The GDPR was approved in May 2016 and is set to have a huge impact on the way B2B relations are carried out. Here are a few of the consequences and some simple steps to make complying a little easier…
So what do I do?
Decide whether you will be impacted
If you telephone or email prospects, or possess personal data chances are you will be.
Find out more
Understand exactly what these changes will mean for you. Take a look at the library of resources Nett Sales has collected here…
Review your practices & plan ahead
Establish whether your current level of opt-in meets the new terms. Amend your consent terms, contact every person you wish to communicate with in the future to upgrade their consent level to the new standard and start storing consent forms.
Implement the plan now
Start preparing now while no one else is. Consent is going to become scarce in 18 months’ time, so being ahead of the game could be a huge advantage!
Ask for help
It’s important you get this right, so start thinking about this today and get some help with it if you need to.
See the silver lining
With all the talk of hefty fines and legal action it’s easy to see only the negatives. However, by being forced to encourage prospects to engage you’ll boost both engagement and sales, and see a marked improvement in the quality of your data.
What are the consequences if I don’t?
You will be investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and if you are found to be in serious breach of the new law you could be fined up to €20 million or 4% of your organisation’s global turnover.
It’s a fact that the ICO is increasing its staff numbers in preparation for the GDPR, so don’t assume they lack the resources. They stand to profit hugely from this.
Implications of Brexit
The GDPR comes into effect in May 2018. The UK is highly unlikely to exit the EU formally by then, so you’ll still be subject to the legislation. Whilst the long term future of GDPR after the conclusion of Brexit negotiations isn’t certain, the ICO has highlighted that:
“With so many businesses and services operating across borders, international consistency around data protection laws and rights is crucial both to businesses and organisations and to consumers and citizens. The ICO’s role has always involved working closely with regulators in other countries, and that will continue to be the case… we will be speaking to government to present our view that reform of the UK law remains necessary” – ICO, 1st July 2016. See the full statement here…
So in short, a legislation on very similar lines to the GDPR is likely to be enforced in the years to come. As such, preparation is essential.
More information
If you are unsure where to go from here, keep an eye out for future articles from Nett Sales, call us on 01672 50 50 50 or drop an email to gdpr@nett-sales.com
You can also see our article introducing some of the key concepts of GDPR here…
Whilst this article is meant to inform, it does not constitute legal advice. If you need details about GDPR’s legal implications for your business, please get in with your legal advisor.
This article together with the help of the following pieces, some of which we have quoted directly.
‘How the GDPR will affect B2B marketing’ – CPB UK
‘3 ways the new EU data laws will impact your B2B marketing’ – Claire Gardner, Cyance
’10 Must-know facts about the new EU data law’ – Graham Smith, marketinggraham.com
‘Infographic: How the EU plans to kill B2B marketing’ – Graham Smith, marketinggraham.com
’10 things B2B marketers should know about the new EU data protection regulations’ – Rob Diggle, Databroker
‘What does the GDPR mean for email marketing?’ – Cheryl Buckingham, Artisan Send