by keeping all your business tools with you, no matter where you are.
#2. Simple data entry
You got into the profession to serve families, so why spend so much time on paperwork? Software should simplify data entry by auto-filling forms for you, which means you don’t have to manually type and retype information.
But that’s not all.
Good software should also share information with other systems you use every day. This connection between two systems is also called an integration.
Every good software option should have basic integrations.
For example, you likely already use a company for your funeral home website. When your funeral home software integrates with your website, you can publish an obituary in your software system and push that obituary to your website with a few clicks.
You wouldn’t have to enter the same information over and over, which would mean fewer mistakes. And if you noticed an error, you could quickly fix it everywhere with one edit.
What takes integrations from good to great:
Integrations are must-haves for saving you and your team time on paperwork. While every software platform should have some integrations with the tools you use every day, great funeral home software solutions have even more integrations to reduce data entry for all of your processes.
For instance, Passare integrates with several memorial printing companies, aftercare services, accounting platforms, and payment processors, including life insurance assignments and the first preneed integration with Funeral Directors Life.
If a software system has a public API for companies to integrate with it, even better. That means the software platform welcomes other companies to integrate with it to save funeral directors even more time.
Remember, good software has a few integrations. Great software has many integrations to simplify data entry while reducing errors and always seeking new company partnerships.
>>>>>> Interested in learning more about software integrations? Read this next.
#3. Must improve communication
Whether you work in a large funeral home or are a one-man (or woman) show, good communication is a must. Why? From the first call to arrangements and services, your team and families gather a lot of details.
You need a central place to manage every conversation and real-time updates with your team. Software helps you accomplish that!
Every good software option should have built-in features, including the ability to add notes, mention team members, leave comments, assign tasks, and get instant notifications so nothing falls through the cracks.
With notes, any staff member can take calls from families and make updates, even if the primary funeral director isn’t available. Whoever answers the call can check the case, make updates, leave notes, and keep the conversation going with the family.
What takes communication from good to great:
If good software improves communication with your team, great software does that and increases collaboration with families.
After all, families are changing, and funeral consumers today have different preferences for funeral planning. Our New Funeral Consumer study revealed families' comfort with online planning has increased by 44% since 2011. With this shift, technology can help you serve families in the way they prefer.
Great funeral home software options have tools that make collaborating with families easy. Some offer online arrangements for preplanning and prefunding. Others have online, at-need planning software so families can plan a service from anywhere while keeping you at the center of conversations and updates.
Passare has both of these options as well as additional features like the AI Obituary Writer that families can use and eSignatures to simplify paperwork. With all these tools, you can collaborate better with families and improve your overall communication.
Don't settle for good software
Funeral home software should save you time in multiple areas of your business, from being easy to access and reducing data entry to improving communication.
Bryan Hicks, General Manager at Elmwood Funeral Home & Memorial Park, knows the value of time and why it’s important to decide how you want to spend it. He said:
“Think about it this way - having software that saves you time doesn't mean we work less, shave time off our long day, or go home early. Passare saves us time on things like paperwork so we have the opportunity to spend our time differently - with families.”
Bryan Hicks, General Manager and Funeral Director
Elmwood Funeral Home and Memorial Park | Abilene, TX
When it comes to saving you time, some software options are good.
But don’t you and your team deserve great? These three things are core pillars that will help you separate the “good” software from the “great”.
And now that you know what the ultimate goals of funeral home software should be, let’s explore specific features you need in software to be successful.
What key features in funeral home software should I look for?
When shopping for a new car, you have choices to weigh before you find the right one to purchase. Here are a few:
-
New or used?
-
Car, truck, or SUV?
-
4-wheel, 2-wheel, or all-wheel drive?
-
Color? Finish? Miles per gallon? Gas or electric?
The list of questions goes on and on, and all of them should lead you to a final decision.
The same can be said when choosing funeral home software for your business. You should have a list of questions to help narrow down what tools you want and need to help you find the right solution.
But with so many options out there - what should you look for?
The best way to start the software search is by examining its features and how they will impact different areas of your business. All the tools should work well together and be housed in a single platform. Because if your funeral home software excels at accounting but doesn’t have a way for you to keep up with events, case notes, and tasks, something is bound to fall through the cracks.
Let’s look at the 4 key areas of your business that software should help with to keep your operation running smoothly.
4 key areas of business your software should cover
Finances
Money isn’t everything, but it keeps your funeral home in business. Your software should have features that make managing finances easy, not more time-consuming and tedious.
Families
More families expect to interact with businesses in person and digitally. Your software should have features that allow you to offer families digital planning options while building meaningful connections with them.
Collaboration
When internal operations go sideways, your funeral home can lose efficiency. Your software should make communicating and collaborating as a team simple and easy to ensure tasks get done on time.
Data
Keeping up with all the information that enters your funeral home can be a challenge, not to mention taking that information and creating reports to gain insights into different areas of your business. Your funeral home software should make information accessible, easy to find, and manage.
When you find software with features that cover all these areas, your team will get tasks done efficiently and be able to better serve families.
Now, let’s dive into the top features you should look for in each of these key areas to find the best funeral home software for your business.
Top features to look for in funeral home software
To improve your financials
If you have to jump between platforms to manage your finances, keeping track of payments becomes tedious and time-consuming. No one wants that! Check out these financial features that will make payments less stressful and financials run so much smoother:
Payments & Adjustments
Look for software that allows you to log and process payments without ever leaving the platform. For example, in Passare, you can enter payments, print receipts, and add adjustments to keep track of your financials.
Check writing
Writing checks to different vendors and distributing them can be a hassle. Find software that allows you to create, print, or void digital checks. In Passare, you can do this within each case or write business checks and track them in the platform.
Inventory management
Have you ever double-purchased something on your inventory stock list? Or sold what you thought was the “last” of an item to a family, when really you had none left? Without great inventory management, you run the risk of making mistakes. With Passare, you can see available inventory, hide sold or pending items, and easily add, edit, or transfer items between locations.
These are a few financial tool non-negotiables to look for in funeral home software, but it should also have other features that can help you manage your business. Learn about them here. >>>
To improve your service to families
Have you noticed that more businesses are offering digital ways to connect with consumers?
You can order groceries from an app and pick them up in-store or have them delivered. You can book an appointment online and complete paperwork digitally before ever setting foot in an office.
And when it comes to working with your funeral home, families are growing to expect the same. Many want the option to plan with you in person and online.
Here are a few software features you should look for to improve your service to families:
Online arrangement platform
In a funeral consumer survey our team conducted with McKee Wallwork + Co., 36% of people said they were comfortable planning a funeral online, which shows a 44% increase over the last decade. And nearly half of the respondents said they would likely prearrange and prepay for a funeral online.
In Passare, our online arrangement tool allows families to preplan and prepay for their funerals, which can generate new leads and business for your funeral home. Families can also use this tool for at-need arrangements so they can plan in a way that’s most convenient and familiar to them.
The best part? All the information from these arrangements - whether for preneed or at-need - syncs directly to Passare, giving you a head start on data entry.
Online at-need planning tool
When planning the perfect service, you collect a lot of information from the family, from vital statistics to payments and documents. With a tool like Passare’s Planning Center, you can work with families online to gather information, process payments, and message each other anytime there’s an update or question. Learn more about how all families can benefit from Planning Center here. >>>
AI Obituary Writer
Some families prefer to take charge of writing the obituary, but heightened emotions and time constraints, getting started can be difficult. In Passare's Planning Center, you can give families a leg up by offering them an AI Obituary Writer. This AI tool pulls case information a family has already entered in Planning Center and uses it to write a quick first draft that they can adjust how they see fit.
Added bonus? There’s also an AI tool for fun.eral directors in Passare - so if you and your staff are the ones doing the writing, you can also benefit from this tool!
eSignatures
In the last year, the number of planners who lived 500-1,000+ miles away from their loved one who had passed increased by 20%. That means you need an easy and convenient way to gather signatures for a case so you can keep the service moving. Look for software that has a built-in eSignature tool, so you and your families can complete paperwork anytime, anywhere. Plus, with a built-in tool, you can distribute, sign, and collect all the documents you need without ever leaving your funeral home software.
When you use these features in Passare, all the information uploaded from families syncs to your case management software, saving you a ton of time on data entry!
Learn more about using software to connect with families here. >>>
To improve your team's collaboration
It takes a village to plan a funeral service from the first time a family calls, to the service, to enrolling them in aftercare. To provide the best service, your entire team must work together to ensure no detail falls through the cracks. Here are a few software features that are absolutely necessary.
Barcode tracking
All funeral homes need a system to keep track of all the items and bodies that pass through their facility…and clipboards don’t cut it anymore. With Passare’s barcode tracking tool, maintaining an accurate chain of custody is efficient and easy, whether you serve 40 families in a year or 4,000. Learn about barcode tracking tools for funeral homes here. >>>
Notes & notifications
Sticky notes, emails, and face-to-face reminders might have worked in the past, but you deserve a better way to keep up with your team. Stay connected and organized with a digital notes feature that allows you to record case details and mention team members to ensure tasks get done. In Passare, you can use notes and notifications on the desktop version or mobile app, making notes a convenient way to track case details.
Event management
Find software that allows you to schedule work events to share with families or your team so you never miss a meeting. For example, in Passare, you can share events with families through the Planning Center or create a team calendar to make sure everyone on staff knows where they need to be. You can even sync Passare to your personal calendar so all your important events are in one place.
Documents
It’s easy to get bogged down in documentation when multiple people on your team have to re-enter the information multiple times into your software. That’s why it’s important to look for software with features that simplify this process. With Passare, any information entered into the case file can automatically populate into any document or form within the software, saving the entire team time on paperwork! You can even have forms customized for your specific processes.
With these features, you and your team can work better together and provide the best possible service to every family that walks through the door.
To improve your data
You have a lot of information to keep up with and manage. And with all your other tasks, organizing case files and running your monthly accounting reports can fall to the bottom of the to-do list. What if you had software that made all of that faster and easier?
Here are a few features to consider for data management:
Reporting
You own your data, and you deserve to have the ability to access it whenever you need it. With reporting tools, you can create customizable reports that give you insights into your business so you can make key decisions. With Passare’s reporting tools, you can pull all the information you've entered into cases to create financial, inventory, and sales reports, just to name a few. You can even set up automatic reports to appear in your inbox monthly, weekly, or daily!
Dashboards
When you log into your software, there’s nothing more convenient than seeing all your key information front and center. In Passare, you can create a personal digital dashboard with custom case listings, team notifications and messages, and more! Plus, you can create shared dashboards for your team so everyone is on the same page. Learn more here. >>>
Case merging
When it comes to cases, your entire staff might help at some point. And when several people touch a case, it’s easy to have duplicate cases emerge. In Passare, you can easily merge cases to get rid of duplicates and keep your case files clean (and make reporting more accurate!).
With these data management tools, you’ll be able to save time every step of the way, from entering data into your software for the first time to running your monthly reports to gain business insights.
Bonus! Look for integrations with other software to save time.
Do you often find yourself entering information multiple times into different systems?
With software integrations, you only need to enter information once into your funeral home software, and it will sync with other systems you use daily, such as your website, accounting service, and more. Passare has integrations with 30+ other services to help save you time on data entry. Plus, Passare has a public API that allows any vendor to build an integration into Passare if you need it.
Improve efficiency with these software features
Choosing the right funeral home software is important for enhancing efficiency at your funeral home. Look for these 4 key areas and features to help you simplify processes, save time, and create a great experience for your team and your families.
In the next section, dive into the specific ways you can use funeral home software to enhance the planning process for your families. And don’t worry - we mention a few perks for you as well!
How can I use funeral home software to connect with families?
As a funeral professional, your primary goal is to support families by helping them plan a meaningful service.
However, over the past few decades, families’ planning habits have evolved, and their preferences have changed. Specifically, there’s been a 44% increase in comfort planning online in the last decade.
Is your funeral home equipped to meet the changing needs of families?
With the right technology, you can offer families the convenience of online planning, all while maintaining a personal relationship.
To better understand how to use technology with families, let’s first examine a few specific ways families' preferences have changed over the last decade, backed by a study done by McKee Wallwork + Co (MW+C) and Directors Investment Group (our parent company!).
How are funeral consumers changing?
In 2011, some of the largest funeral homes in the nation noticed the families they worked with had different buying habits than previous generations. To better understand these changes, they partnered with MW+C to survey 3,000 individuals and asked them hundreds of questions to identify consumer preferences and trends.
Their research was adapted into a report called the “New Funeral Consumer,” which revealed six consumer types, or “personas,” in the market. But the market has evolved even more since 2011.
In 2022, MW+C conducted part two of the study with Directors Investment Group. Here’s a quick overview of the 5 key findings that emerged:
😊 People are feeling more positive about the funeral profession as a whole
👪 Families are more comfortable with online planning, increasing by 44% in the last decade.
📈 Cremation has risen, but so have other types of disposition and activities associated with burial.
✝️ There is a continued shift away from religion, but people still want some religious elements for their funerals.
👍 More positive funeral perceptions can be seen amongst younger groups, those with higher incomes, and those in the black community.
Additionally, they found that some consumer groups from 2011 have changed or died off, while other new ones have emerged. This resulted in 7 new consumer types, each with their own unique preferences and attitudes toward funerals:
Type 1: Resolute Rookies - Most likely to try to do everything themselves - even when it comes to funerals.
Type 2: Great Expectations - Most likely to choose a funeral home solely based on reputation.
Type 3: Distanced & Decided - Most likely to be driven by their head rather than their heart.
Type 4: Free Spirits - Most likely to have given a lot of thought to their own funeral.
Type 5: Faith & Family - Most likely to know a funeral home or mortuary they trust.
Type 6: Hometowners - Most likely to own a truck, fishing rod, and a gun.
Type 7: Future Funerals - Most likely to say a good funeral is marked by the level of laughter.
Now that you have an overview of how families have changed, it’s time to explore different funeral home technologies that will make planning easier for everyone.
Growing adoption of eCommerce
92% of consumers have purchased merchandise like groceries, clothing, or shoes online. (New Funeral Consumer Report, 2022)
Based on the results from the study, most of today's consumers have ordered groceries, clothing, or shoes online.
And the growing adoption of eCommerce doesn’t stop there. Many other types of businesses have started implementing online ways to connect with consumers. For example, many doctors' offices have patient portals where patients can:
-
See bloodwork results
-
Get appointment reminders
-
Fill out paperwork
-
And make payments
As more and more businesses provide consumers with online options, it’s likely that families will grow to expect to interact with your funeral home in the same way.
With online arrangements, families can preplan and prepay for a funeral service completely online. But not all online arrangement tools are created equal. Here are a few things a great eCommerce tool should do:
-
Promote the value of a funeral service - All too often, eCommerce tools lead with disposition type, which can make consumers think disposition is the most important decision. That could lead to them choosing the cheapest option available. A great eCommerce tool will first ask consumers questions about what’s most important to them and their preferences for a funeral service. This helps the consumer better understand what your funeral home has to offer them.
-
Be useful online and in person - In many other industries, a blended experience of online and in-person interactions is becoming more common (think back to the doctor’s office example at the beginning of this section!). A great eCommerce tool will be set up so your staff can easily pick up where the family left off in their planning. This means that if a customer starts their planning online but doesn't finish, a sales professional should be able to follow up with them easily and help them complete their plans.
-
Generate free leads for your funeral home - Since setting up an eCommerce tool is already an investment for your business, you should get leads at no extra cost. Essentially, the best eCommerce tool will complement your preneed program to provide your sales professionals with free (and qualified!) leads to follow up with.
Arrangement Guide offers funeral homes all of these benefits. Here’s how you can use Arrangement Guide to allow families to plan online while still providing personalized service options:
🔗 Families click a link to preplan on your funeral home website, social media, or ad.
❔ They'll answer questions about their funeral preferences, who they’re planning for, etc.
✨ Arrangement Guide will generate packages that best fit their needs (the best part is the plans are custom to your funeral home’s unique offerings!).
💲 Families can make a selection and pay.
🔄 Bonus! Once a family has completed the process, a preneed policy autogenerates in Passare, saving you time on data entry!
And if a family doesn't complete the process, you can be the first one to contact them and guide them through the rest of the process.
Learn more about eCommerce in funeral service here. >>>>
So, now you know the benefits of a great eCommerce tool and have seen how one works. But how does it help you connect with families?
Every family deserves a service that helps them honor their loved ones. However, not all families are ready to visit the funeral home immediately to make arrangements. In fact, 37% of a new consumer group, Resolute Rookies, would prefer to handle funeral planning online rather than in person.
When you make your services more accessible to families through an eCommerce tool like Arrangement Guide, you provide them with the flexibility to plan in a way that feels most comfortable. And families are guided through the planning process in a way that highlights the true value of your services and the options available to them.
Next, explore how you can use technology to make things more convenient for families during the at-need process.
Growing comfort with online planning
Planners between the ages of 35-44 are 87% more likely to plan online vs. in-person. (New Funeral Consumer Report, 2022)
When it comes to the at-need process, most funeral homes are used to working with families through many emails, text messages, missed calls, voicemails, and written notes. However, the study shows that many consumers - especially Millennials and Gen X - want more online planning options.
But what’s the best way to do that?
With the right online at-need planning technology, you can make the at-need planning process more convenient for families. Here are a few of the main benefits of online planning: give families the option to plan the service at any time, from anywhere. Here are a few of the main benefits of online planning:
-
Families can plan anytime, anywhere. In 2024, there was a 20% increase in the number of families who lived 1,000+ miles away from their loved one. This means coming into the funeral home several times may not always be an option. This is why an online planning tool is so valuable! It allows families to upload vital information, sign paperwork, and make payments from anywhere, which helps keep the planning process moving forward.
-
Keep all your information in one place. An online planning tool ensures that all - whether photos, documents, or discussions about the number of death certificates a family needs - are organized in one central location. That way, you can be confident that no detail will fall through the cracks.
-
Create more transparency. In between your face-to-face meetings, families often have questions about the status of tasks your funeral home is managing. By using an online tool, you can improve transparency in your processes. Families will be able to check in at any time and view pending tasks and understand next steps, thereby reducing stress and confusion.
With Passare’s online at-need tool, Planning Center, you and your families experience all of these benefits and more. This tool helps you stay connected with families throughout the entire planning process and allows families to:
📸 Upload photos and videos
📝 Collaborate with you on the obituary in real-time
💬 Message you with questions at any time
✍️ Sign paperwork from anywhere
💲 Make a payment for the service
✅ Navigate upcoming tasks using checklists
And much more!
Best of all, any information the family inputs into the Planning Center is synced to the case in Passare, and you can see where the family is in the planning process at any time.
“But my families won’t want to plan online.”
After reading about these technologies, you may be thinking, “This sounds convenient, but my families won’t want to plan online”.
To some degree, you’re right, you may encounter families that don’t wish to plan online. Because while the study proves there is a growing comfort with interacting with businesses online, making funeral arrangements is much more complex than ordering groceries or clothes online.
That’s why you should look for technologies that act as an extension of you, not a replacement. Then, your services will be accessible to families at all times, but your guidance and care will still be a huge part of their experience.
Meet the digital needs of today’s families
As technology continues to evolve, these changes in consumer preferences will only continue to evolve. Adding these technologies now will help you enhance your preneed and at-need processes to reach more families with the digital options they want and expect.
Next, learn best practices when using funeral home software by reading tips from other funeral professionals about maximizing efficiency and avoiding the most common pitfalls.
What are best practices when using funeral home software?
You probably learn best by observing others and using their experiences to guide your decisions. It’s wired into our DNA.
For example, babies learn by observing their parents. Toddlers and teenagers pick up on parents' habits (even if you don’t want them to 🤣). In the workplace, you might look for a mentor.
The fact is, we like to see what others are doing to show us what we should be doing. The same is true when trying new software in your funeral home.
If the ultimate goal of funeral home software is to save you and your staff time, let’s hear from the experts on their 5 best tips for maximizing efficiency. Plus, you’ll learn 7 common pitfalls and tips on how to avoid them.
5 tips for maximizing efficiency from funeral professionals
Tip #1. Keep track of case details
You work on a lot of cases, and there are many details constantly being passed around. While sticky notes are awesome, they aren’t the most efficient way to jot down information.
You need a reliable method for tracking important case updates and making sure everyone is on the same page. Why?
If a family calls and wants to change service details, you need an effective way to note the update and inform other team members. Or if a family member has questions, you want to make sure you get them the answers they need in a timely manner. If your team can take and share notes digitally on one platform, then the right information will always be at your fingertips!
Randy Nash, Owner of Sumner Funeral and Cremation, wanted to improve his team’s efficiency. They found success by taking notes on a cloud-based platform. He said:
“Efficiency increased immediately.
I complete all my tasks much quicker with Passare than on my own. Keeping track of case details and updates is much smoother than taking notes by hand when working on a cloud-based platform.”
Randy Nash, Owner
Sumner Funeral and Cremation | Gallatin, TN
Tip #2. Reduce data entry
One of the main culprits for inefficiency in the funeral home is typing information over and over again. Talk about a time-waster!
For example, when you get a call, you enter vitals into your case management system. Then, throughout the planning process, you might enter that information again to process an insurance assignment, once more to publish the obituary on your website, and another time to print programs for the service.
In this scenario alone, someone on your staff entered the same information four times.
If your goal is to save as much time as possible, integrations can tremendously help with data entry. With Passare, you can connect your website, print, call services, and more to increase productivity.
Ashley Price, Owner of Price Funeral Service, Inc., shares how integrations have saved her time:
“Between our website, answering service, and submitting death certificates, there are a lot of places we have to enter information. Before Passare, I'd sit in front of the computer, re-entering data when I had 40 other things to do.
Now, I can put the information in one time, and Passare sends the information everywhere it needs to go. It has been a huge timesaver.”
Ashley Price, Owner and Funeral Director
Price Funeral Service Inc. | Meyersdale, PA
>>>>>> Interested in learning more about Passare’s integrations? Check them out!
Tip #3. Capture signatures digitally
As a funeral director, you understand the struggle of tracking down family members or employees to grab a signature. You also know how important it is to handle paperwork quickly and efficiently.
But you don't always have the extra minutes in the day to hunt down those sacred signatures.
With digital signatures, signing paperwork got a lot easier!
By collecting signatures digitally, you can get paperwork signed anytime, anywhere. As a bonus, it is simple and easy for families, too. 👏
Take efficiency a step further and find an eSignature tool that’s built into your case management software. That way, you eliminate the added steps of jumping between programs to complete the paperwork.
Shirley A. Calahan, Vice President and Owner of Calahan Funeral Home and Cremation, has first-hand experience with our eSignature tool:
“I love the eSignature capabilities in Passare. With this feature, we can get an order of release form signed by a family whether they're across the country in California or just around the block from our funeral home.
All we have to do is open the file in Passare, add the necessary information, sign it, and send it to the next of kin. Now, we can get forms back in 5 minutes with eSignatures.”
Shirley A. Calahan, Vice President and Owner
Calahan Funeral Home and Cremation | Chicago, IL
>>>>>>> Curious about the benefits of Passare’s eSignature tool? Look no further.
Tip #4. Connect with families digitally
Serving and connecting with families is the heart of the job. To do that effectively, you need more efficient ways to gather details from families.
If your families are constantly sending service details via email, working on obituary drafts in Word, or sharing files through multiple email threads, that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. You need a better way to connect with them.
Give them one platform to upload photos, start working on the obituary, pin merchandise, make payments, and so much more. Simply giving families a bit of control over service details can help them through an experience where they feel out of control.
Plus, gathering information before the arrangement conference means you can spend more time and energy discussing ways to personalize and honor loved ones.
Passare’s online at-need planning tool, Planning Center, is an easy-to-use platform for gathering details that allows families to start planning right away.
But do families actually use it?
Yes! Michael Capehart, General Manager and Funeral Director at New Hope Funeral Home, has seen success with families using Planning Center. He shared, “About 80-85% of the time, families who do use Planning Center will log on and work on at least a portion of the vital statistics, the obituary, and service details.”
Andy Stout, Owner and Funeral Director at C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., shares what his staff’s lives used to look like before and after Planning Center.
“Before, we would send a Word document back and forth. Then, we would have an email thread going back and forth with dozens of pictures to transfer. I would have to remember to loop in other members of our staff who were involved. It was chaotic. You were left hoping you didn’t miss updates from your emails or overlooked changes on Word documents.
All of that to say, Planning Center has been beneficial for centralizing our planning operations.”
Andy Stout, Owner and Funeral Director
C.R. Strunk Funeral Home Inc. | Quakertown, PA
Tip #5. Track more accurately
When talking about maximizing efficiency (and having a better chain of custody), barcode tracking must be part of the conversation!
Without a digital tracking system, you risk having a chaotic process that feels like one big guessing game to know where decedents and belongings are located.
With a tracking system, everyone on your staff can see exactly where a body or item is, who handled it, and when. You can keep track of everything using scannable barcodes that you can then match to locations, such as prep rooms, viewing rooms, refrigeration units, and urns or caskets.
Your funeral home’s organization will improve by allowing you to keep track of everything, get the most up-to-date information, and see a bird’s-eye view of your processes.
Your staff’s communication will also be upgraded because anyone can change the location of an item, add new items or notes, attach images, and more!
Angie Good, Managing Director of French Funerals & Cremations, needed a reliable, efficient way to keep up with items and bodies. She shared about her team’s experience implementing our barcode tracking tool:
“Since implementing barcode tracking, our communication process as a company has greatly improved. Our communication is much more focused and accurate, which results in less back and forth when clarifying details."
Angie Good, Managing Director
French Funerals & Cremation | Albuquerque, NM
>>>>>>Want to know more about barcode tracking? This guide is for you!
These 5 tips for maximizing efficiency in your funeral home software can transform your business!
While these are best practices to follow, there are also risks that can stand in the way of your success. Here are some to be aware of so the previous tips won’t go to waste. 👇 👇 👇
7 common pitfalls to avoid with funeral home software
#1. Failing to communicate changes with your team
Committing to using new funeral home software is a huge decision. There was a lot of thought and intention behind why the change was necessary for the business, your staff, and your families.
As soon as the change is in motion, your staff needs to be brought up to speed and given context as to why things are about to change. Once you’ve communicated the “why,” your staff can see how funeral home software will make their job easier and more convenient.
#2. Not getting staff buy-in
Switching to a new platform completely changes processes, which causes a big shift for your staff. To have a smooth and painless transition, you need buy-in from the people using the software every day.
Let’s face it, technology is only as good as the people using it! Without buy-in, you won’t see the results you were hoping for because your team will have too much inconsistency.
Set your expectations and communicate them.
#3. Not going all-in with your software solution
Once you decide to use new software, jump in head first. You must go all-in and remove the option to fall back into old processes.
Once Jayme Broussard, the Chief Executive Officer at Broussard’s Mortuary, switched to Passare, she made it clear to her staff that there was no plan B.
“When we began using Passare, we also removed our old software platform from all of our computers. Any time you allow room for a fallback and give people an option to not change, they won’t.”
Jayme Broussard Toeppich, Chief Executive Officer
Broussard’s Mortuary | Southeast TX
>>>>>> Hear more about Jayme’s experience launching Passare here.
#4. Not asking for support or training
It is crucial to ensure that your staff continues to receive support during implementation and after. If anyone has a question or runs into a problem, ask for help as soon as you need it. The support team should be responsive and helpful, no matter the hiccup.
Training should continue for your staff, even well after implementation. The more opportunities your staff has to practice using the new software, the better. Training allows for a risk-free environment in which mistakes can be made, and support can be received at the moment.
#5. Waiting for the "perfect" technology
“Perfect” doesn’t exist. And if you wait for one technology that checks every box, you may never step into better processes.
Instead of waiting for some magic, “perfect” solution, look for a company committed to innovation. As technology constantly improves and updates, progress is made toward creating something better.
Read Jordan Seitz’s, Funeral Director at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels, take on how Passare aims to improve constantly:
“Passare has been committed to continuously improving, which has been a game-changer. It’s fascinating to see the technology upgrades. We have already seen a lot of changes within the software since we first transitioned in 2018.”
Jordan Seitz, Funeral Director
Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels | Bloomington, MN
#6. Making excuses
You could probably list a handful of reasons not to undergo a huge change. While some reasons are valid, steer clear of making excuses. If you want to improve processes and save time, stop saying, “I’m not good at technology.”
It might be true. Technology may not be your strong suit. But chances are, you have people on your staff who can step up, help lead, and teach others who are not as comfortable.
It’s smart to look for intuitive and user-friendly technology because good technology can make (almost) anyone look tech-savvy. 😎
#7. Trying to build custom technology
It might sound like a great idea to create and completely customize your software to your business needs. However, developing your software is very expensive and time-consuming.
You can save time, money, and headaches by choosing partners who are willing to work with you to customize your experience so you can make technology fit your needs.
Tips to save you time
The quickest way to earn back some time is by learning new ways to maximize efficiency using your funeral home software. Just be sure not to fall into common pitfalls that will hinder your progress.
As you start using funeral home software, keep these tips to maximize efficiency in mind. And be prepared to be amazed at how many hours you and your staff save. 👏
Now you know how to use funeral home software, let’s find out how you know if your funeral home software is secure, plus some best practices for maintaining security.
What makes funeral home software secure?
You work with so much information daily. Between your business insights and family information, you have tons of data to store.
And you need an easy, stress-free way to do it.
When you use funeral home software (that isn’t install-based), you can store data in the cloud, which is just a fancy way of saying off-site data storage that can be accessed from the Internet. Storing data in the cloud is much more convenient (and safer!) than storing on separate hard drives or in filing cabinets.
But you need other ways to safeguard your data.
And you need to know that your funeral home software partner is doing everything possible to keep your information safe and sound.
Check out these 7 best security practices your software company should follow to give you and your families peace of mind. Plus, learn about the cherry on top regarding security compliance. 🔥
7 best practices for maintaining security
Your funeral software company should be using these 7 best practices for keeping your data safe. If you’re unsure that they are, we included some questions you can ask to double-check. 😉
#1. Limit access
With software, not every staff member in your funeral home needs to see every piece of information. The fewer hands (or eyes) on the data, the more secure that data will be. You should have complete control over who can access what.
Look for a software company with roles and permissions. With roles and permissions in place, you can easily control the information each employee can access.
Questions to ask: Do you have roles and permissions for each member of my staff? Can I control who sees what?
#2. Use encryption
Encryption protects your information by turning it into a unique code. Only authorized users with the right keys and codes can read the protected information. Encryption is a great security measure because third parties won’t be able to gain access to your essential data.
Social security numbers, driver’s licenses, and account information are some of the sensitive pieces of data that should be encrypted and accessible only with a key or password.
Questions to ask: Do you use encryption? What information gets encrypted?
#3. Monitor activity
Keeping an eye on who accesses sensitive information is key for security. It helps you catch any shady activity and react quickly for better peace of mind.
In fact, you may have experienced this fast reaction with your bank. If you’ve ever used the wrong PIN for your debit card, you’ve likely received a text from your bank about fraudulent activity.
Imagine having software that tracks network activity. It could alert you if someone tries to access confidential data at odd hours. Sounds great, right? You could breathe easier knowing your data is safe even when you’re not watching.
Questions to ask: How do you track network activity? How quickly do you react when you notice something shady?
#4. Automate updates and backups
You’ve likely been told time and time again not to ignore the latest computer and phone updates. Updates keep technology running smoothly and ensure your software is up to date.
Regular security updates do the same for your data, keeping it safe from computer issues.
There are countless stories of funeral directors losing data due to hard drive crashes. Without backups, recovering that information is impossible.
Automatic backups give you peace of mind. Even if your computer crashes, you’ll still have all your important information saved. It’s like having a safety net for your data, so you never have to worry about losing it.
Questions to ask: How does my data get backed up? Does that cost extra?
#5. Check security
Your software company needs a reliable way to check that all security measures work correctly. Preferably, this would be done by an unbiased, outside source.
It is key to have confidence in your software’s security. The best way to achieve this is through proof that the software has been tested and found secure.
Security audits for software companies confirm that all layers of protection are working as they should. An audit can bring to light any weaknesses in security measures so that steps can be taken to fix any issues.
Questions to ask: Has the software been audited and tested by a third party? How recent?
#6. Provide multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to the login process, making it harder for unauthorized users to access accounts.
Instead of logging in right away after entering your password, MFA requires a second form of verification. Depending on the software, this could involve answering a security question or receiving a code via text before allowing you to access your account.
That way, if a hacker manages to crack your password, they still can’t access your account without the second verification.
Knowing how a business uses MFA shows how committed they are to keeping customer data safe.
Questions to ask: Do you offer multi-factor authentication? What does that look like?
#7. Make password requirements
Unfortunately, strong passwords are not the obvious ones we have all used at some point. Weak passwords include things like the word “password,” your children’s names, anniversaries, home addresses, birth dates… You get the gist. 😂
Those passwords, while easier for you to remember, are not secure.
Your software should have a few basic password requirements to ensure nobody can make a lucky guess. Some examples of password requirements include:
-
Using 16+ characters for added length
-
Creating a random combination of numbers, symbols, and nonsense phrases
-
Changing your password often
The more random and complex your password is, the safer your data will be from hackers.
Questions to ask: Do you have strong password requirements? How often do you make users change their passwords?
>>>>> Want more? Here is a list of questions you can ask your software provider to increase your confidence in their security measures.
Above and beyond compliance
To maintain best-in-class security standards, partner with a software company that takes security seriously, protects your data from breaches and leaks, and has the security certification to show for it.
Last year, Passare achieved the Service Organizations Control (SOC) 2 Type 1 compliance, meeting security standards for protecting customer data.
You might think, “Okay, cool, but what’s SOC 2?”
SOC 2 is a security framework with standards for how companies handle and protect customer data. To achieve SOC 2 compliance, a company must undergo an audit by a third-party organization, which checks its software and security practices to ensure information is protected.
>>>>>> Learn more about the benefits of working with a SOC-2 compliant company here.
Security you can trust
Having software with top-notch security measures is more than a luxury; it’s necessary when storing sensitive information.
Take the first step in gaining families' trust by making sure your software company checks all of the boxes when it comes to security measures.
Now that you know the most important security measures that funeral home software needs, let’s explore what support and training solutions will set you up for success.
What support or training should I look for with funeral home software?
Dealing with unresponsive customer support can make troubleshooting your tech troubles feel like an uphill battle.
For example, let’s say you buy a new TV to watch football in 8K Ultra HD. The website promised fast delivery and excellent customer support. But when the TV arrives, you notice a dent and can’t figure out the basic settings.
You contact customer service, hoping for a quick resolution. Instead, you’re met with long wait times, unhelpful responses, and a lack of empathy from the support team. Frustrated, you plug in your old TV.
No one should have to experience that with their software company! You deserve a support team that answers you quickly and will go the extra mile to help you.
So, before you decide on funeral home software, make sure they provide these 4 must-haves regarding ongoing support and training opportunities.
#1. Easy to reach team
Everyone has a horrible customer service story, whether it involves waiting on hold, unhelpful chat responses, or unanswered emails.
While those experiences are frustrating, the stakes are higher when you have to call to troubleshoot technology issues and have a family waiting on you.
You need a support team that’s easy to reach when you have questions or a problem.
And a 5-star support team should also have multiple channels for you to reach them.
Some people prefer to make a phone call and get a quick answer.
Maybe emailing is your preferred method of communication because you like to see the thread of advice and easily recall solutions.
Or you might have a really quick question that seems silly to call about (it’s not), but sending an email would feel too formal. In that case, a chat or instant messaging tool might be the best option.
No matter your preference, you deserve easy access to your software support team.
Psst! At Passare, real people answer the phones and can troubleshoot anything you need. 😉
#2. Helpful resources and training
As you’ve learned, great software comes with many amazing features that you, your team, and your families can benefit from.
With software that has tons of features, you need easy access to resources that help you feel confident in getting started.
Having training resources at your fingertips is important. Whether it’s a quick start guide, step-by-step tutorial, or simply a how-to video, these resources should provide clear instructions and visuals to help you navigate the software and make the most of its features.
At Passare, our funeral homes have access to hundreds of resources in our Knowledge Base that cover just about everything. And if you want your team to start using a new feature, our support team can help make that happen!
Having a support team that provides resources and the option for extra training is a must-have for any funeral home. They’ll help you use your software to its full potential so you can provide the best service to your families.
#3. Feedback and forums
If you have an idea for a new feature for your software, do you have a place to share your ideas with the support and product teams?
At Passare, we have an Idea Portal that allows our customers and support team members to share feedback with our development team.
We believe in honest and constructive feedback on our software and features. Feedback helps us make improvements that will directly benefit funeral directors and families everywhere. Customer input leads to better features, bug fixes, helpful insights, and a smoother overall experience for everyone.
The best part is that customers can vote on ideas, which lets our team know what to prioritize.
Some Support teams also contribute to community and user forums to respond to feedback, share solutions to common problems, and share tips and best practices. With forums, you could learn from other users as well!
Having a support team (and software partner) that values your feedback is beneficial and shows they listen to customers.
#4. Premium options
We can all agree that the typical support must-haves are great. Of course, we need phone, email, chat support, training, and resources.
But sometimes more is better.
It’s okay to want a little more than the regular support experience. You might want a more tailored support experience. Or maybe you have some big business goals and want some extra support to hit those milestones.
If that’s the case, find a software company that offers Premium support options.
Premium support options might include additional benefits like:
-
Designated team members – Feel supported by your go-to team member who is always ready to answer your questions and go the extra mile.
-
Personal chat channels – Have questions but no time for a call? Just send a quick message to your support team member.
-
Personalized roadmaps and trainings – Get a step-by-step plan based on your goals and go through training to help you reach them.
-
Early beta access – Want exclusive access to new features? Be first in line to use the newest features and give valuable feedback.
-
Planned check-ins – Meet periodically to ask questions, get any needed training, and share updates.
-
Customized feature setup – Pick and choose which features your team is ready to use at your own pace with customized training plans.
Like what you see? Passare has a Premium Support plan that makes sure you get everything you need. 🔥
Support you deserve
You need 5-star support to match your 5-star software. Make sure you choose a company that values you and steps in to help!
Success with software results in success with families, and you can’t achieve that without the right people in your corner.
At this point, we’ve covered almost everything you need to look for in funeral home software, from an exhaustive list of helpful features to security measures and support non-negotiables. You’ve even heard what colleagues had to say about choosing the right funeral home software.
But there are still so many options to choose from. In this last section, let’s take a closer look at different types of software, so you can identify the best software for your funeral home.
What's the best funeral home software?
You already know that to find great software, you should look for a cloud-based platform with useful features. Because with the right software features, a few things will happen:
-
Your team will get tasks done more efficiently.
-
Working with families will be less stressful and complicated.
-
All areas of your business will be easier to organize.
However, you’ve also probably gathered that choosing the best software for your funeral home means you’ll have to do more than find a few features that check your boxes. First, you have to identify the type of software you're looking for. We believe funeral home software options can be categorized into 3 different types:
-
Software that’s old, slow, and frustrating
-
Software that sold out
-
Software that’s new to the game
Each yields a different software experience. Read this overview to learn about each to get one step closer to finding the best software.
The different types of funeral home software
#1: Software that's old, slow, and frustrating
Remember the era of floppy disks, fax machines, and ancient computers that took years to load anything? 😖
Working with some funeral home software platforms makes funeral directors feel like they’re still living in that era.
If you have older funeral home software, you probably relate to these:
🙋🏽♀️ My funeral home software is slow and unreliable.
🙋🏿♂️ My software is limited to one computer at the funeral home and is install-based.
🙋🏼♀️ I can't access my funeral home software on the go.
🙋🏽♂️ When something goes wrong with my software, it's difficult to resolve.
🙋🏻♀️ My funeral home software has not been updated in years.
🙋🏽♂️ I haven’t been able to use any cool updates, like AI.
If you use this software option, you likely realize you need up-to-date case management tools to keep up with your workflow. That might drive you to one of the next options.
#2: Software that sold out
There are many cloud-based software options with comparable features. But one major thing sets certain software companies apart: ownership and the transfer of said ownership.
During the last few years, many funeral home software companies have been sold to private equity companies or large corporations, and some have had repeated changes in ownership.
Here are 3 things that can happen when a private equity firm buys a funeral home software company:
-
They look for ways to improve the company's value. Some think that funeral home software companies with deep-pocketed investors indicate that the software platform has the resources to develop new features more quickly. That can happen, but it isn’t necessarily the case. They may try to cut development costs or outsource necessary things, like a quality support team.
-
They can influence key decisions and implement changes. In some cases, former owners might still be involved with the company but lack the power to make decisions since they don’t own the company anymore. While the new owner's initiatives may increase the value of the company, those goals may not reflect your needs as a funeral professional. If they don’t understand your needs and are only looking for financial returns, they may not develop features that will help you better manage your business.
-
They look for their great escape. A private equity company’s main goal is to buy businesses and receive returns on those investments by selling the businesses for profit. So, eventually, they will try to realize the gains from their investment. This can be done through selling the company, taking it public, or merging it with another business. And unfortunately, they may not share their timeline or be transparent with their customers.
At the end of the day, these firms aren’t in it to provide you with the tools you need to run your business. Many are striving to make a return on their investment.
If any of the following statements ring true, your funeral home software company might fit into this category:
🙋🏽♀️ I receive poor customer support.
🙋🏿♂️ I am not listened to when I give feedback or request improvements.
🙋🏼♀️ I am charged for every update or extra feature.
🙋🏽♂️ I am frustrated that my software’s ownership is managed by people who don't understand the funeral profession.
So, if your software sells (or has sold) and you’re no longer happy, where do you go next? Find out in the next section.
#3: Software that's new to the game
Over the years, many new funeral home software platforms have emerged in the profession. Some might claim that anything “new” is bad because it’s unknown. That’s not always the case!
When a software company has the right ownership and development plan, it will continually work on new features that will make your life easier.
But not all new software is created equal. Some are shiny and new but lack substance.
For example, when you first signed up, they may have promised you cutting-edge solutions that would transform your business overnight. But as you got started with the platform, you realized that it was more limited in functionality than you could have imagined. Then, you're left relating to these statements:
🙋🏽♀️ My software doesn't have all the integrations I need.
🙋🏿♂️ My software needs more functionality to make my life easier.
🙋🏼♀️ I need top-notch reporting capabilities from my software.
🙋🏽♂️ My software jumps on the latest tech trends, but the new features aren't fully developed.
If these resonate with you, it's time to explore a system that offers better functionality, saves you time in all areas of your business, and enhances your ability to serve families.
But how can you find this “dream” software? Evaluate these 5 qualities and you'll find the best solution.
Consider these 5 things to find the best funeral home software
Ownership
The ownership of a company can affect many things, from pricing and customer service to the amount and quality of updates that will be made to your software. When it comes to funeral home software, you want ownership that understands the value of your service to families and has a common goal of helping you simplify operations.
But how can you know a software company has good “ownership”? Here are a few things to consider:
-
Are they privately owned or owned by a private equity firm that might be looking to sell?
-
How many times has ownership changed within its lifetime?
-
What’s their growth strategy? Are they looking to acquire as many software companies as possible, or are they looking to develop their own platform to better meet customer needs?
Considering questions like these during your software search can help you learn about the direction that the company will take over time.
See more about Passare’s ownership and company mission here, and learn about our parent company, Directors Investment Group, here. >>>
Roadmap plans
Like we mentioned in the previous section, it’s important to be aware of where a software company is headed. Another great way to do that is to consider a company’s roadmap. Are they constantly developing new features to make your life easier?
At Passare, we host a webinar at the beginning of each year covering our software development roadmap for the upcoming year. Many of the features are based on ideas we’ve received from our customers.
See what one Passare customer had to say about how much he valued being in the know about the company’s roadmap:
"As a prospective customer, being able to see the future of the company, along with all the additions and features planned for the next year, was a huge selling point for me. I was excited about all that Passare could do and was going to do."
Michael Capehart, General Manager
New Hope Funeral Home | Sunnyvale, TX
Want the inside scoop about how we create our roadmap each year? Read this article from Josh McQueen, VP of Marketing and Product at Passare, to learn more.
Support
When it comes to using technology, you’re going to have questions. That’s why it’s also important to think about what kind of support experience you value.
Do you want to be able to call and get help right away when you’re having an issue with your software? Or are you okay with waiting days to hear back a response?
Do you want live people to answer the phones? Or do you prefer automated messages?
Do business with a software company that will help you not only learn the software upfront and get a good start, but also help you along the way as you continue to learn new features and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
This funeral home owner speaks to the value of reliable software support:
"Any time you implement something new, especially software, you need some extra support in the beginning because it's such a big change. But Premium Support at Passare was there for us every step of the way and still is. It's been great."
Matthew Fiorillo, President and Owner
Ballard-Durad Funeral & Cremation Services| White Plains, NY
Learn more about our support services here.>>>
Unique features for your business
Identify what your funeral business needs the most help with and find software that’s able to meet your needs. Better yet, find software designed to meet the needs of funeral professionals.
For example, in Passare, we’ve created several features specifically designed for funeral home processes. Here are a few:
-
First death certificate integration - The amount of data entry that goes into obtaining a death certificate can take up valuable time. Our Pennsylvania Electronic Death Registration System integration allows PA users to send death certificate information from Passare to PA’s EDRS with a few clicks. Curious? Learn more in this article. >>>
-
Planning Center for families - Passare's Planning Center has features to help you stay organized, simplify communication with families, and add convenience. Learn about different ways you can use this tool to improve the way you serve families in this blog. >>>
-
Barcode tracking - Tracking decedents and belongings electronically gives you and your team complete transparency and real-time updates on the location of decedents and their possessions. That’s why we developed a barcode tracking tool that can help you do that! Learn more in this guide. >>>
-
Built-in eSignature tool - You shouldn’t have to pay for third-party software just to get forms signed. Passare’s eSignature tool is built into the software so you can get notified when someone completes a form and easily tie signatures directly to a case. Read more about this tool here.>>>
These are just a few, and there are plenty of other software features to consider, which you can find in a previous section of this guide.
Integrations
You’re spending money on this software, so it should do as much as possible for your business. And what we mean is that your software should aim to help you in every area of your business.
Software integrations can help with that!
The more services your software can integrate with, the less time you’ll spend copying forms and updating accounting sheets.
For example, Passare has 30+ integrations to help you save time in all areas of your business, including answering service, preneed, memorial printing, obituaries, videos, website, financials, aftercare, and even insurance assignments. See how implementing these integrations has helped this funeral home owner improve efficiency across the board:
"Leading up to Passare, we used a mix of Quickbooks, Google Calendar, and Google Sheets. We used all of these different platforms for our contracts and scheduling services. We made it work, but it wasn't an ideal situation for any of our employees. We were trying to coordinate and manage too many platforms.
Now, with Passare, we are all finding value in the integration of having one platform to do everything. It has helped with efficiency."
Philip R. White, 5th Generation Owner
White Emerson Mortuary| Whittier, CA
So, what is the best funeral home software?
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably expecting to hear the answer to this question. We could give you our opinion on the best funeral home software, but that might be biased.
The answer is really found in your software needs, your business environment, and the unique services offered at your funeral home. Define your goals and needs before researching different products. Hopefully, this guide was helpful in this step. Ask questions, search for feedback from friends and colleagues, and take your time.
We know you’ll make the right choice.
Your perfect software solution awaits
Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of the ultimate guide to funeral home software, and you are now ready to make an informed software investment for your business.
By this point, you likely have a clear understanding of the features that matter most to you, as well as a list of questions about ownership, future development plans, and the experience of support and implementation to ask in your next demo.
Take the first step toward the ultimate software solution with a demo of Passare. During the meeting, you'll get a complete overview of the platform and the opportunity to ask our team all those questions you have (you can even ask us about our roadmap plans—we’re not shy!). 😆
Schedule a demo of Passare