Going fully paperless in one step is daunting, and it is not necessary. The smarter approach is to automate the forms that cause the most friction first, prove the workflow, and expand from there. The biggest early wins are the high-volume authorizations and the forms families sign remotely, because those are where printing, mailing, and chasing cost you the most.
A sensible order for going digital
- Authorizations every case needs (embalming, cremation), the highest-volume forms.
- The general price list acknowledgment, signed on every case.
- Service and merchandise selections, built from the case.
- Release and permission forms families sign remotely.
- Everything else, once the workflow is proven.
Why volume and friction first
Automating a rarely-used form saves little. Automating the authorization you send on every case, often to a family member who cannot come in, saves time on every case and removes the most chasing. Sequencing by volume and friction means the early effort returns the most value, which builds the momentum to finish the job.
What to ask software vendors
- Can forms be built from the case with details pre-filled?
- Can I start with a few forms and expand?
- Can families sign the high-volume authorizations remotely?
- Do completed forms return to the case automatically?
How FuneralHQ handles this
FuneralHQ builds digital forms and packets from the case, so you can start with your highest-volume authorizations and expand at your pace, with details pre-filled and signed forms returning to the case. E-signatures are unlimited with no per-signature fee.
Related resources
Read how to build a funeral home signature packet and how digital signature packets work.