Supporting Cremations with CIMS: Expanding Options for Modern Cemeteries

Across the country, the landscape of death care is shifting. For the first time in history, cremation has surpassed traditional burial as the preferred choice for families. According to the Cremation Association of North America, roughly 60% of people are now being cremated, and that number continues to rise each year. This trend represents both a challenge and an opportunity for cemeteries: if your cemetery doesn’t offer a dignified space for cremated remains, families may choose to store urns at home—or worse, your cemetery could lose their business altogether.

The reality is clear: cemeteries need to expand their offerings beyond traditional burials to ensure long-term sustainability. That means investing in cremation burial options that meet families where they are today.

Why Cremation Options Matter

Cemeteries have always been places of remembrance and reflection, but when cremated remains aren’t given a permanent resting place, that sense of connection is lost. Too often, urns end up on a shelf in a closet or tucked away in a basement. Families may intend to make long-term arrangements later, but without accessible cemetery options, the opportunity slips away.

By offering cremation memorialization options, whether through a columbarium niche, mausoleum placement, or dedicated cremation burial space, cemeteries provide families with meaningful choices while creating new revenue streams. This diversification strengthens the financial longevity of your cemetery while ensuring that families have a place to gather, visit, and honor their loved ones for generations.

Columbariums: Meeting Today’s Needs

One of the most significant opportunities lies in columbariums. These structures, designed specifically for cremated remains, are becoming increasingly common across the death care industry. They offer:

• Efficient use of space: A single columbarium can accommodate dozens—or even hundreds—of cremated remains in a relatively small footprint.
• Attractive design opportunities: Columbariums can enhance the beauty and identity of your cemetery while offering families a dignified memorial.
• Revenue potential: With cremation rates rising, columbariums are one of the most relevant and sustainable investments cemeteries can make today.

Managing Cremations in CIMS

CIMS cemetery management software is built to help you adapt to the evolving needs of your community. Our tools make it simple to track, organize, and manage cremation options, including:

• Columbariums and Mausoleums: Easily map and manage niches and crypts within your cemetery, ensuring accurate records and available space tracking.
• Cremation Burials: CIMS supports marking cremation burials with an urn-shaped marker in your digital cemetery map. This provides clarity for staff, visitors, and families while maintaining precise records.
• Sales and Records Management: From availability to ownership and interment details, CIMS keeps everything organized in one secure system.

By utilizing CIMS, cemeteries can confidently manage every aspect of cremation memorialization, ensuring transparency for families and efficiency for staff.

Expanding your death care options isn’t just about responding to today’s cremation rates; it’s about ensuring the future of your cemetery. Offering cremation choices helps attract new families, generates additional sales opportunities, and reinforces your cemetery’s role as a vital part of your community.

With cremation on the rise nationwide, cemeteries that embrace this shift will be better positioned for long-term success. And with CIMS, you’ll have the tools to manage it all, whether you’re embarking on a new columbarium project or supporting individual cremation burials.

Ready to expand your cemetery’s cremation options? Contact our team today!