06/13/2023
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HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT CEMETERY SOFTWARE?

When selecting cemetery software for your management, sales, administration, and operations teams, there are several factors to consider to ensure that it meets your cemetery requirements and aligns with your needs. Here are some important considerations:​

Purpose and Functionality

Clearly define the purpose of the cemetery software and identify the specific cemetery features and functions you require. Determine if the cemetery software is capable of fulfilling your needs and if it aligns with your goals.  Do you need cemetery maps? A cemetery CRM? Cemetery work order management? Cemetery invoicing management?  Cemetery reporting? A cemetery eCommerce website? Define what you are looking for and make sure the software you are reviewing meets those requirements.
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Scalability and Flexibility

Assess whether the cemetery software can scale with your business needs and adapt to future growth or changes. Consider if it allows for customization, extensions, or integrations to accommodate your evolving cemetery requirements.  A good cemetery software company will be fairly standardized in terms of service offerings; however, a cemetery software partner will grow their solution with you.
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User-friendliness and Ease of Use

Evaluate the cemetery software's user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to ensure it is intuitive and easy to navigate. Consider the learning curve and training requirements for your team to effectively use the software.  A good cemetery software will be intuitive to navigate and learn.  It will follow standard UI practices, so icons and links perform as expected.
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Cost and Licensing

Consider the cemetery software's pricing structure, licensing options, and any associated costs such as maintenance, upgrades, or additional modules. Evaluate the total cost of ownership over the software's lifespan to determine its affordability and value. 

A good cemetery software should be a cloud-based service that does not require long-term or annual contracts.  You should have access to a free trial and be able drop the subscription whenever you choose.  If implementation fees are required and are expensive, that is good indicator the software isn't easy to use.  A good cemetery software can be implemented by the cemetery team itself and required little to no training if it is intuitive and user friendly.
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Future Development and Updates

Assess the vendor's commitment to the cemetery software's future development, including regular updates, bug fixes, and new features. Consider their roadmap and how well it aligns with your cemetery's long-term needs. No software is ever finished, but understanding the direction and the commitment to ongoing growth and excellence will expand the lifetime of your software experience.
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Performance and Reliability

Look for cemetery software that is cloud-based, stable, reliable, and performs well under expected workloads. Consider factors such as system requirements, speed, uptime, and responsiveness.  Ask how the software is being hosted and administered.  You want a cemetery software that is using best-of-breed, cloud-hosting services, like AWS.
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Compatibility and Integration

Many cemeteries have a perpetual care fund designed to provide ongoing maintenance and care for the cemetery grounds. Monitoring the growth and adequacy of this fund can be an important financial metric.  This is a common measure used by cemetery salespersons to assure families their interment estates will be well taken care of far into the future.
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Compatiblity and Integration

Consider the compatibility of the cemetery software with your existing systems, infrastructure, and other software applications. Determine if it can seamlessly integrate with your current technology stack to avoid potential conflicts or limitations.  A good cemetery software will have development APIs that can be leveraged to pull and push data to/from your existing systems.

Remember, the importance of each consideration may vary depending on your specific requirements. It's crucial to involve stakeholders, conduct thorough evaluations, and perform demos or trials before making a final decision. EverArk cemetery software was built around these considerations and best practices, so you can be at ease when making the decision to implement it.

Request a demo of EverArk today to see how you can improve and increase your sales. Or, ask us to help you perform your software search and evaluation.

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