About
Answering Service for Directors (ASD) is a funeral-exclusive communication platform that has served funeral homes across the United States and Canada since 1972. ASD combines live, expertly trained Call Specialists with cutting-edge technology to handle the unique and sensitive demands of funeral home communication around the clock. ASD's Call Specialists receive specialized training emphasizing empathy, patience, and accuracy so they can compassionately manage life's most difficult calls on behalf of funeral directors. The service is fully customizable, fine-tuned to each funeral home's individual protocols and preferences. Beyond live answering, ASD offers a robust suite of technology tools: the ASD Mobile app allows directors to monitor calls, communicate with staff, and manage their on-call schedule from anywhere. Revolutionary texting capabilities protect director privacy while enabling fast communication with families. The FuneralSync™ integration syncs call data directly with leading funeral home management software and website platforms, eliminating manual data entry. The MyASD web portal provides complete transparency into all communication activity. ASD also offers web monitoring tools and website support to keep funeral home information accurate and up to date. ASD is ideal for funeral homes of any size — from independent single-location directors to large multi-location enterprises — and offers flexible pricing to fit any budget. A 30-day free trial is available for new clients.
Key Features
- 24/7 Funeral-Exclusive Call Answering: Specially trained Call Specialists handle inbound calls with empathy and accuracy, following each funeral home's custom protocols around the clock.
- ASD Mobile App: Monitor calls, manage on-call schedules, and conduct business from anywhere using ASD's award-winning mobile application.
- Innovative Text Messaging Solutions: Protect director privacy and speed up family communication with texting tools built exclusively for funeral professionals.
- FuneralSync™ Integration: Automatically sync call and family data with leading funeral home management software and website platforms to eliminate manual data entry.
- MyASD Web Portal: A transparent, real-time dashboard providing complete visibility into all call activity, messages, and account settings.
Use Cases
- A small independent funeral home uses ASD to handle all after-hours death calls with compassionate, trained specialists so the director can rest without missing critical notifications.
- A multi-location funeral group integrates ASD with their management software via FuneralSync™ to automatically populate family records and eliminate manual call logging.
- A funeral director uses ASD's texting tools to communicate updates and instructions to families without revealing their personal cell phone number.
- A funeral home owner monitors all incoming call activity in real time through the MyASD portal and ASD Mobile app while traveling or on vacation.
- A funeral home transitions from a generic local answering service to ASD to improve call quality, reduce response times, and ensure families receive empathetic, accurate service on every call.
Pros
- Funeral-Industry Expertise: Decades of exclusive focus on the funeral profession means Call Specialists understand sensitive family dynamics and director workflows better than any general answering service.
- Highly Customizable Service: ASD fine-tunes its service to each funeral home's individual protocols more than any competitor, ensuring calls are handled exactly as the director specifies.
- Comprehensive Technology Suite: From mobile apps to software integrations and texting tools, ASD goes far beyond simple call answering to modernize funeral home communication.
- Proven Track Record: Trusted by more than one-third of all U.S. funeral homes and family-owned for over 50 years, ASD has a long history of reliability and client satisfaction.
Cons
- Funeral Industry Only: ASD is exclusively designed for funeral professionals, making it unsuitable for businesses in any other industry.
- Subscription-Based Pricing: As an ongoing professional service, costs can add up for smaller or lower-volume funeral homes, and pricing is not transparently listed on the website.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Tools: Setting up FuneralSync™ integrations and customizing call scripts may require an onboarding period for new clients unfamiliar with the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ASD only for funeral homes?
Yes. ASD has been exclusively dedicated to serving funeral professionals since the mid-1990s. All Call Specialists and technology tools are purpose-built for the funeral industry.
Can I try ASD before committing to a subscription?
Yes. ASD offers a 30-day free trial so funeral homes can experience the service and technology before signing up for a paid plan.
What is FuneralSync™?
FuneralSync™ is ASD's proprietary integration that automatically syncs call data, family information, and updates with leading funeral home management software and website providers, reducing manual data entry.
Does ASD work for both small and large funeral homes?
Yes. ASD offers flexible, customizable plans suitable for independent single-location funeral homes as well as large multi-location enterprises, with pricing tailored to fit any budget.
How does the ASD Mobile app work?
The ASD Mobile app allows funeral directors to monitor incoming calls, review messages, manage on-call schedules, and communicate with their team from any smartphone, providing full transparency and control while away from the office.
