Privacy Policy
BuildFlow (“BuildFlow”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with applicable South African data protection laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit the BuildFlow website, contact us, submit an enquiry or lead form, participate in a trial, or use the BuildFlow construction operations platform.
1.Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with BuildFlow, we may collect:
- Name and surname
- Business email address
- Telephone number
- Company name
- Job title or role
- Enquiry and lead-generation information
- Project/site information
- Account/user information
- Workforce attendance and site activity
- GPS/location information where relevant
- Photos, documents and reports uploaded to BuildFlow
- Website/device/interaction information
2.How We Use Personal Information
Information may be used to:
- Respond to enquiries
- Contact businesses interested in BuildFlow
- Arrange demos, onboarding and free trials
- Create and administer accounts
- Provide and improve BuildFlow
- Support project, workforce and site-management features
- Provide customer support
- Support security and fraud/misuse prevention
- Understand website/advertising analytics
- Send service communications
- Meet legal and regulatory compliance obligations
BuildFlow processes personal information only where there is an appropriate lawful basis for doing so.
3.Advertising and Lead Generation
BuildFlow may use platforms such as LinkedIn and Meta for advertising and lead generation.
If someone submits information through those platforms, it may be provided to BuildFlow so we can respond, contact them, or arrange a demo, onboarding or free trial.
Third-party platforms also process information according to their own privacy policies.
4.Project and Customer Data
Customers retain ownership of the project and operational data they provide to BuildFlow.
- BuildFlow processes this data to provide the platform and services.
- Customer project data is not sold.
- Customers may request or export their data where available, including when concluding a trial or service relationship, subject to applicable contractual, technical and legal requirements.
5.Location Information
Some BuildFlow features use GPS/location information, particularly site attendance and check-in functionality.
Location data is processed only where necessary for the relevant functionality and should be collected with appropriate notices and permissions.
How the BuildFlow Worker app uses location during shifts is set out in section 13.
6.Sharing of Information
We do not sell personal information.
Information may be processed by trusted providers supporting:
- Hosting and infrastructure
- Communications
- Analytics
- Authentication
- Technical operations
Disclosure may also occur where legally required.
7.Data Security
BuildFlow uses reasonable technical and organisational security measures, including:
- Authenticated API access
- Separation of customer environments and data
- Security controls that continue to evolve with the platform
No internet-based service can guarantee absolute security.
8.Data Retention
Information is retained only as long as reasonably necessary for:
- Providing services
- The original collection purposes
- Business records
- Resolving disputes
- Legal obligations
Information no longer required is deleted, destroyed or de-identified where reasonably practicable and legally required.
9.Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, you may:
- Request access to your personal information
- Request correction of your personal information
- Request deletion where applicable
- Object to certain processing
- Withdraw consent where consent is the legal basis for processing
- Request information about how your information is processed
10.Cookies and Analytics
The website may use cookies or similar technologies for:
- Website operation
- Usage analytics
- Advertising measurement
These services may include Meta and LinkedIn.
11.International Processing
Some technology and service providers may process or store information outside South Africa. Reasonable steps will be taken to apply appropriate protections as required by applicable law.
12.Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated from time to time. The latest version and effective date will appear on this page.
13.The BuildFlow Worker App
This section covers only what the BuildFlow Worker app does. Everything the app stores belongs to the worker’s employer, which uses BuildFlow to run its sites.
Who is responsible
Your employer (the construction company that invited you) decides why and how your information is used. Under POPIA, your employer is the responsible party. B.S Labs runs BuildFlow for your employer as its operator.
What the app collects, and why
- When
- Added by your employer
- Why
- To sign you in and show your work
- What is kept
- Your employer’s staff list
- When
- When you sign in
- Why
- To prove it is you
- What is kept
- Only a scrambled form. The code itself is never stored.
- When
- When you tap Check in or Check out
- Why
- To confirm you are on site
- What is kept
- Only your distance from the site and whether it was within range. Not your coordinates.
- When
- About every 2 minutes, only while you are checked in, including when your phone is locked
- Why
- To confirm you are still on site, and to close your day if you leave
- What is kept
- Your latest position for that shift, replaced at each update. No trail of where you went.
- When
- Each shift
- Why
- Your timesheet and pay
- What is kept
- Your employer’s attendance records
- When
- Only when you take or record one and send it
- Why
- Proof of work, site issues, updates
- What is kept
- With your employer’s project records
| What | When | Why | What is kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your name and cellphone number | Added by your employer | To sign you in and show your work | Your employer’s staff list |
| Your access code | When you sign in | To prove it is you | Only a scrambled form. The code itself is never stored. |
| Your location when you check in or out | When you tap Check in or Check out | To confirm you are on site | Only your distance from the site and whether it was within range. Not your coordinates. |
| Your location during a shift | About every 2 minutes, only while you are checked in, including when your phone is locked | To confirm you are still on site, and to close your day if you leave | Your latest position for that shift, replaced at each update. No trail of where you went. |
| Check-in and check-out times | Each shift | Your timesheet and pay | Your employer’s attendance records |
| Photos and voice notes | Only when you take or record one and send it | Proof of work, site issues, updates | With your employer’s project records |
When location stops
The app uses your location only between checking in and checking out. It stops when you check out, or when BuildFlow closes your day, for example after you leave the site. While it is on, Android shows a notification that BuildFlow is checking you are on site. You can turn location off at any time in your phone’s settings. You will then need to check in and out by hand.
What stays on your phone
Your sign-in (kept in your phone’s secure storage), recent data so the app works without signal, and anything waiting to send. Signing out removes your sign-in.
Who can see it
People at your employer whose role allows it, such as your site manager. BuildFlow staff only look at your employer’s data to give support. That access is time-limited and recorded, and your employer is told when it happens. We do not sell your information or use it for advertising.
How long it is kept
For as long as your employer uses BuildFlow, and for up to two years after your employer stops using it. After that it is permanently deleted. Ask your employer to correct or delete your information sooner.
Your rights
You may ask to see, correct or delete your information, or object to how it is used. Ask your employer first, or contact our Information Officer at brian@buildflowsiteos.co.za. You may also complain to the Information Regulator (inforegulator.org.za).
14.Contact Us
BuildFlow
Construction Operations Platform
Email: brian@buildflowsiteos.co.za
Website: buildflowsiteos.co.za