BATESVILLE, Ind. – Batesville, a leading partner to licensed funeral homes, invites professionals attending the annual National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) convention in Salt Lake City (Oct. 14 -17) to explore a variety of innovative products and technology solutions to help families plan meaningful funerals, share memories and remember their loved ones. The company will showcase an assortment of new burial and cremation caskets, personalization and memorialization offerings and digital solutions, including the new Bridges mobile app.
“Funeral professionals look forward to seeing new products and solutions, and we’ve designed a hands-on environment where they can learn about new ways to engage families throughout the funeral planning process,” explains Troy Turner, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Batesville.
One of the highlights is the Bridges mobile app, which is being introduced at NFDA. Bridges connects funeral directors, families and their extended networks, providing resources and information to facilitate the planning process, activate and engage support networks after a death occurs and memorialize a unique life. Bridges allows funeral directors to start sharing information before the family visits the funeral home so they can make the most of their time together in the arrangement conference.
Today’s families are often scattered across the country. Bridges provides a convenient way to submit information about the deceased, collaborate on product and service decisions, prepare the obituary, and upload photos for a video tribute – in one secure, convenient location. With direct mobile access to the service details, it’s easier for friends and family to express their condolences through messages of support, cards, flowers, and donations. Stop by the Batesville booth (#1529) for a demonstration of Bridges.
Batesville experts will also present a variety of digital tools and systems to help create stronger engagement with families and more personalized funeral experiences, including:
- LifeStories® medallions, LifeSymbols® designs and other memorial products
- Meaningful Selections digital software with dynamic imaging
- Web Pro websites with personalized and themed obituaries, videos, e-commerce, and customizable digital showrooms
The company has an impressive line-up of special events and speakers throughout the week, including a book signing with Dr. Alan Wolfelt and a local craft beer tasting. A complete schedule is below:
- Dr. Alan Wolfelt book signing – “Grief Day by Day” – Monday, Oct. 15, noon to 5 p.m. in the Batesville booth
- “8 Consumer Truths about Technology in Funeral Service” Campfire Session by Bob Sheridan, Batesville Director of Technology – Tuesday, October 16, noon to 5 p.m. in convention hall
- Brew with the Batesville Crew local craft beer tasting – Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2 to 4 p.m. in the Batesville booth
Batesville recognizes the importance of education to the future of our industry. In addition to pledging its support as the Educational Sponsor for this year’s convention, Batesville is giving away a 4-Day Training Experience for Caregivers package with Dr. Wolfelt, including a $500 travel gift card. The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, October 17, at 10 a.m. in the Batesville booth. The drawing is open to licensed funeral homes that purchase 2 or more Batesville-branded caskets in the booth during NFDA.
ABOUT BATESVILLE
Batesville (www.Batesville.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), offers a comprehensive portfolio of Burial Solutions, Cremation Options, Memorial Solutions, and Technology Solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has been dedicated to helping families honor the lives of those they love.® Batesville’s innovation has changed the face of funeral service, from advancements in manufacturing and quality to patented features and memorialization offerings, technology and web-based solutions, and profit-enhancing merchandising systems. Our history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service and reliable delivery has helped Batesville become – and remain – a market leader.
