Market-leading Cornish business launches unique application to help hospitality industry reopening after lockdown

One of the UK’s leading digital businesses has launched a data collection product to help businesses in the hospitality sector open safely, in a COVID-secure and GDPR-compliant way.

With offices in Falmouth, Jarrang, one of the UK’s leading independent email marketing agencies, has been helping businesses of all shapes and sizes collect and manage their data safely and securely for over 17 years. They applied this expertise to provide a simple and effective system to support the safe reopening of the hospitality industry as part of the COVID-19 response.

“We’ve got a number of customers running hospitality businesses who have been asking us the best way to collect and store data in accordance with Government requirements for re-opening,” says Stafford Sumner, Managing Director at Jarrang.

“Pubs, cafes, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses are being asked to keep a temporary record of their customers and visitors for 21 days to assist NHS Test & Trace in case of further outbreaks of COVID-19.

“While some venues have booking or reservation systems they can use to do this, thousands of businesses don’t and are rightly concerned about how they collect and store the data in a way that’s both COVID-secure and GDPR compliant. 

“This is where Jarrang can use its expertise to help. Our data collection product, ON THE LIST, is web-based, configured for use on phone, tablet or desktop computer, and allows venues to easily collect and store data in a way that complies with both the NHS Test & Trace requirements and GDPR. 

“Embedded in the simple process, guests can also give their consent to be added to the venues’ email marketing database if they wish, which brings enhanced revenue generating opportunities to the businesses.”

Jarrang creates a secure page for each venue, which collects data to ensure they are COVID secure, compliant with the latest data collection requirements from the government as well as being GDPR-compliant. The data submitted through the form is automatically time and date stamped in accordance with NHS Test & Trace requirements.

Guests’ details are recorded by venue staff using an electronic device, which can be easily cleaned with antibacterial wipes between uses when necessary. The technology supports multiple visits from returning customers and auto-deletion of data after 21 days as legally required. For those guests consenting to ongoing marketing, this data is held in a separate database for future use.

Should it be requested by the authorities, data can be simply downloaded to work alongside the NHS Test & Trace capabilities.

“Sumner adds: “We’ve designed ON THE LIST so it’s quick and easy for the business using it and their guests. It will save venues a huge amount of time and significantly reduces admin compared to traditional registration methods. There’s no need for spreadsheets or pen and paper - two ways businesses can quickly fall foul of GDPR, and COVID security.

“Since the start of the pandemic we’ve been committed to helping and supporting businesses with their email communication. We’re excited to take this support a step further and now assist with making data capture and storage efficient, effective and compliant.”

Set up and activation of the product can be completed within one working day and, with licence fees starting from just 75p per day, this is a simple solution to a complex issue - for further information, visit www.jarrang.com/onthelist