As we try to return to normalcy with face-to-face interactions with families, staff and vendors alike, in-person funeral conventions are back in full effect. For many funeral providers and industry-specific companies, this season holds some of the first in-person conventions since 2019. eFuneral & Homesteaders Life Company leadership, Mitch Smith & Dean Lambert have already taken part in a few of these events - most recently attending CANA's 103rd Cremation Innovation Convention in Seattle, so here’s what we think you can expect from the 2021 convention season.
eFuneral first launched in 2019, making its debut at the National Funeral Directors Association Convention in Chicago. eFuneral's Director of Partnership Development, Mitch Smith, said the convention hosted some technology companies, but had eFuneral as one of the standalone solutions at the expo. As technology solutions have emerged since last convention season, Smith expected more products to be present at these expos. And based on what we saw at CANA's annual convention last week; Smith’s prediction ran true.
Before, we mainly saw big insurance companies and more traditional solutions, but this year I saw some really innovative technology pools popping up," Smith said.
Even if you didn’t make it to the CANA convention, the upcoming NFDA International Convention & Expo in Nashville is sure to host a plethora of these technology and/or outside-the-box solutions for funeral businesses. Smith says comparatively to 2019, 2021’s events are filled with new, innovative solutions coming out for funeral professionals to better serve their families, which will change how bigger funeral companies talk and think about technology in the space, ultimately impacting the way the industry works moving forward.
“We’re seeing a lot of companies who didn’t' have a lot of presence before, like broadcasters and streaming services. More than anything, I think there are more tech companies whose solutions help consumers work efficiently with funeral home providers, and help make that interaction faster and easier,” Smith said.
Not only are we expected to see an uptick in technology solutions, VP of Strategic Communications for eFuneral parent company, Dean Lambert, says from what's seen and heard from NFDA officials, the upcoming convention & expo will be the biggest we’ve seen in years, attendance-wise.
"The convention is always a time to gather to meet old and new colleagues, discuss best practices and learn what’s new. I feel like this year will be quite special because we’ve been apart for so long and frankly, COVID has been hell for everyone associated with the profession — this will be a big release,” Lambert said.
No matter your plans for upcoming conventions, the technology adaptations we’ve seen over the past year will continue to grow and shape the future of the funeral industry. Make sure whomever you partner with, you can trust them to put you and your staff first with every decision they make while driving more revenue and generating more leads for your business. eFuneral has continued to innovate solutions to bring more revenue and easier planning solutions to our over 400 partners, nationwide.
Visit our booth at this year’s NFDA International Convention & Expo, or schedule a demo with us to learn more about how our solutions can help your business: www.partner.efuneral.com/schedule-a-demo