As we launch Direct Cremation Podcast‘s new “greatest hits” series, we’re spotlighting Robert Hunsaker, President of the Cremation Association of North America and a legend in death care—to show why technology, transparent pricing, and data-driven marketing have moved from “nice extras” to must-have powertrains. These three levers drive profitability in a cremation-first world. Pick one upgrade, deploy it this week, and watch your momentum build.
Keep reading to see how forward-thinking directors turn tech, transparent pricing, and data into cremation-era profit!
1. Cremation’s climb is rewriting every business plan
Hunsaker opens with data: U.S. cremation already outpaces burial and is projected to reach 82 % by 2045 (ref: nfda.org).
He frames that surge as an operations problem and a revenue opportunity. Owners who still budget around casket-centric packages risk margin erosion; those who pivot toward streamlined online cremations, transparent pricing, and specialized cremation arrangements win market share.
Action step: audit your GPL and build cremation-first packages inside a modern funeral planning software platform. Directors who pair price clarity with a mobile-friendly cremation website convert “just-looking” traffic into paid cases faster than phone-centric competitors.
2. Tech turns compliance headaches into brand assets
Chain-of-custody slip-ups are the lawsuits nobody sees coming. Hunsaker recommends migrating paper logs to a cloud-based funeral management system. Barcode scans, geo-tagged photos, and automated alerts inside an all-in-one funeral service software suite create an audit trail families and regulators trust.
- Best funeral home software bundles case tracking, e-signatures, and payment links.
- A dedicated funeral director app keeps staff aligned, whether they’re in the prep room or the crematory.
- Open APIs let owners bolt crematory software to accounting and inventory modules so numbers reconcile automatically.
Not ready for a full overhaul? Test a free funeral home management software trial, gather staff feedback, then scale up. Early adopters report fewer errors, faster closeouts, and higher Google Review scores.
3. Marketing cremations: Meet families where they scroll
Traditional billboards broadcast a message; search and social target intent. Hunsaker outlines a three-part funnel:
- Cremation ads on Google and Meta target “cremation near me” queries.
- Clicks land on a keyword-rich funeral website or landing page that details packages, timelines, and FAQs.
- A built-in funeral arranger walks visitors through forms and secure payment, finishing the sale while attention is high.
70% of viewers browse on mobile, responsive design and one-tap chat matter. Pair the funnel with retargeting banners that remind undecided shoppers of your value proposition. Directors who master marketing cremations see steadier lead flow and higher prepaid contract volume.
4. Innovative funeral home ideas that pay off quickly
Hunsaker sprinkles the conversation with small upgrades that produce outsized returns:
- Automated text updates via funeral arrangement software cut inbound “status” calls.
- A QR code on arrangement folders links directly to online funeral arrangements, reducing office traffic.
- Digital memorial videos bundled into premium cremation packages lift average revenue per call.
- Live-stream add-ons, managed inside your funeral home software, satisfy far-flung families and create new margin.
These tactics share a theme: let technology handle routine tasks so staff can focus on empathy and upsells that families actually value.
5. Future-proofing: alternative dispositions and data dashboards
Alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction, and greener urn options loom on the horizon. Hunsaker urges owners to treat them as product lines, not threats. Tracking consumer inquiries in your mortuary software surfaces demand patterns early. When inquiry volume justifies investment, bolt new SKUs onto the same funeral management system and launch location-based cremation advertising campaigns that educate before competitors act.
Key takeaways you can implement this quarter
| Priority | Quick win |
|---|---|
| Upgrade tech stack | Move intake, signatures, and payments into cloud-based funeral arrangement software. |
| Publish transparent pricing | List cremation packages on your cremation website with instant checkout to capture urgency. |
| Automate compliance | Embed barcode scans and time stamps in your funeral service software to bullet-proof chain-of-custody. |
| Target intent, not eyeballs | Shift budget from print to high-intent cremation ads on search and social. |
| Track real KPIs | Use dashboards to monitor cost-per-case, labor hours, and cash-flow forecasts in your funeral home management platform. |
Watch (or re-watch) the episode
Ready to dive deeper? Stream the full interview with Robert Hunsaker here.
Then explore how Parting Pro’s best online cremation software helps more than 150 funeral homes modernize arrangements, payments, and communications. Families expect digital convenience today—give it to them before a competitor does.