3 Important Things to Know When Gathering Customer Data

June 29, 2020 | Josh Noonan

As you embark on the path to an improved CRM, it is essential to remember a few key points related to customer privacy and security to ensure your are doing the right thing by the law and your customers.

As you embark on the path to an improved CRM, it is essential to remember a few key points related to customer privacy and security.

Just one slip-up in these areas can put you and your customers at increased risk for security breaches. Even worse, your customers and the public at large may lose trust in your ability to protect their information.

“As a business owner, you’re responsible for protecting your customers’ personal information – it’s the law…This is a legal requirement under the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act). When you no longer need your customers’ personal information you must destroy or de-identify it. This includes shredding documents or storing them in a secure area.” – Australian Government | Business

Here are three simple points to keep in mind when collecting customer data:

1. Maintaining customer privacy is critical

Australia has a strict privacy policy designed to protect citizens from the misuse of their personal information. If you have not already carefully reviewed this policy, it is up to you to review the details and ensure that all of your employees understand the importance of maintaining customer privacy.

2. Always request permission from your customers

As a business owner, it is up to you to always obtain consent from customers before collecting, using, or disclosing their personal information. Failure to comply with the Privacy Act and other privacy principles can leave your business at risk for financial penalties, sanctions, and a tarnished industry reputation. 

3. Invest in robust data security protection

With top-notch data security protection, you can rest assured that your customer data will not fall into the hands of a scammer or spammer. Make sure you are working with an experienced, authorised CRM provider who has proven, built-in security protection. 

Whilst being a legal requirement, it is in the best interest of your customers that your customer data is gathered and maintained accurately in your CRM. The best way to achieve these goals is to seek the expertise of an expert in CRM solutions. With the guidance of an industry leader, you can develop a comprehensive CRM strategy that reflects the unique needs of your business.

As a trusted CRM solution provider in Australia in New Zealand, Act Today is the logical choice for small to medium businesses seeking a cost-effective solution. For over 25 years, Act Today has strengthened businesses with our proven software solution. And with accredited sales and service teams in all major cities across Australia and New Zealand, we have the resources to provide you with the swift live support you may need.

We invite you to contact us today to discover why hundreds of customers across the Pacific choose Act Today for their CRM needs. We look forward to providing you with a CRM solution that will help your business thrive!

A final word from Act Today

If this page made you pause and think about how you manage your client relationships, that’s a good start.

Most businesses don’t struggle because they lack effort. They struggle because their systems don’t quite support the way they actually work. That’s where the right CRM setup can make a real difference.

Everything we share about Act! Advantage comes from working with businesses across Australia and New Zealand who want to retain clients, improve communication, and make better decisions from their data.

If you’d like more practical insights about CRM, client retention, and running a smarter client database, you’re welcome to explore the Act Today resources and articles.

And if you’d like to see how Act! Advantage could work in your business, we’d be glad to walk you through it.

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During the trial, you can add contacts, explore client records, test communication tools, and see how Act! Advantage handles day-to-day client management. It’s a straightforward way to understand how the system is structured and whether it feels right for how you run your business.

This option suits businesses that are comfortable exploring software independently and already have a clear idea of what they want from a CRM. There’s no obligation, no setup required, and no pressure,  just time to assess fit.

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