Niki Ward, head of customer success at Funeral Manager, shares how her experience as a police data analyst is helping funeral directors to optimise their business.

Many in the funeral profession come from the armed forces or emergency services – drawn by a shared desire to serve the public and help people during difficult times. This is a transition I deeply understand, having moved from a career in solving crime to one focused on helping funeral directors provide exceptional care to the bereaved.

After 12 years as a police data analyst, I joined our family business, Funeral Manager — a software platform that helps funeral directors manage daily operations more efficiently. During my time with the police, I became highly skilled at spotting patterns and trends that exposed criminals and crime hotspots. What I learned is that when data is used effectively, it becomes a genuine superpower.

Now I use those same skills to help funeral directors see their work in a new light. When someone realises the difference a small insight can make, it’s a moment that always reminds me why I love what I do.

When I’m not supporting Funeral Manager users with data insights, my time is very much family focused. My husband Will and I have two sons, aged six and nine. Our weekends are spent doing typical parenting activities, taking the boys to cricket and helping them appreciate the great outdoors.

Though I love screen-based work, it’s important the next generation doesn’t grow up glued to devices. I believe in staying active and giving back – just like the people I work with every day. That’s why, in July, we joined Ross Hickton, president of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), on his charity canal walk from Worcester to Birmingham, held in memory of Trevor Hickton and raising money for Prostate Cancer UK. It was a great way to promote the charity, being active outdoors and counter screen-focused habits.