Learn about the common cyber threats that target small businesses that handle sensitive information and what you can do to prevent them. Suppose you run a small business that handles personal health information (PHI), personally identifiable information (PII), or payment card information (PCI). In that case, you need to be aware of the cybersecurity risks that you face. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to steal, compromise, or destroy your data, and they often target small businesses that have fewer resources and security measures than larger organizations. The cost of a data breach for a small to midsize business (SMB) can be substantial. On average, a data breach costs an SMB around $217,000 per incident per the Garter® Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2024. This figure includes immediate financial impacts such as legal fees, fines, and remediation costs. However, the hidden costs can be even more significant. For example, the average cost of lost business due to a data breach is $1.52 million. This loss stems from eroded customer trust and the potential exodus of clients, which can be catastrophic for businesses that rely on a loyal customer base. Additionally, operational disruptions, productivity losses, and data restoration costs add to the financial burden. For instance, downtime can cost SMBs an average of $8,000 per hour. Given these high stakes, investing in comprehensive cybersecurity measures is crucial for protecting against the costs and disruptions of a cyberattack. Common ThreatsSome of the most common cyber threats that small businesses face are:
Best PracticesTo reduce the cybersecurity risk for your small business, you should follow these best practices:
In today's digital age, the threat of a personal or business cyberattack looms over all of us. Take a proactive stance against cyber threats and learn how to identify phishing attacks and malware schemes so you will be better prepared to safeguard your data with Lee Hovermale this September.
At CANA’s 106th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, Lee will present on Cybersecurity Awareness: Recognizing a Threat, and Protecting Your Data. This session will empower you with information you can use to navigate the online world securely and protect yourself and your company. See what else we have planned and register to join Lee in Chicago this September: cremationassociation.org/CANA24
Burnout is real. Compassion fatigue is real. In a recent survey from Indeed, more than 50% of the respondents revealed that they’re feeling burned out. That is no exception for last responders and funeral professionals. Work schedule and the work environment are some of the biggest culprits – but the situation is not all dire. This is something that we can work on if we commit to it. As deathcare professionals, it’s important to prioritize our own mental health. While it’s not necessarily the “solve-all” answer, we have one idea to help address burnout: utilizing an efficient funeral management system. Learn about some of the ways that the right funeral management system can help your team prevent burnout and achieve a greater work-life balance. 1. YOU CAN SAVE TIME ON TEDIOUS TASKSThere are many required tasks that both you and your families must complete in order to properly plan an arrangement or service. Let’s be honest – task management is tedious within itself. One report from Smartsheet found that nearly 60% of workers surveyed estimate that they could save 6 hours per week if their tedious and monotonous work tasks were automated. Instead of mapping out tasks that need to be completed every time a new case opens up, you can automate that process with the right funeral management system. Some funeral management system options allow you to create a template of action items (both standard and aftercare) that automatically generate for every unique case, such as:
2. YOU CAN BETTER SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE WORKPLACEYou may be hearing the buzzword “cloud-based software” more and more nowadays. But you may also be wondering – what does that even mean? There are essentially two types of funeral management software available to businesses:
Instead of having to run to the office to access your local desktop computer every time you get a death call or a question from a client, you can access your funeral management system directly from any mobile device, at any time of the day, from anywhere. As a result, you gain the freedom to change up your daily routine. If you are in a bind with other life events going on, you can easily work from home, access your crucial business info, and still get all of your work done. 3. YOU CAN HOLD FAMILIES ACCOUNTABLESure, you have weekly team meetings to get an up-to-date report from your team and hold each other accountable. But you need to make sure that (to a degree) you’re holding your families accountable too. One study from ASTD found that if you schedule recurring appointments with a partner who holds you accountable, you can increase your chances of success by 95%. While that study doesn’t pertain directly to customers or clients, it still shows one important finding: holding people accountable (respectfully, of course) usually ends up being a win-win for everyone. If you find the funeral management system that aligns best with your business, you can use it to hold your families accountable and ultimately take the stress off of your shoulders. YOU CAN OBTAIN DOCUMENT SIGNATURES QUICKER Stop playing cat and mouse with your clients and families. Instead of building enormous email threads and scanning documents one by one, you can use a funeral management system to:
As a result, they know that they are committed to you. Instead of running the risk of getting a bad review when you send payment reminders, you’re able to communicate with families through a third-party medium. Not only can you save on printing and paper costs, but you also reduce the chances of error in your service documentation. 4. YOU CAN LET YOUR TEAM MANAGE THEMSELVESAt the end of the day, what’s the most important asset to your business? Your people. Think about it – when you’re able to effectively manage your team and provide tools to them that make everyone's lives easier, you will likely:
And as research from Legaljobs shows, the implicit risk or reward for funeral homes to lose even a single employee is jaw-dropping:
Most importantly, you can feel less burnout from dealing with employee situations. SIMPLIFY EVERYTHING WITH SMARTER FUNERAL HOME MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Burnout and compassion fatigue are very real things in the funeral and deathcare industry, but finding a smart funeral management system can help. At Gather, we’ve truly designed our funeral management system with you in mind. Our goal is to help you increase productivity, boost your funeral home’s reputation, and simplify your life. Start streamlining your team’s workflow, and give yourself the time to breathe again. Book an online demo with our team, our mission is to get you the tools and help you need. This post originally appeared in the Gather Blog on May 16, 2022, reprinted with permission. CANA Members can read more about Gather as well as eFuneral, GoodTrust, Halcyon Deathcare Management Solutions, In Lieu of Flowers (ILOF), MorTrack, and Parting Pro and how their tech-related products and services can enhance efficiency and ease employee stress and burnout in the article “Tech Tools: Easing the Burden on Deathcare Employees” published in Volume 58, Issue 4 of The Cremationist magazine. Not a member yet? See why CANA keeps growing.
I haven’t worked in a library since 2005, but I still call myself a librarian—even after serving as CANA’s Executive Director for ten years. That’s because librarians do much more than fine you for that overdue book and shush noisy patrons. As the American Library Association puts it, “In their work, librarians research, instruct, and connect people to technology... Librarians work with people of all ages, connecting them to information, learning and the community.” As CANA’s Executive Director (and behind-the-scenes librarian), I conduct research and library tasks nearly every workday, because cremation professionals are curious people who are eager to learn and make data-driven decisions. In fact, CANA’s commitment to research – which then helps businesses and our profession advance – is one of my favorites among the CANA projects and benefits we provide. I know CANA members rely on our association to publish timely and practical content, and we will continue to do so, but I also encourage you discover the many ways your local public library can help you, too. When was the last time you visited your public library? Story time for your child or grandchild? To visit a book sale? Use the restroom? Maybe never? I admit that it’s been a while since I’ve been to a library (pandemic notwithstanding), but I use my library online to borrow e-books and magazines and to access databases for personal and CANA use. Public libraries offer a wide range of services to the business community, from meeting space to direct mailing lists, free technology and training classes. The Urban Libraries Council estimates that in 2021, a pandemic year during which many libraries offered limited or virtual services, the actual value of library services to entrepreneurs and small business owners ranged from $815,000 for Greensboro Public Library in North Carolina to $1.38 million in Spokane, Washington. That cost includes what the library provides for free that people would have to pay to own or use, like the makerspace (e.g., 3D printers and digital design equipment) and training programs—or even just a computer with internet access. Libraries can be a treasure trove of business resources for you and your employees. So, here’s this librarian’s quick look at making the most of these free resources for your business. how do i access my library?This is an important first step to take advantage of a library’s many resources, even though several drop-in programs (and the restroom) can be accessed just by walking in the door. You can always get a library card by visiting your library, and often you can start the process online. Sometimes libraries offer library cards to businesses, so if you live in a different community than your business, you can expand the resources you can access. what will i find there?When you think public library, you likely imagine books on shelves, but the resources most helpful to your professional needs are likely online. If you visit your library’s website you can see what they have to offer your business and employees. Here are some examples of resources you may find: ACCESS Saw a link to an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal or Harvard Business Review on LinkedIn but ran into a pay wall? Your library might have a subscription. Log in to the library website and access thousands of magazine and journal databases. You can find a whole range of other publications, too. Go to the library’s website and locate Research Databases, then explore the Business category and see what’s trending for businesses today. INFORMATION Need local lists of residents, local census data or other data to conduct your market research, create mailing lists, or produce competitor reports? Look at the library’s resources online, but also call the reference librarian. This kind of custom research may require some effort, but the time invested will pay off with information that cuts straight to your business and your community. EDUCATION Seeking education on new technologies or business topics? Libraries often provide free access to online learning through different providers like LinkedIn Learning. This can be great for general skills like management, marketing, and data analysis. GUIDANCE Starting a new business or planning an expansion? You need a business plan and will find handbooks and guides at the library. Your librarian can be a great help here, too, to help you identify and focus on the type of growth you want to achieve and the challenges you can face. MENTORS Libraries are a frequent physical home to the numerous Small Business Development Centers across the US. These centers also collaborate with other organizations such as the US Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE, and the local economic development office to provide mentoring or trainings in the library meetings rooms or auditoriums. And these resources can be valuable even if you can’t find them at your local library! BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE… Robert sipped his first cup of coffee of the day and scrolled through his LinkedIn feed. No death calls had come in during the night so he slept a solid six hours and was feeling great. A few moments later, he saw a notification from his mortuary school buddy, John: MEETING SPACES Libraries offer community meeting space. This could be an ideal location to host grief support groups or educational programs on cremation or other topics. Libraries typically prohibit use of their space for sales, so preneed programs may not be supported, but these spaces are wired for technology and available at low or no cost. GRIEF RESOURCES Refer families to the library to access grief resources. Consider donating quality grief materials in coordination with the library staff. Libraries have limited resources and expertise in house, so this could be a mutually beneficial community partnership. Ensure access to quality materials, while securing a tax deduction and recognition in library newsletters. GENEALOGY RESOURCES Libraries attract genealogy buffs almost as much as cemeteries do. Offer information about your cemetery and local history to the genealogy collection. If a genealogy group meets at the library, offer your services as a speaker. RELIABLE WIFI On the road and need wifi? Starbucks may have your cold brew along with wifi, but your public library is a great option as well (and some actually offer coffee, too). BOOKS Want to read the latest management book or bestseller? Sure, you can purchase it at the airport bookstore, but you can also download it through the library app before stepping on the plane to enjoy that well-deserved vacation. your tax dollars at workA few dollars of your tax payments go to fund public libraries, so why not make the most of it? Also, did you know that federal funding of public libraries is distributed based on library card holders? Simply getting your library card supports funding for your library and your community. Barbara takes the CANA Convention stage this August to show just how much she loves research by facilitating not one but two sessions on new research from CANA. In Cremation Trends Part 1: Statistics and Business Diversification, sponsored by The Wilbert Group, we’ll look at the profession’s response to cremation trends, excess deaths and how businesses are diversifying through the addition of pet cremation—all with expert insights from leaders across the profession. Then, in Cremation Trends Part 2: Cremation Memorialization, sponsored by Columbarium by Design, Barbara introduces the results of brand-new cremation memorialization research. Delving into the motivations for people keeping their human and pet cremated remains in homes throughout the US and Canada, she’ll facilitate a discussion with leaders on the results of this study and what it means for cremation memorialization today and in the future. Register to see this can’t-miss research: goCANA.org/CANA22 CANA Members can access the full Annual Statistics Report in the latest issue of The Cremationist. The next issue will cover key takeaways from the brand-new memorialization research, so stay tuned! Not a member? Consider joining your business to access tools, techniques, statistics, and advice to help you understand how to grow the range of services and products you can offer – only $495
Earlier this year, our Foundation Partners marketing team embarked on a three-pronged research project to better understand the online habits of the post-COVID deathcare consumer. After conducting hundreds of online surveys, one-on-one interviews and focus groups, we partnered with CANA in November 2021 to present the results in a webinar entitled, “How Consumer Attitudes Toward Online Deathcare are Changing.” Our presentation team included Sally Camm, whose firm Astound Commerce conducted the research, Luke Frieberg, president of eFuneral, Foundation Partners’ Vice President of Marketing Scott Ankerholz and me. Our panel of digital marketing experts shared five broad consumer trends impacting deathcare and outlined steps you can take today to stay ahead of the curve. If you missed it, no worries; simply click here to watch the recording and download the slidedeck. five trends that will shape our futureAfter hundreds of surveys and conversations, five key trends emerged that are impacting the deathcare purchase journey. 1. WELLNESS Consumers are increasingly focused on wellness, which encompasses not just physical but mental, spiritual and environmental concerns as well. As a result, younger consumers (under 45) want to engage in a different, more positive conversation about death and deathcare. In general, they have a broader definition of death preparedness than previous generations. Instead of who will get what, the conversation is more about how they can have their affairs in order — emotionally, spiritually and relationship-wise — so they can enjoy their lives now and ease the burden on family members. With this in mind, you may want to expand your preneed marketing efforts to include younger families. Additionally, your services don’t have to stop after memorialization or permanent placement services are done. Today’s families appreciate aftercare services, like grief support, assistance obtaining death certificates and other “concierge” services that help them navigate the myriad of tasks required to close the affairs of a loved one. 2. INDIVIDUALITY As the focus on religious funeral services wanes in the U.S., families are opting for services that celebrate the life and uniqueness of the individual. Nearly a third of consumers who completed our online surveys reported that religion did not factor meaningfully into how they considered making funeral arrangements. As more funerals become joyous occasions and celebrations of life, we have the opportunity to unleash our creativity to help families say farewell to loved ones in style. This will create new revenue streams as we reimagine funeral services. 3. TRANSPARENCY During our in-person interviews with both at-need and preneed consumers, 95 percent cited transparency as one of the major reasons for their choice of a deathcare provider. In their 2020 Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study, The Foresight Companies found that 75 percent of consumers said they want pricing available online and will not do business with providers who are not transparent. Fifty-two percent said they will ONLY do business with companies that provide online pricing options. But these consumers are not just looking for price transparency; they also want process transparency. Why? Because process transparency puts them in charge and, during the highly stressful at-need time, it allows them to maintain some semblance of control when their lives have been changed forever. Consumers have become accustomed to tracking their online transactions and their expectations during the deathcare journey are no different. Deathcare providers who can offer up-to-the-minute notifications of things, like when loved ones will be cremated and when those remains will be ready for delivery or pick-up, will have an advantage over their competition. 4. OMNICHANNEL SERVICE Today’s consumers want an integrated, seamless journey across digital and physical experiences – online, by phone and in person. While recent consumers of deathcare services report that in-person remains their preferred method of arranging, we saw a greater willingness among those who have not yet purchased to turn to online arrangement options. Luke Frieberg shared a case study in which an eFuneral partner encouraged families to review their options on their website before the arrangement meeting. Some of these families completed their purchases on the website, while others came into the arrangement meeting with more clarity around their decisions. Of those families that completed their purchases online, 93 percent upgraded the casket generating additional revenue. Overall, the cost of arrangements made online were 20 percent higher compared to purely in-person meetings and resulted in additional revenue. The firm also reported that families were more relaxed and that funeral directors had a better experience when meeting in person after providing this online option. 5. TIME STARVATION Time, and the lack of it, was a primary concern in our interviews, particularly among the at-need consumer. At a time of high stress, especially during COVID, consumers look for us to remove the friction from the decision-making process and to do it in a timeframe that suits them. One of the key ways consumers save time is by doing online research themselves to narrow the selections before they call. Our online cremation consumer survey also showed that both cremation users, and non-cremation users, value the convenience of online arrangements and the ability to browse options on their own terms. Both consumer groups reported that they were either “somewhat satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their experience. ARE YOU ADOPTING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES?Industry research, including our own, overwhelmingly indicates that Americans are more comfortable than ever blending tradition with modern preferences. As more families search online for deathcare information and funeral homes, having a website that presents information and options that are clear, transparent and easy-to-use is essential. eCommerce options have gone from a “nice to have” to a “must have” in today’s environment. Consumers say they want us, as the experts, to show them the entire process they are going to experience so they can be prepared, informed and make better decisions that they can feel good about. These tech-savvy, questioning consumers will put pressure on all of us to do better in 2022. It’s a challenge that presents unlimited opportunities for us to reimagine funeral services in a way that reinforces our value to grieving families.
Larry Stuart, Jr. and the exhibitors and sponsors of CANA’s 103rd Cremation Innovation Convention in Seattle discussed innovative solutions created by CANA Supplier members during the pandemic. These are some highlights from that session. Without suppliers, we have nothing. Can I get an amen on that? We need these guys to run our businesses, we need these guys to run our businesses well. This is a new session from CANA. And I'm kind of excited about it. It's all about innovation. FT THE AMERICAS (FACULTATIEVE TECHNOLOGIES) |
Larry Stuart, Jr. is the Founder of Cremation Strategies and Consulting, and the former President of Crematory Manufacturing & Service, Inc., a leading manufacturer of technologically advanced cremation equipment. Cremation Strategies and Consulting provides expert leadership, planning, organization, training, education, process improvement and strategic planning for the cremation profession. Larry is also a Certified Funeral Celebrant and believes that every life deserves to be honored in celebration remembrance. |
Stephen Carter is Regional Sales Associate of OpusXenta. While new to OpusXenta and the death care industry, Stephen has spent the last several years working in the financial services industry on servicing and technology solutions. He has enjoyed spearheading projects and spending time working at conventions and with trade industries to better companies and assist in improving processes. |
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