grieve. Thanks to e-Commerce solutions they
can identify many items and services, source
it individually, and then put all of that together
and make decisions in their own time. Online
funeral service software with e-Commerce
allows people to plan and pay for arrangements
from wherever they live.
Regardless of the industry, the reasons for online
shopping, whether by individuals (relatives of the
deceased ordering funeral services) or companies
(funeral
homes
ordering
funeral
products)
converge on basic aspects, such as: convenience,
time savings, greater choice and lower prices or
attractive bonuses. Internet users also very often
declare their willingness to compare prices online,
and among the advantages of e-Commerce they
also indicate the possibility of buying at any time
or not needing to be physically present at the
funeral company or product supplier.
e-Commerce as a tool dedicated
to family and friends
Today's funeral home clients look for information
primarily on the Internet, first and foremost on
search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo etc.
88% of consumers state that they research the
product or service online first before making any
purchase. When they get to the funeral home's
website, they are interested in very specific
information:
It is already possible to buy a funeral online in
honor of a family member and be able to evaluate
and comment on the service provided. The
funeralbooking.pt is operating in Portugal, but with
interest in expanding to other markets. From any
device, fixed or mobile, in funeralbooking.pt, you
can simulate the price of a funeral and get prices
of various funeral homes. The online purchase of
a funeral in no way interferes with the tradition
and the way a funeral is celebrated. The only
difference is in the purchase channel (online instead
of physical shop and in person). Our solution is
completely free of influence and strategy, supporting
more thoughtful purchase by the consumer. The
advantages for professionals are numerous, the
opening of a new sales channel, greater visibility,
geographical growth, new opportunities, marketing
and advertising. The latest major innovation is
the new method of payment in addition to those
already implemented, which allows families to
pay a funeral online in installments and funeral
homes receive immediately 100% of the value of
the funeral. According the National Association of
Funeral Companies (ANEL), the funeralbooking.
pt, “comes to ensure greater transparency to the
sector and make known in a clear, direct way the
prices charged by different companies.” Our digital
ecosystem provides convenience, privacy and
availability 24 hours a day, making it a necessary
and essential tool available to all at a time that is
so difficult. There are also other areas implemented,
such as bereavement support by professionals
specializing in bereavement psychology. Another
area
is
a professional
digital
showroom
of
manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, divided
by business areas. This area is reserved for funeral
directors and suppliers, without any possibility of
access by consumers.
Paulo Seco
Founder & CEO, funeralbooking.pt , Portugal
When it comes to
e-Commerce solutions,
funeral directors should
step in the client's shoes
and be aware that most of
their clients are arranging
a funeral for the first time
in their life, so they really
need guidance through the
process. It's not just about
persuading the customer to
buy a particular product,
but about guiding them
through a number of
questions to find out what
they are looking for.
12
No. 102 – SUMMER 2023 | THANOS MAGAZINE
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