How Low Code Supports Retail Data Privacy and Compliance

Most shoppers won’t buy from companies they don’t trust with their data. McKinsey research reveals that 87% of consumers would walk away if they had doubts about a company’s security practices, and 71% would stop buying from a store that mishandled their information. For retailers, this means maintaining data privacy requirements is essential for staying in business. 

But achieving this isn’t always easy. Luckily, low code platforms with built-in security features make it easier to protect customer data and comply with privacy laws. 

This article examines the challenges of data privacy and compliance in retail and how low code is helping retail businesses succeed.

Short on Time? Here’s a Brief Overview

• Customer trust in retail data protection is low. A Salesforce report found that 32% of customers globally don’t trust companies to respect their privacy.

• RedHat analysis shows low code tools cut privacy implementation time by 50-90%.

• Pre-built security features help stores follow privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.

• Simple visual tools make it easier to handle privacy tasks like customer consent and data deletion.

The Retail Compliance Challenge

Stores are spending more on privacy protection than ever. Gartner research indicates that 57% of retailers planned to buy more software in 2024, focusing on security and data management. They know they need better privacy practices to comply with the law and maintain customers’ trust.

But new privacy laws continue to emerge. Europe has enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and California has the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). More rules are undoubtedly coming. These laws give shoppers more control over their personal information—they can see, change, or delete it. Stores need dependable systems to handle these requests and keep records showing they’re following the rules.

A big challenge is that every segment of modern retail—loyalty programs, websites, mobile apps, and in-store systems—gathers information, and each collection method brings new risks. Even one breach can be costly. Data privacy studies show that GDPR violations can trigger fines of up to 4% of a company’s worldwide revenue. One company recently paid $180 million after exposing 400,000 customers’ data. Beyond the penalties, data breaches hurt customer trust in ways that can take years to fix.

How Low Code Platforms Address Data Privacy and Compliance

Low code solutions make it easier to build privacy-protecting software. Instead of writing thousands of lines of code, stores can use pre-built pieces and simple visual interfaces to quickly create secure systems that meet regulatory requirements. As a result, low code can help retailers do the following: 

Automate compliance

Under the GDPR and the CCPA, stores have just 30 days to respond when customers ask to see their data. Without automation, however, someone must search multiple databases, spreadsheets, and systems to find every piece of that customer’s information. They might need to check the loyalty program database, e-commerce platform, marketing system, and in-store purchase records. Missing even one item could violate privacy laws.

Low code tools turn this manual process into an automated workflow. When a request comes in, the system first verifies the customer’s identity to prevent unauthorized access. It then searches every connected system using secure data connections. The system compiles all the found information into a standard format that’s easy for customers to understand.

Throughout this process, the system builds a complete timeline. It records when the request arrives, which systems are checked, what information is found, and when the response is sent. If regulators investigate, the retailer can clearly show how it handled every privacy request.

Enhance data security

Low code applications include strong, built-in security features. Instead of being added at the end, security is part of the system from the start. 

For starters, these platforms make it easy to control who can see different types of customer information. For example, store managers might need access to local customer data, while marketing teams might need broader but more limited access.

The platform also handles basic but essential security tasks, such as encrypting data. When customer information moves between systems or is stored in databases, encryption keeps it safe from unauthorized access. Any connections to other software, including payment systems or marketing tools, go through secure channels that prevent data leaks.

Enable seamless integration

Most retailers use various systems—such as websites, apps, payment processing, and inventory management—that each collect and store customer data in their own way. A typical retail chain might have:

• Legacy point-of-sale system tracking in-store purchases

• Modern e-commerce platforms handling online orders

• Mobile apps with their own customer databases

• Marketing automation tools managing email lists and customer preferences

• Inventory management systems that predict what customers will buy

Customer data becomes fragmented and harder to protect without proper connections between these systems. For example, a customer might opt out of marketing emails through the website but still receive promotional texts because the mobile app’s database wasn’t updated.

Low code development platforms solve this by creating secure bridges between legacy and modern systems. When customers change their privacy choices in any channel, those changes automatically flow to all connected systems. The platform constantly monitors these connections to prevent data leaks or unauthorized access, creating a unified view of customer data that’s secure and compliant.

Future-Proofing Compliance with Low Code

Privacy protection regulations never stay the same for long. Each year brings new laws, updates to existing rules, industry standards, or fresh interpretations from regulators. For example, when the GDPR was introduced, many stores focused on getting customer consent for data collection. Now, they also need systems for data portability—letting customers move their information between different companies.

Changing privacy software built with traditional programming takes months of work. Professional developers must write new code, test it thoroughly, and carefully replace old systems without losing data. 

But low code changes that. 451 Research’s study of development practices found that low code tools cut development time by 50-90%. Instead of writing new code from scratch, stores can add pre-built privacy features that already follow the new rules.

Low code apps also make testing easier and safer. Before any privacy changes go live, a low code platform can automatically check for problems like:

• Missing data protection in new features

• Gaps in privacy records

• Conflicts between different privacy rules

• Security weaknesses in system connections

Every change is recorded with details about what changed, who approved it, and how it was tested. These records prove to regulators that the store takes privacy seriously and follows a careful process for updates.

How CLEVR Can Help

CLEVR works with partners to build privacy-protecting systems using low code tools. 

A prime example is CLEVR’s work on DataCross, a comprehensive compliance management system. Working with its partner Tec4U, CLEVR used the Mendix low code platform to create a solution that started with a specific focus: helping manufacturers track product safety compliance. 

However, CLEVR designed the system knowing that companies face many compliance requirements that often overlap. A retailer selling electronics, for instance, needs to follow both product safety rules and customer data privacy laws.

DataCross evolved into a broader platform that helps companies manage multiple types of compliance from a central system. The platform now serves over 40,000 users and includes 24 different compliance tools—twice what similar systems offer. For retail privacy, these tools handle essential tasks like:

• Managing customer consent across different channels 

• Tracking privacy preferences by region and regulation 

• Creating audit-ready reports automatically 

• Adapting quickly when privacy laws change

What makes DataCross particularly valuable for retailers is its flexible, modular design. Just as it helps companies track product safety compliance, its building blocks can be arranged to handle GDPR requirements, CCPA rules, or any new privacy regulations that emerge. 

The platform shows how low-code development can enable digital transformations that grow and adapt to changing business needs.

Final Thoughts

Stores face growing pressure to protect customer data while meeting increasingly strict regulatory requirements. From securing multiple systems to responding to customer privacy requests in a timely fashion, the technical challenge is real.

Low code platforms offer practical solutions to these struggles. They combine easy-to-use tools with strong security features, helping stores protect customer data while adapting quickly to new privacy rules. The visual tools and pre-built components speed up development without weakening security.

Want to learn more about managing privacy requirements? Read CLEVR’s guides on:

• The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): How to comply in 2024?
• How Low Code Can Streamline CSRD Compliance

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