Privacy Policy
Effective Date: July 8, 2026
At SmeLoc ("we", "us", "our"), operated by Suffix Technologies, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our online marketplace platform at smeloc.com and any associated mobile applications (collectively, the "Platform"). By accessing or using our Platform, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
a. Personal Information
- Account Information: When you create a buyer or vendor account, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, WhatsApp number, and physical location.
- Vendor Business Information: If you register as a vendor, we collect your business name, business category, country of operation, storefront details, and product or service listings including descriptions, pricing, photos, and videos.
- Order and Transaction History: We maintain records of inquiries, orders placed, products purchased, delivery details, and communications between buyers and vendors facilitated through WhatsApp or the Platform.
b. Non-Personal Information
- Device Information: We collect information about the device you use to access our Platform, including device model, operating system, browser type, and screen resolution.
- Usage Data: We collect data on how you interact with our Platform, including pages visited, products viewed, video plays, search queries, click data, and browsing patterns.
- Location Data: If you enable location services, we may collect your approximate location to display relevant vendors and products in your region (Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, or DRC).
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to operate, personalize, and improve our marketplace, including:
- Marketplace Operations: To connect buyers with vendors, facilitate product discovery, and enable order inquiries and purchases via WhatsApp.
- Account Management: To create and manage buyer and vendor accounts, verify vendor businesses, and provide customer support.
- Personalization: To customize your browsing experience, recommend products based on your preferences, and surface trending or relevant listings through our recommendation engine.
- Vendor Services: To provide vendors with storefront analytics, product performance insights, and spotlight features.
- Marketing and Promotions: To send promotional offers, new vendor announcements, or platform updates. You may opt out of marketing communications at any time.
- Video Content Delivery: To serve product videos uploaded by vendors and track video engagement for recommendation purposes.
- Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect our Platform, verify vendor authenticity, prevent fraud, and ensure the safety of your data.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- Between Buyers and Vendors: When you inquire about or purchase a product, relevant contact and order details are shared with the vendor to facilitate the transaction via WhatsApp.
- Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the Platform, including hosting providers, video delivery networks (such as Bunny CDN), analytics tools, and communication services. These providers are contractually bound to protect your information and use it only for services rendered to us.
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, such as to comply with a subpoena, legal process, or government request in any jurisdiction where we operate (Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, or DRC).
- Business Transfers: If SmeLoc or Suffix Technologies undergoes a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change through our Platform or by other means.
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect usage data and improve your experience on our Platform.
- Cookies: Small data files placed on your device that help us remember your preferences, login sessions, and regional settings. You can manage cookie settings through your browser.
- Analytics: We use analytics tools to monitor Platform usage, measure video engagement, and understand browsing patterns. These tools may collect non-personally identifiable information.
5. Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information, including encryption, secure servers, and restricted access to sensitive data. Vendor verification processes help maintain trust across the marketplace. However, no data transmission or storage system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.
6. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location and applicable laws (including the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019), you may have the following rights:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal obligations.
- Opt-Out: Opt out of marketing communications at any time by following unsubscribe instructions or adjusting your account settings.
- Data Portability: Where applicable, request your personal data in a structured, commonly used format for transfer to another service.
To exercise your rights, please contact us at info@suffixtechnologies.com.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Vendor business information and product listings remain on the Platform while the vendor account is active. If you delete your account, we will retain your information only as needed to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes.
8. Cross-Border Data
SmeLoc operates across Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and DRC. Your information may be stored and processed in any of these countries. By using our Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information across these jurisdictions, subject to appropriate safeguards and applicable data protection laws.
9. Third-Party Links and WhatsApp
Our Platform facilitates transactions via WhatsApp and may contain links to third-party websites or services not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of WhatsApp (operated by Meta Platforms, Inc.) or other third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before sharing personal information.
10. Children's Privacy
Our Platform is not intended for children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this page and notify you of significant changes through the Platform or via email. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:
SmeLoc — A Suffix Technologies Platform
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: info@suffixtechnologies.com
Website: www.smeloc.com
Facebook: SmeLoc
Instagram: @smeloc_business