The UK DMA has explored how consumers want to engage with the brands they love, now and in the future.
The UK DMA has explored how consumers want to engage with the brands they love, now and in the future.
In what will also make interesting reading for those following the row over the new transatlantic Privacy Shield pact, most people would rather rather have companies in fellow EU countries handle their data, than non-EU regions.
Some 42% of UK workers would trust EU countries to host their data, compared to 22% of those outside the EU.
Of all the EU countries that were asked in the survey (UK, Germany, France), Germany scored the highest (26%), followed by France (21%) and the UK (20%). The Spanish, on just 6%, were bottom of the pile, suggesting that, while Spain might be a popular holiday destination, few are willing to entrust the country with their personal information.
The Germans have one of the toughest data protection regimes in the world, and at one time its MEPs were demanding that the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) should go further. It also outlawed cold telemarketing back in 2010, meaning consumers have to opt in to receive calls.
The results are a part of a larger report released by Blue Coat Systems, into who do Europeans trust with their data on Dropbox, Gmail and the like.
Robert Arandjelovic (pictured), director of product marketing EMEA at Blue Coat Systems, said: “The EU regulatory landscape is set to radically change with the introduction of the GDPR legislation and this research highlights the level of distrust in countries outside the EU.
“Respondents prefer to keep their data within the EU, supporting new European data protection legislation. More concerning is the fact that almost half of respondents would trust any country to store their data, indicating too many employees simply don’t pay enough attention to where their work data is held.”
David Cole talks us through market researcher fast.MAP’s new insight into international DRTV campaigns, which highlights the importance of adapting a TV ad for different countries.
Marc Schillaci says international ecommerce is growing at an incredible rate and represents a real opportunity for SMEs.
Consumers regard Chat Bots as the key-holders to speed, unlocking immediacy and convenience in online services, survey reveals.
UK DMA releases new infographic and videos discussing how to use social data effectively, and the barriers to doing so.
A series of white papers are being released, addressing the potential impact of the upcoming European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on business-critical processes.
The first white paper focuses on Permission – how consumers give consent to a company to use their personal information, how aware individuals are of the process and how important permission-to-market is for companies.
The research, conducted by DataIQ in association with DST (global provider of specialised technology, strategic advisory and operations outsourcing to the financial and healthcare industries), reveals a disconnect between the way that consumers want businesses to treat their data and how businesses currently approach their customers’ data.
– 78% of companies say it is vitally important to process data for legitimate business interests
– 28% of consumers believe they should always be asked for permission to use their data
– 21% of consumers believe that data consent should only be valid for six months
– 21% of consumers believe their data should be deleted straight away
– Only 15% of businesses track permission company-wide
– 41% of consumers don’t mind providing their data if they understand how it will be used
According to Ruaraidh Thomas (pictured), managing director at DST Applied Analytics, with so few companies currently tracking permission as a key performance indicator, there is a lot of work to be done in order for businesses to be ready for the GDPR.
“With such a high degree of connectivity and internet activity, consumers are increasingly faced with requests for their personal information and their permission to make use of it,” says Thomas. “It’s clear from this research that companies need to work to understand their customers’ expectations when it comes to sharing data in order to build long lasting relationships, especially given the upcoming GDPR.”
The GDPR is an important update to laws covering the capture, control and consent to use of personal information. While built on the core principles already established by the Data Protection Directive in 1998, GDPR also introduces new rights for consumers and new obligations for businesses.
According to DataIQ/DST research, a quarter of consumers said incentives like better price or money-off can work as a driver for the data-value exchange. The research also found that a large percentage of people just need to understand why their data is needed.
“In preparation for the GDPR, businesses must take note of how consumers wish to be engaged, especially since so many businesses rely on data as part of their business model,” says Thomas. “The fact that some consumers are happy to provide their data if they understand what it is to be used for, demonstrates just part of the opportunity available for businesses that respond appropriately.”
Don’t sit back, Adam Williams warns businesses that are not prepared for the new General Data Protection regulation. Even a Brexit can’t stop penalties between now and the deadline!
Apple dominates social conversation as most loved on brands list, with Google in second place and Lego third, says report.
Apple is the UK and Europe’s most loved brand and dominates social conversation, according to a Brand Lovelist report launched last month by social analytics platform NetBase.
‘Love, best, great, perfect and awesome’ were the top five words consumers used when expressing their admiration for Apple which received over 400,000 more mentions than Google in second place and seven times as many total mentions as Lego in third. Tesco in fourth place was the first British and only food and beverage brand to feature and BMW was the first automotive brand to appear at number 5 on the brands list.
The report looks at the top 50 brands in Europe determined by market research over the past year and ranks the best-loved brands in technology, consumer goods, automotive, food and beverage, financial services and energy. Data was gathered using NetBase’s social media listening platform, from millions and millions of English and French language posts of earned mentions (i.e. those posts that were not posted by the brand itself) across Europe during the one-year period April 2015 to March 2016. Brand conversation specific to the UK and France was analysed in English and French respectively to provide two lists of the 25 most loved British and French brands.
Paige Leidig, chief marketing officer, NetBase, said: “While it’s not altogether surprising that Apple came out on top, if we look beneath the surface it tells us that here is a company that has created an enviable passion among its consumers.
“Alternatively, look at Tesco, why is it the only food and beverage brand on the list, where are the likes of Lidl and Sainsbury? The answer is because it has worked hard to build a strong relationship with its customers and they want to express their love for it.
“Understanding consumer preference is more than simply measuring the volume of social media content, it’s about understanding the intensity of passion and feeling in those posts. Most consumer purchases are won on emotion and the Brand Lovelist measures brand love and every single version of it; it tells us which brands people love the most.
“Furthermore, it highlights the importance of having insightful customer data that you can act upon whether it’s a new campaign, product launch or purely understanding ongoing customer perception of your brand.”
Although the data protection reforms have already been passed, the date has only just been released following the GDPR’s publication in the EU Official Journal.
The move comes as the Information Commissioner’s Office has revealed it will be publishing GDPR compliance guidance in stages over the two-year implementation period – rather than as a single document – with each piece of guidance addressing a specific topic.
DMA group chief executive Chris Combemale (pictured) said: “Data is at the heart of the modern economy, so as an industry we must be responsible for our actions when handling consumer data and create new frameworks that fit with the GDPR over the next 24 months.
“The new legislation will not only help protect the consumer, but also safeguard brands’ own reputations by ensuring their customers are at the heart of everything they do. The starting pistol has now fired and the two-year countdown has begun, but successful businesses will be those that treat this time as a full distance race rather than a last minute sprint.”
The ICO has also confirmed that the EU plans to have conducted its review into the ePrivacy Directive within the two-year implementation period for the GDPR, although many have described this as “ambitious”.
The Commission has launched a consultation on the current text of the Directive, as well as possible changes to the existing legal framework to make sure it is up to date with the new challenges of the digital area.
The Directive was last updated in 2009 to provide clearer rules on customers’ rights to privacy. In particular, new requirements were introduced such as on “cookies” and on personal data breaches.