Privacy Policy

Data Protection

We are delighted about the visit of our website. WEISS GmbH (hereinafter ‘WEISS’, ‘we’ or ‘us’) at-taches great importance to the security of users’ data and compliance with data protection provisions. Hereinafter, we would like to inform about how personal data is processed on our website.

Controller and data protection officer

Controller:

WEISS GmbH
Siemensstr. 17
74722 Buchen, Germany

Telefon +49 6281 5208 0
Telefax +49 6281 5208 99
info@weiss-world.com

External data protection officer:
DDSK GmbH
Herr Stefan Fischerkeller
Telefon +49 7542 949 21 - 01
datenschutz@weiss-world.com

Terms

The specialist terms used in this Privacy Policy are to be understood as legally defined in article 4 GDPR.

 

Information on data processing

Automated data processing (log files etc.)

Our website can be visited without actively providing personal information about the user. However, every time our website is accessed, we automatically store access data (server log files), such as the name of the internet service provider, the operating system used, the website the user visited us from, the date and duration of the visit and the name of the file accessed, as well the IP address of the device used (for security reasons, such as to recognise attacks on our website) for a duration of 7 days. This data is solely evaluated for the purpose of improving our offering and does not enable conclusions to be drawn about the person of the user. This data is not merged with other data sources.

We process and use the data for the following purposes: to provide the website, to im-prove our websites and to prevent and identify errors/malfunctions and the abuse of the website.

  • Legal base: : legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR
  • Legitimate interests: ensuring the functionality of the website and its error-free, secure operation, as well as in adapting this website to suit users’ needs.

 

Consent Management Tool

We use a consent management procedure on our online offering in order to be able to prove, store and manage the consent granted by our website visitors in accordance with the requirements of the GDPR. At the same time, visitors to our online offering can manage the consent and preferences granted and revoke consent with the service we have integrated.

The consent status is stored on the server in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie) or a comparable tech-nology in order to be able to assign the consent to a user or their device. In addition, the time of the declaration of consent is recorded.

  • Categories of data subjects: Website visitors who use the Consent Management Tool
  • Data categories: Usage data (e. g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), metadata and communication data (e. g. device information, IP ad-dresses)
  • Purposes of processing:: Fulfilment of accountability obligations, Consent management
  • Legal bases:  Legal obligation (Art. 6 para 1 lit. c) GDPR, Art. 7 GDPR

 

Cookiefirst

 

Consentmanager

 

Usercentrics

 

Use of cookies (general, functionality, opt-out links etc.)

We use ‘cookies’ on our website to make visiting our website more attractive and to enable certain functions to be used. The use of cookies serves our legitimate interest in making a visit to our web-site as pleasant as possible and is based on article 6 (1) (f) GDPR. Cookies are standard internet technology used to store and retrieve login details and other usage information for all the users of a website. Cookies are small text files that are deposited on your end device. They enable us to store user settings, inter alia, to ensure that our website can be shown in a format tailored to your device. Some of the cookies we use are deleted after the end of a browser session, i.e. when closing the browser (known as ‘session cookies’). Other cookies remain on the user’s end device and enable us or our partner companies to recognise the browser on the next visit (known as ‘persistent cookies’).

The browser can be set so that the user is informed when cookies are to be stored and can decide whether to accept them in each individual situation, to accept them under certain circumstances, or to exclude them in general. In addition, cookies can be retrospectively deleted to remove data that the website stored on your computer. Deactivating cookies (known as ‘opting out’) can limit our website’s functionality in some respects.

 

Web analysis and optimisation

We use Recipients of datas for web analysis and reach measurement so that we can evaluate user flows to our online offering. To do so, we collect information about the behaviour, interests or demographics of our users, such as their age, gender, and so on. This helps us to recognise the times at which our online offering, its functions, and content are frequented the most or accessed more than once. In addition, we can use the information that has been collected to determine whether our online offering requires optimisation or adjustment.

The information collected for this purpose is stored in cookies or deployed in similar procedures used for reach measurements and optimisation. The data stored in the cookies could include the con-tent viewed, webpages visited, settings, and the functions and systems used. However, plain data from users is not normally processed for the above purposes. In this case, the data is changed so that the actual identity of the user is not known to us, nor the provider of the Recipients of data used. The changed data is often stored in user profiles.

  • Categories of data subjects: Website visitors, users of online services
  • Data categories: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP ad-dresses), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), con-tent data (e.g. text inputs, photographs, videos)
  • Purposes of processing: Website analyses, reach measurement, utilisation and assessment of website interaction, lead evaluation
  • Legal bases:  Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR), legitimate interest (article 6 (1) (f) GDPR)
  • Legitimate interests:  Optimisation and further development of the website, increase in profits, customer loyalty and acquisition

 

Onlinemarketing

We process personal data within the framework of online marketing, particularly regarding potential interests and to measure the effectiveness of our marketing measures, with the aim of continually boosting our reach and the prominence of our online offering.

We store the relevant information in cookies or use similar procedures for the purpose of measuring the effectiveness of our marketing measures and identifying potential interests. The data stored in the cookies could include the content viewed, webpages visited, settings, and the functions and systems used. However, plain data from users is not normally processed for the above purposes. If so, the data is changed so that the actual identity of the user is not known to us, nor the provider of the Re-cipients of data used. The changed data is often stored in user profiles.

In the event that user profiles are stored, the data can be used, read, supplemented, and expanded on the server of the online marketing procedure when other online offerings are visited that use the same online marketing procedure.

We can calculate the success of our adverts using summarised data that is made available to us by the provider of the online marketing procedure (known as ‘conversion measurement’). As part of these conversion measurements, we can trace whether a marketing measure caused a visitor to our online offering to decide to make a purchase. This evaluation serves to analyse the success of our online marketing.

  • Categories of data subjects: Website visitors, users of online services, prospective customers, communication partners, business partners and contractual partners
  • Data categories: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP ad-dresses), location data, contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), content data (e.g. text inputs, photographs, videos)
  • Purposes of processing: Marketing (sometimes interest-based and behavioural, as well), conversion measurement, target group formation, click tracking, development of marketing strategies and increase in the efficiency of campaigns
  • Legal bases:  Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR), legitimate interest (article 6 (1) (f) GDPR)
  • Legitimate interests:  Optimisation and further development of the website, increase in profits, customer loyalty and acquisition

 

Google Tag Manager

 

Google Analytics

 

Google Search Console

 

LinkedIn

 

Presence on social media

We maintain online presences on social networks and career platforms so we can exchange infor-mation with users registered there and easily contact them.

Sometimes, data belonging to social network users is used for market research and, by extension, for advertising purposes. Users’ usage behaviour, such as their stated interests, can lead to user profiles being created and used in order to adapt adverts to suit the interests of the target group. To this end, cookies are normally stored on users’ end devices, which sometimes occurs regardless of whether you are a registered user of the social network.

Depending on where the social network is operated, the user data can be processed outside the Eu-ropean Union or outside the European Economic Area. This can lead to risks for users because it is more difficult for them to assert their rights, for example.

  • Categories of data subjects: Registered users and non-registered users of the social network
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), content data (e.g. text inputs, photographs, vide-os), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses)
  • Purposes of processing: Increase in the reach, networking of users
  • Legal bases:  Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR), legitimate interest (article 6 (1) (f) GDPR)
  • Legitimate interests:  Interaction and communication on social media pages, increase in profits, findings regarding target groups

 

Instagram

 

Facebook

 

LinkedIn

 

YouTube

 

Plug-ins and integrated third-party content

We have integrated functions and content obtained from third-party providers into our online offering. For example, videos, depictions, buttons or contributions (hereinafter termed ‘content’) can be inte-grated.

To enable visitors to our online offering to be shown content, the third-party provider in question pro-cesses the user’s IP address, inter alia, to transmit the content to the browser and display it. It is not possible to integrate third-party content without this processing taking place.

Sometimes, additional information is collected via ‘pixel tags’ or web beacons through which the third-party provider receives information about the use of the content or visitor traffic to our online offering, technical information about the user's browser or operating system, the visit time or referring websites. The data collected in this manner is stored in cookies on the user’s end device.

We have taken security precautions to prevent this data from being automatically transferred, with the aim of protecting the personal data of visitors to our online offering.

  • Categories of data subjects: Users of plug-ins or third-party content
  • Data categories: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP ad-dresses) contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), Master data (e.g. name, address)
  • Purposes of processing: Design of our online offering, increase in the reach of adverts on so-cial media, sharing of contributions and content, interest-based and behavioural marketing, cross-device tracking
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)

 

LinkedIn plug-ins and buttons (LinkedIn Insight Tags)

 

OpenStreetMap

 

Vimeo

 

Online conferences, meetings and webinars

We make use of the opportunity to hold online conferences, meetings and webinars. To do so, we use offerings provided by other carefully selected providers.

When actively using offerings of this nature, data regarding the participants in the communication is processed and stored on the servers of the third-party services used, provided this data is necessary for the communication process. In addition, usage data and metadata can also be processed.

  • Categories of data subjects: Participants in the online offering in question (conference, meeting, webinar)
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), Content data (e.g. text inputs, photographs, vide-os), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses)
  • Purposes of processing: Processing of enquiries, increase in efficiency, promotion of cross-company or cross-location collaboration
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)

 

GoToMeeting

 

Microsoft Teams

 

Newsletter and mass communication (including tracking, if applicable)

On our online offering, users have the option of subscribing to our newsletter or to notifications on various channels (hereinafter referred to overall as ‘newsletters’). We only send newsletters to recipi-ents who have agreed to receive the newsletter, and within the framework of statutory provisions. We use a select service provider to send out our newsletter.

An email address must be provided to subscribe to our newsletter. If applicable, we collect extra da-ta, such as your name to include a personal greeting in our newsletter.

Our newsletter is only sent after the ‘double opt-in procedure’ has been fully completed. If visitors to our online offering decide to receive our newsletter, they will receive a confirmation email that serves to prevent the fraudulent input of wrong email addresses and preclude a single, possibly accidental, click from causing the newsletter to be sent. The subscription to our newsletter can be ended at any time with future effect. An unsubscription (opt-out) link is given at the end of every newsletter.

In addition, we are obliged to provide proof that our subscribers actually want to receive the newslet-ter. To this end, we collect and store their IP address, along with the time of subscription and unsub-scription.

Our newsletters are designed so that we can obtain findings about improvements, target groups or the reading behaviour of our subscribers. We are able to do this thanks to a 'web beacon’ or tracking pixel that reacts to interactions with the newsletter, such as looking at whether links are clicked on, whether the newsletter is opened at all, or at what time the newsletter is read. For technical reasons, we can associate this information with individual subscribers.

  • Categories of data subjects: Newsletter subscribers
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), metadata and communication data (e.g. device in-formation, IP addresses), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times)
  • Purposes of processing: Marketing, increase in customer loyalty and new customer acquisition, analysis and evaluation of the campaigns’ success
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)

 

HubSpot

 

Advertising communications

We also use data provided to us for advertising purposes, particularly to provide information on vari-ous channels about new products from us or in our portfolio of offerings. However, promotional con-tact from our side is only undertaken within the framework of the statutory requirements, and once consent has been granted, insofar this is necessary.

If the recipients of our advertising do not want to receive it, they can inform us of this at any time with future effect. We are happy to acquiesce to their request.

  • Categories of data subjects: Communication partners
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number)
  • Purposes of processing: Direct marketing
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)
  • Legitimate interests: Retention of existing contacts/contractual partners and acquisition of new ones

 

Contacting us

On our online offering, we offer the option of contacting us directly or requesting information via var-ious contact options.

In the event of contact being made, we process the data of the person making the enquiry to the ex-tent necessary for answering or handling their enquiry. The data processed can vary depending on the method via which contact is made with us.

  • Categories of data subjects: Individuals submitting an enquiry
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), content data (e.g. text inputs, photographs, vide-os), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, ac-cess times)
  • Purposes of processing: Processing requests
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)

 

Online shop

We offer our customers the option of using our WEISS customer portal and obtaining our products through it and, if necessary, carry out project reconciliations. To this end, we collect the data neces-sary for initiating and executing the contract. In addition, we collect data so that we can send our cus-tomers adverts or discounts tailored to their interests.

If necessary, we pass data to third parties that help us to handle orders or if we are legally obliged to provide certain data.

  • Categories of data subjects: Users of our customer portal, portal users upon registration
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), contract data (e.g. subject of the contract, term, customer category), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times)
  • Purposes of processing: Initiation and execution of contracts, interest-based advertising, if ap-plicable rewards or discounts related to a customer's account, out-sourcing
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)
  • Legitimate interests: Simplification of work processes, resource-efficient performance, market research, marketing

 

Registration

We offer the option of setting up a user account on our online offering. As part of the registration process, we collect the necessary data from interested users that we need to provide a user account and the associated functions.

To prevent the internal area from being exploited, we collect IP addresses and the time of access to prevent misuse of a user account and unauthorised usage. We do not pass this data on to third par-ties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or we are legally obliged to do so.

To better protect user accounts from unauthorised access, a further measure is required in addition to the password when logging into a user account, such as inputting a code that is sent to a mobile device. This ensures that the user account is protected even if a third party knows the password.

  • Categories of data subjects: Registered users
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), content data (e.g. text inputs, photographs, vide-os), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, ac-cess times)
  • Purposes of processing: Simplification of the website function, performance of contract, in-crease in customer loyalty
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)

 

Events and activities

On our online offering, visitors have the opportunity to register for events and activities. The details collected by us that are necessary to initiate and perform the contract are marked as mandatory fields. The provision of data in excess of this is voluntary.

  • Categories of data subjects: Participants, interested parties
  • Data categories: Master data (e.g. name, address), contact data (e.g. email address, telephone number), contract data (e.g. subject of the contract, term, customer category), metadata and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times)
  • Purposes of processing: Initiation and execution of contracts, interest-based advertising, if ap-plicable rewards or discounts related to a customer's account, out-sourcing
  • Legal Base: Consent (article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)

 

Data transfer

We transfer the personal data of visitors to our online offering for internal purposes (e.g. for internal administration or to the HR department so we can meet statutory or contractual obligations). Internal data transfer or the disclosure of data only occurs to the extent necessary, under the pertinent data protection provisions.

We are a globally active company headquartered in Germany. Data of visitors to our online offering is stored in our central customer database in Germany, in compliance with the pertinent data protection provisions, and is processed across the group for internal administrative purposes. It is not pro-cessed for purposes other than administrative ones.

  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (article 6 (1) (f) GDPR)
  • Legitimate interests: ‘Small-group exemption’, centralised management and administration within the company to make use of synergy effects, cost savings, in-creased efficiency
  • Recipient: https://www.weiss-world.com/de-en/company/locations

In the event of transferring personal data to a country outside the EEA in the context of internal group processing, we ensure that the processing is legally permissible in the manner we intend. In this case, we have concluded binding corporate rules/standard data protection clauses including a separate regulation of appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect the data of data subjects best possible.

It may be necessary for us to disclose personal data for the performance of contracts or to comply with legal obligations. If the data necessary in this regard is not provided to us, it may be the case that the contract cannot be concluded with the data subject.

We transfer data to countries outside the EEA (known as ‘third countries’). This occurs due to the above-mentioned purposes (transfer within the group and/or to other recipients). Transfer is only ef-fected to fulfil our contractual and legal obligations, or on the basis of the consent that the data sub-ject granted prior to this.

 

Storage period

In principle, we store the data of visitors to our online offering for as long as needed to render our service or to the extent that the European body issuing directives and regulations or another legislator stipulates in laws and regulations to which we are subject. In all other cases, we delete personal data once the purpose has been fulfilled, with the exception of data that we need to continue to store to comply with legal obligations (e.g. if retention periods under tax law and trade law require us to keep documents such as contracts and invoices for a certain period of time).

 

Automated decision-making

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling.

 

Legal bases

The decisive legal bases primarily arise from the GDPR. They are supplemented by national laws from member states and can, if applicable, be applied alongside or in addition to the GDPR.

  • Consent: Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR serves as the legal basis for pro-cessing procedures regarding which we have sought consent for a particular purpose of processing.
  • Performance of a contract: Article 6 (1) (b) serves as the legal basis for processing re-quired to perform a contract to which the data subject is a contractual party or for taking steps prior to entering into a contract, at the request of the data subject.
  • Legal obligation: Article 6 (1) (c) GDPR is the legal basis for processing that is required to comply with a legal obligation.
  • Vital interests: Article 6 (1) (d) GDPR serves as the legal basis if the pro-cessing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person.
  • Public interest: Article 6 (1) (e) GDPR serves as the legal basis for pro-cessing that is necessary to perform a task in the public inter-est or to exercise public force that is transferred to the con-troller.
  • Legitimate interest: Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR serves as the legal basis for processing that is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the con-troller or a third party, provided this is not outweighed by the interests or fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms of the data subject that require personal data to be protected, particularly if the data subject is a child.

 

Rights of the data subject

  • Right of access: Pursuant to article 15 GDPR, data subjects have the right to request confirmation as to whether we process data relating to them. They can request access to their data, along with the additional information listed in article 15 (1) GDPR and a copy of their data.
  • Right to rectification: Pursuant to article 16 GDPR, data subjects have the right to request that data relating to them, and that we process, be rectified or completed.
  • Right to erasure: Pursuant to article 17 GDPR, data subjects have the right to request that data relating to them be erased without delay. Al-ternatively, they can request that we restrict the processing of their data, pursuant to article 18 GDPR.
  • Right to data portability: Pursuant to article 20 GDPR, data subjects have the right to request that data made available to us by them be provided and transferred to another controller.
  • Right to lodge a complaint: In addition, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority responsible for them, under ar-ticle 77 GDPR.
  • Right to object: If personal data is processed on the basis of legitimate inter-ests pursuant to article 6 (1) (1) (f) GDPR, under article 21 GDPR data subjects have the right to object to the pro-cessing of their personal data, provided there are reasons for this that arise from their particular situation or the objection re-lates to direct advertising. In the latter case, data subjects have a general right to object that is to be put into effect by us without a particular situation being stated.

 

Withdrawal of consent

Some data processing procedures can only be carried out with the express consent of the data sub-ject. Once granted, you are able to withdraw consent at any time. To do so, sending an informal note or email to datenschutz@weiss-world.com is sufficient. The legality of the data processing carried out up to the point of withdrawal shall remain unaffected by the withdrawal.

 

External links

Our website includes links to online offerings from other providers. We note that we have no influence over the content of the online offerings linked to and over whether their providers comply with data protection provisions.

 

Amendments

We reserve the right to amend this information on data protection, in compliance with the applicable data protection provisions, if changes are made to our online offering so that it complies with the legal requirements.

Version: March 3, 2022