Data Protection Policy

Information on data protection at SERgroup Holding International GmbH

The SER Group (referred to hereafter as "SER"; you can find more information about SER here: (/en/) would like to thank you for visiting our website. We believe in the importance of ensuring that your data is safe and protected while you are using our website. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to tell you which of your personal data we collect while you are using the website and explain the purposes for which we process your data.

We may be required to revise this Data Protection Policy in light of changes in the law or to our internal corporate processes. We therefore ask that you read through this policy on a regular basis.

You can access, save or print this Data Protection Policy at any time under /en/data-protection-policy.html.

§ 1 Data controller and scope

The controller according to the EU General Data Protection Policy (referred to hereafter as “GDPR”) and other domestic data protection laws of EU member states, including any other data protection regulations, is:

SERgroup Holding International GmbH
Joseph-Schumpeter-Allee 19
53227 Bonn
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)228 90896 0
Email: info@sergroup.com
Website: /en/

This Data Protection Policy applies to the online presence of the subsidiaries of the SER Group which are the websites available under the domains /en/, /de/, and all other subdomains (referred to hereafter as “our website”).

§ 2 Data protection officer

The external data protection officer* of the SER Group is:

External data protection officer of SERgroup Holding International GmbH
Dr. Karsten Kinast, LL.M.
KINAST Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Hohenzollernring 54
D-50672 Cologne
Tel.: +49 (0)221 222 183 0
Email: mail@kinast.eu
Website: www.kinast.eu

* Responsible for the German subsidiaries of SERgroup Holding International GmbH and for SER Solutions Österreich GmbH

§ 3 Principles of data processing

Personal data is all information that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes, for example, information such as your name, age, address, telephone number, date of birth, email address, IP address or user behavior. If we are unable to draw any conclusions about such circumstances or if we require a disproportionate amount of time and effort to do so (e.g. because your data has been made anonymous), the data is not classified as personal data. The processing of personal data (which includes collecting, requesting, using, storing or transferring) always requires a legal basis or your consent. Processed personal data will be deleted as soon as the purpose of processing has been fulfilled and legal retention obligations no longer need to be observed.

If we process your personal data in order to provide you with a specific offer, we will inform you about the concrete processes, the scope and purpose of data processing, the legal basis for processing, and the retention period.

All mandatory fields are marked with the symbol *. Any sections of the website that require you to enter data will provide you with further information about precisely how your data is collected.

§ 4 Individual data processing

1. Website

a. Purpose and scope of data processing
When accessing and using our website, we only collect personal data that your browser automatically transmits to our server. This information is temporarily stored in a log file. When you use our website, we collect the following data which we require for technical reasons in order to display our website to you and to ensure stability and security:

  • IP address of the computer being used
  • The country in which you are located
  • The date and duration of access
  • The name and URL of the retrieved file
  • The website from which you are accessing (referrer URL)
  • The search term you used to get to our page, if a search machine was used
  • The browser used and, potentially, the operating system of your computer
  • The name of your access provider
  • The website pages of SER that you visit
  • The files that you have downloaded from our website (e.g. PDF documents)

This data is analyzed by SER. It enables us to optimize our offers and to provide more personalized content for you — for example, to recognize if you are a new visitor to our website. If you have an existing data set, in many cases the new data will be assigned to this set.

b. Legal basis
Article 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR serves as the legal basis for data processing as discussed here. To provide a website, the data mentioned here must be processed and thus serves the legitimate interests of our company.

c. Deletion and retention period
As soon as the aforementioned data required to show you the website is no longer needed, it will be deleted. The collection of data to provide a website and the storage of data in log files are absolutely necessary for the operation of an internet site. Consequently, the user has no possibility to object. Longer storage may occur in single cases if this is required by law.

2. Registration/user account

a. Purpose and scope of data processing
On our website, we give you the option of registering by providing personal data.

Using the data we have collected, we create a personalized user account with which you can access certain content and services, such as brochures, product fact sheets, best practice reports or registrations to events on our website. We ask for and use your email address to send you your access data should you forget it. Furthermore, we also use your email address to send you information in the form of case studies and best practices about our customers, product brochures or guides.

The following overview shows you which personal data we collect and process during registration:

  • Title
  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Company
  • Department
  • Address (street, postal code, city)
  • Telephone number

b. Legal basis
The processing of personal data (cf. § 4 2. a.) according to article 6 (1) lit. a GDPR is based on the voluntary declaration of consent that you provide:

Declaration of consent

I consent to SER using my data when registering for a user account (SER +Account). This will allow me to log in on future visits with my user name and password without having to re-enter my data. I have read and accept the current Data Protection Policy. I can withdraw my consent for the future at any time by writing an email to unsubscribe@ser.de.

Declaration of consent for information to be sent per email
I consent to SER using my data for promotional purposes when registering for a user account (SER +Account) and to SER sending me information per email. I have read and accept the current Data Protection Policy. I can retract my consent for the future at any time by writing an email to unsubscribe@ser.de.

c. Retention period
As soon as the registration onto our website is terminated or changed, the data from the registration process is deleted. Longer storage may occur in single cases if this is required by law.

d. Termination of registration
Users always have the option of terminating their registration. You also can modify the data stored in the user account at any time. To delete the account, please contact unsubscribe@ser.de.

If the processed data is required to uphold a contract or to complete pre-contractual measures, it is only possible to prematurely delete data if the contractual or legal obligations allow this.

3. Newsletters

a. Purpose and scope of data processing
On our website, it is possible to subscribe to free newsletters. In order to regularly send you newsletters, we need the following data from you:

  • First and last name
  • Email address

Your personal data will not be given to any third parties in the process of sending newsletters.

To send newsletters, we use the double opt-in procedure. This means that we will only send you the newsletter once you have confirmed that you wish to receive it in a link sent to your email address, which you provide when registering. This way, we can make sure that you only you, the owner of the given email address, can register to read the newsletter. Your confirmation must take place quickly after receiving the confirmation email, otherwise your newsletter registration will be automatically deleted from our database.

b. Legal basis
The processing of personal data (cf. § 4 2. a.) according to article 6 (1) lit. a GDPR is based on the voluntary declaration of consent that you provide:

Declaration of consent:

By entering my data and by pressing the "Send" button, I consent to my email being processed for the purpose of regularly sending me a newsletter. I can unsubscribe to the newsletter service at any time by clicking on the link given at the end of the newsletter.

I can withdraw my consent to the collection of my personal data during the registration procedure at any time by writing an email to unsubscribe@ser.de.

c. Retention period
Your email address will be saved for the duration of your newsletter subscription. Upon canceling your subscription to the newsletter, your email address will be deleted. Longer storage may occur in single cases if this is required by law.

 

4. Registration for and participation in webinars, events, training seminars and their related promotional information

a. Type and scope of data processing
You can register to webinars, events and training seminars on our website. Registration takes place either through a form you fill out after you have registered for a user account on our website or through a form you receive for the specific event. We use your data to complete the registration for the specific event.

After you have participated in an event, we ask you in the form of a survey for your feedback on the event. Based on the answers you give, we will send you related information and reading material either by email or mail. Information collected this way is used to enhance the services we offer.

It is also possible to participate in webinars, events and training seminars at SER without taking part in the survey. You may also take part in the survey without having to receive reading material afterwards.

The following overview shows you which personal data we collect and process during registration and participation in webinars, events and training seminars, as well as for promotional purposes:

  • Title
  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Company
  • Department
  • Address (street, postal code, city)
  • Telephone number

b. Legal basis
The processing of personal data (see paragraph 4 4 a) according to Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the GDPR is based on the voluntary declaration of consent that you provide:

Declaration of consent for the registration to an event
I consent to SER using my data when registering for webinars, events and training seminars. I can sign up for events of my choosing through this manner. I have read and accept the current Data Protection Policy. I can retract my consent for the future at any time by writing an email to unsubscribe@ser.de.

Declaration of consent for a feedback survey to be sent
I consent to SER using my data that I provide when participating in a survey in the form of a feedback form. This is a way for me to communicate my views to SER regarding the events that I took part in, which helps SER to improve the services offered to me. I have read and accept the current Data Protection Policy. I can retract my consent for the future at any time by writing an email to unsubscribe@ser.de.

Declaration of consent for information to be sent per email
I consent to SER using my data that I provide when participating in a survey in the form of a feedback form. I also consent to SER sending me either per email or mail reading material and information according to my statements. This means that I can receive reading material and information tailored to my individual needs. I have read and accept the current Data Protection Policy. I can retract my consent for the future at any time by writing an email to unsubscribe@ser.de.

c. Retention period
As soon as the event has concluded that you took part in, or when the survey is completed and reading material has been sent, the personal data we collected in the registration form and the feedback survey will be deleted. Longer storage may occur in single cases if this is required by law.

 

5. Contact form

a. Purpose and scope of data processing
On our website, we give you the opportunity to contact us via a special contact form. When you send us a message via the contact form, we will refer you to our Data Protection Policy and ask for your consent. If you use our contact form, the following personal data will collected and processed:

  • Email address
  • Further contact data, if entered:
    • Company/organization
    • Telephone number

By giving your email address, we can assign your inquiry and answer you. Your personal data will not be given to any third parties when using the contact form.

b. Legal basis
The processing of personal data for contact purposes (cf. § 4 5. a.) takes place according to Article 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR based on the voluntary declaration of consent that you provide:

Declaration of consent:

By entering my data and by pressing the "Send" button, I consent to my email being processed for the purpose of responding to my inquiry.

I can withdraw my consent to the use of my personal data for the contact form procedure at any time by writing an email to unsubscribe@ser.de.

c. Retention period
As soon as your inquiry has been handled and the matter clarified, the personal data you provided via the contact form will be deleted. Longer storage may occur in single cases if this is required by law.

§ 5 Passing on data

We only pass on your data to third parties if:

  • you have given your explicit consent pursuant to Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. a GDPR.
  • this is legally permissible and required to uphold contract terms in accordance with Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. b GDPR.
  • according to Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. c GDPR, the transmission of personal data is legally required or
  • according to Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f GDPR, the transmission of personal data is necessary to safeguard legitimate company interests and to assert, exercise or defend legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding interest worthy of protection in not disclosing your data

§ 6 Usage of cookies

1. Purpose and scope of data processing

We use cookies on our website. Cookies are small files that are sent to us by your browser during your visit to our website. We store them. Cookies are needed from a technical standpoint to be able to provide certain website functions. Other cookies, however, enable us to conduct various analyses. For example, cookies are able to recognize the browser you are using the next time you visit our website and to transmit various items of information to us. With the help of cookies, we can make our website more user-friendly and effective for you. For example, cookies track how you use our website and determine your preferred settings (e.g. country and language settings). If third parties process information via cookies, they will collect the information directly via your browser. Cookies cause no damage to your device. They cannot run any programs and do not contain viruses.

If you have created an SER+Account, the login script creates an “ONLINEPLUS” cookie for the domain ser.de. This cookie verifies your access to our documents. This cookie remains in place until you click on “Log out” to sign out and is not automatically deleted at the end of your session. This can be useful as it means that we will remember you if you return to the website later; you will not be required to log in again and can carry on accessing secure data on our website.

2. Legal basis

Due to the described purposes of usage (cf. § 6. a.), the legal basis for the processing of personal data using cookies is based on Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the GDPR.

3. Retention period

As soon as the data transmitted to us via the cookies is no longer necessary for the purposes described above, this information will be deleted. Longer storage may occur in single cases if this is required by law.

4. Configuration of browser settings

Most browsers have the default setting to accept cookies. You may, however, configure your browser so that only certain or no cookies at all are accepted. We would like to point out, however, that you may not be able to use all functions of our website if you opt to turn off your cookies in your browser settings. In your browser settings, you can also delete stored cookies or display the retention period. You are also able to deactivate cookies or configure your browser so that it informs you before saving any cookies. Since browsers can differ in their respective functions, we ask you to use the help menu of your browser for the configuration options.

 

§ 7 Tracking and analytics tools

We use tracking and analytics tools to constantly optimize and tailor our website to your needs. Tracking functions enable us to ascertain statistics regarding how visitors use our website. Based on this information, we are able to further develop our online offerings. Based on these interests, the use of the tracking and analytics tools described below is justified in accordance with Article 6 para. 1 s. 1 lit. f GDPR. The following tracking and analytics tools demonstrate the purpose of processing and which data is processed.

1. Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Google Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Irland (“Google”).  Google Analytics uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer to help the website analyze how users use the site.

The information generated by the cookie about, for example, your use of the website will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. When using Google Analytics, it is not excluded that cookies created by Google Analytics may collect other personal data in addition to the IP address. We would like to point out that Google may transfer this personal data to third parties if this is required by law or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google.

Based on cookies, Google will use this information on behalf of the operator of this website for the purpose of evaluating how you use the website, compiling reports on website activities and providing further services related to website and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transferred by your browser within the scope of Google Analytics will not be merged with any other data held by Google, as Google itself states.

Generally speaking, you can prevent cookies from being saved by adjusting your browser settings. However, we would like to point out that if you do so, you may not be able to make use of all of this website's functions.

It is not excluded that cookies created by Google Analytics may collect other personal data in addition to the IP address. To prevent information about your use of this website from being collected by Google Analytics and transmitted to Google Analytics, you can download and install the following plug-in for your browser via this link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de. This plug-in prevents information from your website visit from being transmitted to Google Analytics. The plug-in cannot prevent other analyses from taking place.

We would like to point out that you cannot use this plug-in when visiting our website via a browser of a mobile device (smartphone or tablet). When using a mobile device, you can prevent the collection of usage data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link: Disable Google Analytics.

You will be shown an opt-out cookie in your browser when you click on this. This prevents your personal data from being transmitted to Google Analytics. Please note that the opt-out cookie is only valid for this browser and only for this domain. If you delete cookies from this browser, the opt-out cookie will be deleted. To continue preventing Google Analytics from collecting data, you must click on the link again. You can also use the opt-out cookie as an alternative to the above plug-in when using the browser on your computer.

To ensure the best possible protection of your personal data, the code "anonymizeIp" has been added to Google Analytics on this website. This code ensures that the last 8 bits of the IP addresses are deleted and your IP address is thereby recorded anonymously (IP masking). Your IP address will thereby be truncated by Google before transmission within member states of the European Union or in other signatory states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Your IP address is thereby anonymized. Your full IP address will only be sent to a Google server in the USA and truncated there in exceptional cases.

2. wiredminds

Our website also uses counting pixel technology of wiredminds GmbH (www.wiredminds.de) to analyze your website usage behavior. It collects, processes and stores data from which user profiles are created under a pseudonym. Where possible and when it is reasonable, these user profiles are made completely anonymous. Cookies may be used here.

Data collected that may also contain personal data is transmitted to wiredminds or directly collected by wiredminds. The provider wiredminds is allowed to use information left from website visits to create anonymous user profiles. The data obtained in this way will not be used to personally identify the visitor of this website without the expressly given consent of the person concerned and will not be merged with personal data about the bearer of the pseudonym. If IP addresses are collected, they are made anonymous by deleting the last number block.

3. Eloqua

If you are visiting the SER website for the first time, a cookie of the third-party provider Oracle (www.eloqua.com) will be saved in your browser. This cookie is used to record the pages you visit in one session. Even if this cookie is set on many other pages, the information from visiting the SER website is only visible to SER and will not be shared with Oracle or other users of Eloqua systems. It is also not possible for SER to record or see information about your visits to other websites via this cookie.

Even if this cookie does not contain any specific personal information, the personal reference may be established later on by linking it to other information, as described here. If you provide SER your personal information by filling out a form on our website, it may be added using the browser information recorded by the Eloqua cookie.

Information collected this way is used to enhance the services we offer. This includes if and how we communicate with you and the personalization of the content of this communication. We try to tailor this communication to your personal interests as reflected in your visits to SER websites. This enables us to present as well as possible only the offers and promotions that we believe are of interest to you.

If you want to completely deactivate the use of Eloqua tracking technologies on your device, please visit the Eloqua opt-out page: http://www.eloqua.com/trust/privacy-policy/opt-status.html.

4. Hotjar

We use Hotjar in order to better understand our users’ needs and to optimize this service and experience. Hotjar is a technology service that helps us better understand our users’ experience (e.g. how much time they spend on which pages, which links they choose to click, what users do and don’t like, etc.) and this enables us to build and maintain our service with user feedback. Hotjar uses cookies and other technologies to collect data on our users’ behavior and their devices. This includes a device's IP address (processed during your session and stored in a de-identified form), device screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), browser information, geographic location (country only), and the preferred language used to display our website. Hotjar stores this information on our behalf in a pseudonymized user profile. Hotjar is contractually forbidden to sell any of the data collected on our behalf.

For further details, please see the ‘about Hotjar’ section of Hotjar’s support site.

5. Salesloft

We use a script from our sales engagement platform Salesloft for lead management to communicate with prospective customers. The provider is Salesloft, Inc, 1180 West Peachtree Street NW, Suite 600, Atlanta, USA. In principle, cookies for live website tracking do not collect any personal data that can be used to identify the user. Only a system-generated identifier is linked to personal data. The provider processes contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers) and meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses) in the USA. Live website tracking is only activated and places cookies on the user's device when the user clicks on a tracking link in an email sent via the Salesloft platform. The legal basis for processing is art. 6 par. 1 sentence 1 lit. of EU GDPR. Data is processed only upon consent. The data will be deleted if the purpose of its collection no longer applies and there is no obligation to retain it. Further information can be found in the provider's privacy policy at https://salesloft.com/platform-privacy-notice/ 

6. Microsoft Clarity

We partner with Microsoft Clarity and Microsoft Advertising to capture how you use and interact with our website through behavioral metrics, heatmaps, and session replay to improve and market our products/services. Website usage data is captured using first and third-party cookies and other tracking technologies to determine the popularity of products/services and online activity. Additionally, we use this information for site optimization, fraud/security purposes, and advertising. For more information about how Microsoft collects and uses your data, visit the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

 

§ 8 Hyperlinks

Our website includes hyperlinks to websites belonging to other parties. When clicking on a hyperlink, you will be directed straight to the third-party website from our website. You will notice this process taking place because the URL will change, for example. We are unable to accept any responsibility for the way these third-party websites process your personal data as we are unable to ensure that these companies adhere to our Data Protection Policy. Please consult these websites directly to find out how they process your personal data.

§ 9 User rights

The GDPR gives you as a data subject the following rights regarding the processing of personal data:

  • Pursuant to Article 15 GDPR, you have the right to request information about your personal data that we process. More specifically, you may request information about: the purpose of processing your personal data, the categories of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data have been or will be disclosed, the planned retention period, your rights to correct, delete, restrict or reject processing, your right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, the origin of your data (if we did not collect it), the transferal of personal data to other countries or international organizations, the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, and, if applicable, meaningful information about the logic involved.
  • Pursuant to Article 16 GDPR, you can immediately demand that incorrect or incomplete personal data stored by us is corrected or completed.
  • Pursuant to Article 17 GDPR, you can demand that personal data we store be deleted, provided the personal data is not needed to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information, to fulfill legal obligations, for reasons of public interest or to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.
  • Pursuant to Article 18 GDPR, you can demand that the processing of your personal data be restricted if you dispute the accuracy of your data, if the processing is unlawful, or if SER no longer needs the data and you object to the deletion because you require it to assert, exercise or defend legal claims. You are also entitled to the right under Article 18 of the GDPR if you have filed an objection to processing according to Article 21 of the GDPR.
  • Pursuant to Article 20 GDPR, you can demand that the personal data you have provided SER be transmitted to you in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and that you have the right to transmit that data to another controller.
  • Pursuant to Article 7, para. 3 GDPR, you can withdraw the consent given to us at any time. This means that we may not continue processing data provided to us based on this consent.
  • Pursuant to Article 77 GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint against us to a supervisory authority. Typically, you may contact the supervisory authority where you are living, at your workplace or at our company headquarters.

§ 10 The right to object

When processing your personal data based on legitimate interests according to Article 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data according to Article 21 of the GDPR, provided that there are reasons for this based on your personal situation or if you object to direct advertising. Regarding direct advertising, you generally speaking have the right to object, which we will fulfill even if you do not mention special circumstances.

§ 11 Data security and security measures

We are committed to protecting your privacy and making sure that your personal data remains confidential. To prevent your data stored at SER from being lost or misused, we have implemented a range of technical and organizational measures that are regularly checked and adjusted to technological advances. However, we would like to point out that due to the inherent structure of the internet, people or institutions outside of our remit may not adhere to the provisions of this Data Protection Policy and the security measures mentioned above. In particular, any data shared in unencrypted form may be accessed by third parties, for example, if the data is shared by email. Unfortunately, we have no technical influence over such actions. The user is responsible for protecting any data they wish to share by encrypting it or using another security measure.

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