This Privacy Notice explains how Bühler AG (“we”, “us”, “Controller”) processes personal data when you choose to communicate with us via WhatsApp Business.
Use of WhatsApp is voluntary. You are free to contact us through other channels, such as email, telephone, contact form, or post.
Before communicating with us via WhatsApp, you must:
WhatsApp is used exclusively for service operations and customer support communications.
If you do not choose WhatsApp or do not consent, we will not contact you through WhatsApp.
The controller for the processing described in this notice is:
Bühler AG
Gupfenstrasse 5, 9240, Uzwil, Switzerland
Email: dataprotection@buhlergroup.com
Phone :+41 71 955 11 11
Privacy Contact
dataprotection@buhlergroup.com
If you choose WhatsApp as a communication channel, we may process the following personal data:
your name
your mobile / phone number
your WhatsApp username/profile name
your profile picture, if visible to us
the content of messages exchanged with us
attachments you send us, such as documents, images, videos, or voice messages
metadata relating to the communication, such as date, time, delivery/read status
any other information you voluntarily provide through WhatsApp
technical communication and routing data processed through our omnichannel provider CommBox.io
We ask that you do not send sensitive personal data via WhatsApp. This includes, for example, health data, financial account details, government ID numbers, or other confidential information.
We process your personal data via WhatsApp for the following purposes:
communicating with you in response to your request
handling customer service inquiries
providing information about our products or services
processing and managing your request, order, or support case
documenting communication for internal administration and quality purposes
protecting our legitimate interests, such as evidence, compliance, and security
We will only use WhatsApp communication for the purposes communicated to you and within the scope of your choice of channel and consent.
Where the GDPR applies, the legal bases are:
Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR – your consent, because you actively choose WhatsApp and agree to its use
Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR – where processing is necessary to take steps at your request or to perform a contract
Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR – our legitimate interests in efficient customer communication, documentation, and service administration, where applicable
Where the Swiss FDPA applies, we process personal data in accordance with the principles of the FDPA, transparency, proportionality, purpose limitation, and data security.
You may withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future, for example by informing us that you no longer wish to communicate via WhatsApp. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.
We use WhatsApp Business for customer communication. We also use CommBox.io as an omnichannel service provider to manage communications across channels. In this context, CommBox.io acts as our processor and processes personal data on our behalf to provide and administer the communication service.
Please note that when you communicate with us via WhatsApp, personal data may also be processed by WhatsApp/Meta under their own responsibility and according to their own privacy terms. We have limited influence over such processing by WhatsApp/Meta.
Further information is available here:
Use of WhatsApp may involve the transfer of personal data to countries outside Switzerland, the EEA, or the UK, including countries that may not provide an equivalent level of data protection. Personal data may also be processed by CommBox.io and its sub-processors, including in countries outside Switzerland, the EEA, or the UK, subject to appropriate safeguards where required
Where such transfers take place, they may be based on:
an adequacy decision, where available
standard contractual clauses
other lawful transfer mechanisms or exceptions permitted under applicable law
in some cases, your explicit consent and your voluntary use of WhatsApp as the chosen communication channel
Please note that communication through WhatsApp may involve risks typical for cross-border electronic communication and third-party messaging platforms.
No. The use of WhatsApp is not mandatory.
You may contact us at any time through alternative channels, such as:
Email & Phone (regional Customer Service hotlines):
Europe – copc.europe@buhlergroup.com and +41 71 955 71 71
Africa, Middle East & India – copc.mai@buhlergroup.com and +91 92402 21200
North, Central & South America – copc.americas@buhlergroup.com and +52 722 262 0557
Hotline Link: (overview of all our Hotline contact) https://www.buhlergroup.com/global/en/contact/Hotline.html
Contact form: https://www.buhlergroup.com/global/en/contact.html
Post: Bühler AG, Gupfenstrasse 5, 9240 Uzwil, Switzerland.
Your decision not to use WhatsApp will not disadvantage you, unless communication via WhatsApp is specifically requested by you for convenience.
We retain WhatsApp communications only for the purposes described in this notice, including:
handling your request
customer support and follow-up
compliance with legal obligations
documentation and defense of legal claims
Messages may be deleted earlier where no longer needed or retained longer if required by law or for legal reasons.
You may request that we no longer communicate with you via WhatsApp at any time.
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data processed by us. However, communication via messaging services may involve inherent security risks.
Although WhatsApp uses encryption technologies, we cannot fully exclude risks associated with electronic communications, third-party platforms, unauthorized access to end devices, or data processing by the platform provider.
For this reason, please do not use WhatsApp for sending highly sensitive or confidential information.
Where applicable under the GDPR and/or Swiss FDPA, you may have the following rights:
right to request access to your personal data
right to request rectification
right to request deletion
right to request restriction of processing
right to object to certain processing
right to data portability, where applicable
right to withdraw consent at any time
right to lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority
To exercise your rights, please contact us at: dataprotection@buhlergroup.com
We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect legal, technical, or operational changes. The latest version will be made available to you through the relevant channel.
