Alert for SMBs: Revisions to Data Protection Bill in Spring to Impact Communications, Urges Quadient

Quadient predicts that forthcoming revisions to the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, expected to take effect in Spring 2024, will prompt approximately 50% of Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) to reinvest in customer communications. The regulatory changes are expected to ease restrictions on consent and data sharing, empowering SMBs to leverage customer data for proactive communication and promotion.

Previously, GDPR and the Data Protection Act (2018) placed constraints on how businesses could access customers' personal data. The upcoming changes are anticipated to provide SMBs with more flexibility, enabling them to meet consumer demands for personalized communication and proactive engagement. Antony Paul, Head of Global Product Marketing at Quadient, emphasized that SMBs ready to embrace these regulatory shifts will likely gain a significant advantage in the market by delivering hyper-personalized communication that anticipates customer needs.

This outlook reflects the ongoing evolution of data protection regulations and their impact on businesses, particularly in addressing customer expectations for personalized and tailored communication.

As anticipated regulatory changes approach, Quadient advises Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) to take proactive steps to leverage the forthcoming opportunities or risk falling behind more agile competitors. Key recommendations include creating communication templates and unifying data strategies, ensuring data accessibility across various business functions.

Antony Paul emphasizes the need for SMBs to prepare strategies now, emphasizing that larger corporations are likely to already have plans in place to capitalize on the revised regulations. He highlights the potential for SMBs to have greater freedom to reach out proactively to customers and prospects overnight. Early preparation and the adoption of automation technologies for communication are seen as essential for gaining a competitive advantage.

This guidance underscores the strategic importance of regulatory readiness and the potential for SMBs to enhance their communication capabilities through automation and streamlined processes. The upcoming regulatory changes provide an opportunity for SMBs to align their strategies with evolving customer communication expectations.