At funeral home conventions across the country, the ASD team has had many opportunities to speak to funeral directors about smartphone technology and the mobile tools they utilize to complete business tasks. Inevitably, at every event, there will be at least one funeral director who pulls out a flip phone and says, “Those new phones are too complicated for me. I like simple.” While we can certainly appreciate the motivation, this mindset does not take into account the fact that many mobile apps were designed solely to simplify business tasks, not complicate them.
For directors who have not adopted any new technology into their routine, this is a major missed opportunity. As mobile advancements evolve, more tools and apps are being created every day to help users manage their business needs. Funeral directors must often conduct business on the go and juggle multiple tasks at once, making mobile technology a perfect solution for this unique lifestyle. Smartphones can help funeral home staff to streamline tasks, communicate more effectively with families, stay organized and save money.
We challenge you to make this the year you experiment with mobile technology to determine what solutions can best help your funeral home business. While not every solution is compatible with every business model, the list below provides a wide range of different mobile apps designed for business owners. These apps have been recommended by other funeral professionals for their ease of use and functionality. Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment section to let us know if there are any mobile apps not listed that you think funeral directors could benefit from using.
1. Asana Mobile
Asana Mobile is a shared task link for your funeral home team that helps keep everyone on the same page. Asana is a multi-functional project management app that both small and large funeral home teams can benefit from using. It allows co-workers to communicate and work together on projects without email. From basic to-do lists to complex projects, Asana Mobile is a handy tool for funeral home staff to keep on top of all tasks and stay organized.
2. Splashtop
Splashtop Business allows users to control their desktop computers from their mobile device and access documents remotely from any location. Have you ever needed to access a prearrangement policy from home or attach a file to an email that is saved on your office computer? Splashtop is the solution. You can also share or transfer files with other app users or back up your vital documents in case of an emergency.
3. ASD Mobile
ASD Mobile is the most downloaded and highest-rated app created specifically for funeral directors. This powerful tool allows ASD clients to control and monitor their funeral home’s telephone communication from anywhere. With ASD Mobile, you can listen, read, re-dispatch and respond to messages, control your outgoing Caller ID, change your on-call preferences, update service information, handle online chats from your website and more, all from the palm of your hand. ASD is the only company to be recognized by the NFDA with two Innovation Awards (2012 and 2015), both of which were in recognition of the benefits of the ASD Mobile app for funeral directors. Clients of ASD – Answering Service for Directors can download the ASD Mobile app for Free in the Apple and Google Play Stores.
4. eFax
Funeral homes must send out many faxed transmissions – which can eat up a great deal of time. Send and receive faxes from your mobile phone instead with this eFax. Faxes are sent as an email attachment and the app is compatible with Outlook and other email accounts. Save money on fax machine paper and toner while gaining the flexibility to send and receive faxes without being near a machine. Available for Free download (with in-App purchases) in the Apple and Google Play Stores.
5. Pinterest
Pinterest is a fantastic tool both for brainstorming new service ideas and boosting your funeral home’s marketing. Get inspiration for memorial services by looking through other boards. Create boards to showcase your funeral home’s facilities and service options. Invite families to share their boards so you can create visual elements for a service that matches the family’s vision.
6. JotNot
Transform your mobile phone into a portable scanner with this app. Using JotNot, you can convert images scanned by the phone into a PDF file. Correct photos and documents instantly and share them without delay, saving time and reducing unnecessary paperwork.
7. DocuSign
With the DocuSign app you can quickly send contracts, order forms and other important documents to your phone’s contacts for their sign-off. You can also use DocuSign to sign paperwork that is sent to you when you’re on-the-go. The app archives all documents you upload, eliminating paperwork and streamlining tasks for the funeral home.
8. Trello
Trello allows you to easily organize your ongoing projects, collaborate on ideas with your staff and easily assign tasks. The drag and drop design of this app makes it incredibly user-friendly and simple. Keep your team connected on all of your funeral home’s upcoming services. Users can post comments, upload files, add checklists, labels, due dates and more. The app even works when you are offline and not connected to Wi-Fi.
9. Xero
Xero, a cloud-based accounting solution catering to small businesses, not only offers payroll services but also consolidates all financial records into a single user-friendly platform, streamlining bookkeeping tasks and saving valuable time. The user-friendly nature extends to its mobile app, enabling access to financial records anytime, anywhere, using any device. Send invoices and get paid faster, reconcile bank transactions and see cash flow at a glance. The software’s standout feature lies in providing employers with accurate and real-time reports on financial records, tax liabilities, and regulatory compliance.
10. MileIQ
If you drive your personal car to conduct funeral home business, you can get reimbursed for your driving expenses, including mileage, parking, gas and tolls. With the MileIQ app, your miles are automatically tracked. When your ride is over, you can specify whether your trip was for business or personal use. Rather than wasting time with paper mile logs, MileIQ’s multiple tools allow you to categorize drives with a swipe, set working hours, track expenses like gas/tolls, see a digital log of all your trips and more.
11. Evernote
Evernote’s tagline is, “capture what’s on your mind.” The app provides an incredibly user-friendly portal for important reminders, to-do lists and other items you want to save. Store photos, websites, lists and more. Information can be accessed from any computer or mobile device and individual documents can be found easily with the app’s Search tool.
12. iCamViewer
iCamViewer can be synched to your funeral home’s CCTV cameras and Network IP cameras, allowing you to monitor surveillance video from your smartphone 24/7. Be sure to check the app’s list of compatible surveillance equipment. If your device is not listed, explore other similar apps that can be synced with your equipment.
13. HootSuite Mobile
With more and more funeral directors recognizing the benefits of using social networking to connect with their community, HootSuite Mobile delivers an easy solution for streamlining your social media communication. Update your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social websites from one location. You can also schedule posts in advance, ensuring that your social pages are always up-to-date no matter how busy things are at the funeral home. The HootSuite app offers all of the benefits of the website, but allows you to make updates while on the go with your mobile device.
14. GasBuddy
Funeral directors spend a great deal of time on the road meeting with families, picking up documents and leading funeral processions. All of that travel time can really increase your gas expenses. GasBuddy is a free app that allows you to compare local gas prices in real-time. The app tracks gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. The prices are updated every day by millions of users who record the gas prices in their local area.
15. FlightView
For funeral homes that ship and receive remains often, FlightView provides convenient flight tracking data with real-time updates. This app can often save you from making an extra trip or going to a wrong gate by keeping you informed of any unexpected delays. FlightView also allow users to receive push alerts, making trips to the airport less stressful.
16. NaturalReader
This text-to-speech app converts any written text into spoke words. It allows you to have PDF documents, articles, website pages, eBooks and more read aloud to you. Whether you need to review a form or finish a chapter of a novel, NaturalReader can be handy tool when you’re on the road. This app are also great for times when it may be difficult to see small words on your screen. Simply enter the text in the app and listen to the words being read aloud to save you time and frustration.
17. 1Password
Security is an important concern for any business owner. When conducting business online, it is crucial for directors to use strong passwords to protect confidential documents. However, it can be both confusing and frustrating to remember different passwords, especially if the site requires you to change it every several months. Fortunately, a helpful app called 1Password exists that both create and stores passwords for every site you visit. The app uses sophisticated encryption and information is protected by a Master Password that only you know. 1password also stores your log in credentials, credit card information and secure notes so that you can quickly handle transactions online without sacrificing security.
What mobile apps do you use to conduct business for your funeral home? What apps would you recommend to your colleagues in funeral service? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. We would love to know what mobile tools have been most helpful for you.
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