Australia’s biggest funerals and cremations business has invested in a company with technology that converts cremated ashes into smooth river stones as part of a hi-tech push which also has workers learning from experts wearing “smart glasses” in mortuaries.

InvoCare, which lifted its dividend payout to shareholders by 42 per cent after underlying profits increased by 10 per cent in a market where “excess deaths” ran ahead of historical norms because of COVID-19, is also stepping up digitisation of the front end of the business when grieving families are searching for a funeral provider.