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New tech has the power to change our lives by making us more efficient, more productive, and happier. But how is evolving technology changing the funeral industry? And what new technologies are expected to change the way that we collectively mourn in the future?<\/p>\n
When most people think about technological advancements, they think about them in the raw form. For example, they think about the coming technological singularity as AI advances to the point of overtaking human intelligence. They may also think of the medical industry where advanced imaging and robotics can impact the way we care for people.<\/p>\n
Technology in the funeral industry has the potential for improving our lives in equal measure to the examples above. New tech gives us more options for funerals and mourning.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll explore tech development in the funeral industry below.<\/p>\n
According to In The Light Urns<\/a>, one of the most important advancements in the funeral industry has been the rise of 3D printing. This allows for greater customization of cremation urns and other mementos and keepsakes.<\/p>\n In decades past, if you wanted a cremation urn, a piece of cremation jewelry, or some other memento or keepsake, you would have limited options available. In addition, you would only have a handful of providers to choose from.<\/p>\n These days, you can create almost any kind of urn, piece of jewelry, or memento you want either from a mold or from scratch. Customize your piece with engravings or by integrating existing physical objects into the design.<\/p>\n The process starts with a brainstorming session between the mourner\/planner and an experienced 3D cremation urn designer. Once an idea starts to take form, it can be 3D modeled and previewed. After final adjustments are made, the finished urn can be fully 3D printed.<\/p>\n While there are limitations, it\u2019s possible to 3D print urns in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The power of customization makes these mementos and keepsakes more personal, while also giving consumers more autonomy and control. It opens the door to new paths of mourning and remembrance, enabling friends and family members to create a perfect, permanent artifact to celebrate their loved one\u2019s life.<\/p>\n Video broadcasts and virtual tours have also risen in popularity. Whether you\u2019re touring a facility or a cemetery to see what\u2019s available or virtually attending live services, you\u2019ll have the option of feeling immersed in the experience without needing to leave your home.<\/p>\n This is one area where we expect profound developments in the near future, as VR headsets become less expensive, more impressive, and more commonplace. While not everyone is going to immediately adapt to the idea of throwing on a VR headset to attend a funeral, future generations may come to see it as normal.<\/p>\n AI is advancing at impressive rates<\/a>, greatly increasing our capacity to process and understand data. At the same time, software development companies and online brands are getting better at gathering and storing data on individuals.<\/p>\n The intersection of these two phenomena results in much more personalized recommendations, created by AI analytics. Instead of going into the decision-making process totally blind, consumers will be able to tap into a reservoir of personalized data to get recommendations based on their history, beliefs, budget, and other variables.<\/p>\n Many people find the responsibility of writing an obituary to be challenging. You want to cover the person\u2019s greatest accomplishments and brightest personality traits, but the stress and emotional impact of mourning can make it hard to remember everything and produce your best work. People are turning to generative AI to assist with the obituary writing process, sometimes taking over the process entirely.<\/p>\n Today, it\u2019s not especially hard to detect content written by AI<\/a>. It tends to be highly repetitive, formulaic, and a bit stiff. But with some punch-ups from someone who truly knows the deceased, it can be much better.<\/p>\n In the future, AI writing may become indistinguishable from writing by the best human beings.<\/p>\n Many funeral homes and related businesses are integrating superior management systems, allowing them to gather more data from their consumers and streamline internal operations. This leads to smoother communications with clients, time savings in the form of automation, and in some cases, a greater range of capabilities.<\/p>\n Advanced management systems have also equipped smaller operations with the accessible resources they need to compete with bigger, more established businesses. It\u2019s a relatively small investment that can instantly multiply your capabilities.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easier than ever to start an online business, especially if you\u2019re using advanced technology to empower that business. Accordingly, we\u2019ve seen an explosion of new competitors in the death care and funeral industries. Instead of going directly to a funeral home for all your needs, you can do online research, browse products from dozens of providers, and utilize price transparency to make better decisions.<\/p>\n Competition is generally a good thing<\/a> for consumers. It leads to a greater diversity of products and providers as well as lower prices. We can expect these trajectories to continue into the future, as the online presence of third-party offers increases.<\/p>\nVideo Broadcasts and Virtual Tours<\/h3>\n
Personalized Data, AI, and Recommendations<\/h3>\n
Obituary Writing<\/h3>\n
Management Systems<\/h3>\n
Online Options: Third Parties and Beyond<\/h3>\n
Social Media and Interactions<\/h3>\n