Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

At Aplauso, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our digital tipping platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We collect personal information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Business information (for service professionals and businesses)
• Payment information (processed securely through our payment partners)
• Profile information and preferences
• Communication preferences

2.2 Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use our Service:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
• Usage data (pages visited, features used, time spent)
• Public tipping-page interaction data such as page views, rating starts, tip selections, payment starts, and completion events
• Pseudonymous identifiers stored in cookies or local storage to distinguish sessions, attribute traffic sources, and filter employee self-previews from guest analytics
• Location information (with your permission)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2.3 Transaction Information

• Tip amounts and transaction history
• Payment method information (processed by secure third parties)
• Customer feedback and ratings
• Service performance analytics, including guest funnel analytics on public tipping pages
• Visit-linked and room-charge-related activity metadata where needed to support hospitality workflows and fraud prevention

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To provide and maintain our tipping platform
• Payment Processing: To facilitate secure tip collection and distribution
• Account Management: To create and manage user accounts
• Communication: To send important updates and respond to inquiries
• Analytics: To improve our services and user experience
• Operational Reporting: To provide employees and operators with page-performance, conversion, and service-interaction reporting
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Fraud Prevention: To detect and prevent fraudulent activities

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties, except in the following circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform, including:

• Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
• Cloud hosting providers
• Analytics services
• Customer support platforms

4.2 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit and at rest
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Incident Response: Procedures for responding to security incidents
• Compliance: Adherence to PCI DSS, GDPR, and other relevant standards

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic platform functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use our service
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Marketing Cookies: Used for targeted advertising (with your consent)

We may also use local storage or first-party cookies on public tipping pages to maintain a pseudonymous session, measure conversion steps, understand route and traffic-source performance, and exclude an employee's own preview traffic from guest analytics. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent banner where applicable.

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 3 years after deactivation
• Transaction Records: Retained for 7 years for tax and legal compliance
• Marketing Data: Retained until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent
• Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained indefinitely

9. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Restriction: Request limitation of processing
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for processing based on consent

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you use.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We may also send you an email notification. Your continued use of our Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: