BATESVILLE, IN. – Batesville, a leading provider of high quality products and innovative technology solutions to funeral homes in North America, received the industry’s top scores in the Funeral Service Insider (FSI) casket survey, published by Kates-Boylston. This is the fifth consecutive year funeral professionals have awarded Batesville the number one ranking in each category of performance – quality, service and innovation – ahead of all other manufacturers. The annual casket survey covers topics of importance to today’s funeral professionals, including trends in selection rooms, value-added offerings, contracts, and pricing strategies.
Respondents were asked to rate the casket companies they have done business with on quality and service, and Batesville came out first in both categories, a position the company has held since 2014.
FSI editor Tom Parmalee said, “While our survey is a small sample size of the entire United States, it’s clear that Batesville’s dedication to funeral service has not gone unnoticed by funeral homes.”
The company was also the clear winner in innovation, with 64% of respondents selecting Batesville as the most innovative casket company. A number of Batesville’s offerings were named as favorite innovations, including customized corners and magnetic cap panels, LifeStories® medallions, the Meaningful Selections digital showroom, the Barnett reclaimed barnwood casket, and dual interiors that can be used for a male or female.
“We appreciate this vote of confidence and will continue to push ourselves to deliver the very best products we can to support funeral professionals in helping families plan meaningful funerals, share memories and remember their loved ones,” said Troy Turner, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Batesville.
Turner was pleased to see digital solutions like Meaningful Selections included in the list of innovations valued by funeral professionals. “Technology is a great connector – it’s how people communicate, learn, research, share experiences, and manage their daily lives,” explains Turner. “We believe it has tremendous potential in our industry to give families a better experience that is more profitable for the funeral home today, and sets them up for success in the future.”
Batesville has made significant investments in creating a digital landscape that allows funeral directors to connect with families so they can be more engaged, more confident and feel more in control of their entire funeral journey. The company launched its latest innovation, the Bridges mobile app, in October at the 2018 NFDA convention in Salt Lake City, UT. Bridges uses mobile technology to connect funeral homes, families and their extended networks, keeping the funeral director at the center of the conversation. It allows funeral directors to capture and share critical information earlier in the planning process, educate families about their choices, and help them engage their support networks after a death occurs. The Bridges app is available as a free offering to Batesville website customers. For more information, visit www.batesville.com.
ABOUT BATESVILLE
Batesville (www.Batesville.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), is the leader in the North American death care industry, offering 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®. Our history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service and reliable delivery helped Batesville become – and remain – a market leader.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Teresa M. Gyulafia
Director – Strategic Communications
Teresa.Gyulafia@Batesville.com
Phone: 812.931.5084
