5 Benefits of GDPR
1. Build Customer Credibility & TrustSetting and managing expectations is important across all business communications andinteractions and key to securing customer engagement, satisfaction and retention.
The new level of ‘explicit consent’ will give you access to a better understanding of how yourcustomers wish to engage with your business and the topics of interest. Levels of intent can bedetermined to help you deliver the most appropriate forms of communications and interactions
at the right time and stage of their customer journey.
This together with the required levels of data use and management transparency can deliver
improved customer experience and help build and strengthen credibility and trust.

2. Gain Competitor Advantage
If you are supplier handling personal data under the terms of your client contracts, compliancecould be a make-or-break factor in securing business in the future. Both parties shoulder
compliance responsibility and either or both could be liable to pay compensation or fines.
Business are extending scrutiny of data practices to all third-parties processing data on theirbehalf. This is leading to thousands of contracts being rewritten to incorporate GDPR compliance.
Business must raise their game if they are to meet what will soon become a standard contractual
requirement. GDPR offers a real opportunity to get ahead of the game and ahead of your key
competitors.

3. Improve Processes & Efficiency
A major element of working towards GDPR compliance is to undertake a comprehensive data
audit. This will entail an internal review of all business functions, policies, processes anddocumentation related to identifying all personal data captured stored and used for prospects,
customers, suppliers, partners and employees.
This review can help identify areas of inefficiency, gaps, improvements and new ideas. You'll
likely uncover more efficient ways of doing things. A fresh approach, improved processes andthe requirement to educate all employees on GDPR compliance will help encourage morecollaboration between business units and deliver better all-round experience.

4. Upgrade Solutions and Security
GDPR calls for “technical and organisational measures” to be implemented, putting focus on yourbusiness solutions and data security.
The adoption of a properly configured CRM will certainly deliver on these counts, offering theability to create and manage a central data register, allow you to automate processing rules tomanage preferences and opt-outs; and integrate with your email and other business solutions.
Such levels of sophistication will prove almost impossible using other tools such as Excelspreadsheets.
Data storage practices will need to be reviewed, internally for data stored on your pcs, laptops,
own servers and other filing systems as well as externally for any Software-as-a-Service solutions
you have implemented.
Your SaaS providers who handle your customer data - including CRM – will need to provide
assurances about their data centres and that they are holding your data to strict GDPR-compliant
standards especially if any data is held outside of the EU. GDPR will deliver improved data
management practices, security and peace of mind.

5. Data - Quality not Quantity
Obtaining renewed consent – or ‘re-permissioning’ from existing contacts as well as clarifying
your data storage criteria and polices can be an opportunity to cleanse your customer data.
Quality instead of quantity.
Data accuracy will allow you to derive better insights, segment and tailor your communications
and deliver more effective and relevant engagements. Data driven decisions will help improveand optimise all areas of your business from marketing to sales to customer service.