The owners of e-commerce stores are already busy enough. SEO, social, design. There’s no need for another task.
We’ll be sorry for having one. The reason is that the GDPR compliance is far too important to overlook.
It’s been a little over a year since GDPR’s implementation, and there are lessons to be learned and actions to adopt to improve your GDPR compliance.
This article will discuss what GDPR means about GDPR compliance, what it means for you, the steps required to comply, and how to use it.
What is GDPR?
GDPR is the abbreviation in the form of General Information Protection Regulation. It was adopted in April 2016. GDPR sets out rules for regulating each European resident’s personal information. The GDPR was enacted in May 2018 and will affect data processing related to anything from medical and financial records to online activities.
In the process, GDPR is expected to redefine what it means to operate ecommerce in Europe and will affect how you interact with your customers, the tools you employ, and how you utilize them.
GDPR is not a technical document. It isn’t even a tech document. In reality, ecommerce is only referred to at most once. The footnote is. They call it “electronic commerce.” GDPR is not an electronic playbook but an affirmation of the fundamental right to privacy: “The processing of personal data should be designed to serve mankind.”
There is still a lot for shop owners to keep an eye on. Let’s learn about GDPR.
Why GDPR Is Important
GDPR’s implementation stems from the ever-growing quantity of data being gathered, transferred, processed, and utilized in modern times. In the past, the EU was already a member of the Data Protection Directive. However, the directive was passed in 1995. It is now out of date and in no way relevant to the current digital age.
The GDPR was adopted as a replacement for the appropriate protection of personal data that are the data of European Union citizens. In the GDPR, companies must adhere to ethical data collection and use to ensure the privacy and rights of users.
In imposing this obligation on businesses, The GDPR gives EU citizens greater rights to know what and why their data is stored and processed. Additionally, it allows them to choose how they would like their personal information to be utilized.
If you ran an online company when GDPR went into force, you’ve likely followed the law diligently. If you’re beginning to become an eCommerce entrepreneur and you’re still trying to figure out the GDPR, we’re sorry for being overwhelmed.
We won’t sugarcoat that being GDPR compliant is a lot of work. It’s also incredibly crucial and not something you just put aside and hope it will go away.
Based on the European Commission, in the first year of GDPR’s introduction, there were 145,000 inquiries, complaints, and close to 90,000 notifications of data violations.
Failure to adhere to GDPR could lead to severe penalties and fines, up to 4 percent of an organization’s annual turnover! For instance, a Polish retailer was recently slapped with the most severe GDPR OK to date of EUR650,000.
In the next section, we’ll look at the impact of GDPR on your business and the best way to become compliant.
Who Does GDPR Apply To?
No matter where you’re located, GDPR applies to all businesses that provide goods or services for European customers.
“It doesn’t matter if the company is in Europe, outside of Europe, or on some island,” Dr. Christoph Bauer, CEO of ePrivacy, spoke to us. “If the services are offered to European customers, they must follow the law.”
If your e-commerce store is accessible within Europe, you most likely comply with GDPR.
Remember that GDPR compliance applies to European companies that sell their goods to European customers. It applies to all interactions with customers outside of Europe.
Naturally, GDPR applies to more than shop proprietors. GDPR compliance also relates to your favorite tools. Among several, Google, Facebook, and Shopify must adhere to GDPR. We’ll then explore how these tools and platforms have been tackling GDPR compliance.
What’s up With GDPR for Small Businesses?
GDPR applies to businesses regardless of size. Between one and 10,000, when a company manages information about Europeans, The GDPR is applicable.
Many online retailers are more akin to one employee than 10,000. Knowing how GDPR differentiates between large and smaller businesses is crucial.
Owners of online stores need to know that GDPR doesn’t treat them like it does enormous companies. For instance, specific records-keeping regulations in GDPR only apply to businesses with more than 250 employees.
If you’re reading guidelines such as, “It is essential to plan your approach to GDPR compliance now and to gain ‘buy in’ from key people in your organization,” you’re free to relax. If you’re the owner of an online store and you’re a store owner, then the “key people” and the “organization” are probably you. If this is true, GDPR can be a little easier to follow.
What Should Store Owners Do for GDPR Compliance?
GDPR is more than 50k words long, and the language is as intriguing as an endless wait at the Post Office. If you’re not interested in reading GDPR, you’re granted a pass.
The rules apply to all businesses that sell to consumers within Europe, as Europe is responsible for around 25% of the world’s GDP. If you are unable to be bothered by reading GDPR’s regulations, it’s essential to know a few important things to remember regarding GDPR compliance.
What Are the GDPR Requirements?
Every governing body or text provides principles and rules thatserve as the foundation for tits rules.
The GDPR is no exception – it includes seven principles that help guide the implementation, regulation, and even punishment. The following section will become just a tiny (just slightly, but we promise) bit more technical when we look at the seven core principles of the GDPR straight from the GDPR’s bible.
GDPR Best Practices
It might appear like several uninspiring legal and technical terms (and it can be) that you don’t feel like you’re unable to adhere to. However, don’t worry. We’re here to explain it to the reader in plain English.
In the next section, we’ll discuss GDPR’s best practices and then give you some examples to help you become a GDPR-compliant ecommerce owner who is fully legally compliant.