FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Data privacy is important for our users, what data does your SDK collect?
The SDK operates with total anonymity. We create random ID’s for each SDK user, so we don’t process or collect any personally identifiable data and we never know who your users are. We use a combination of random tokens and ID’s to track purchases and provide you an API to display credits/savings earnt back to your user. The keyboard we have built only works in a search or URL field and never stores any of the user inputs or key strokes.

Does the user need to start their shopping journey in our mobile app?
No - we have gone to great lengths to ensure your core app functionaility goes unchanged, and there is limited UX/UI changes required. Once the feature is enabled, it will work everytime the user opens up the browser on their phone and starts shopping. This reflects the natural user shopping behaviour, helping increase adoption by 500%.

Does the keyboard work in every browser?
Yes - the keyboard works in all browsers (Chrome, Safari, etc.) As well as the spotlight search bar on iPhones. The keyboard only suggests deals when in a search or URL field. This helps minimise any negative impact on UX/UI, e.g. when a user types a message in WhatsApp, the deals do not pop up.

How many deals are there?
We have partnered with 30,000+ merchants in 52 countries. Our extensive coverage means there is usually a saving on the brand your users are looking for. We are always growing, adding new merchants every month.

How many charities are there?
We currently work with 22,000 charities globally, enabling your users to support a charity they choose with every purchase. We then take care of the donation out of their cash back saving on each purchase. Alternatively, you can elect a charity as part of the SDK implementation to default for your users.

How do we get paid?
Kindred provides an API showing you the amount your users have saved in real time. If this is being converted into in app credit, in-game currency, or coming off their bill, we then provide a statement and payment each month. Your commission on every purchase is provided in a separate regular report and paid out. If the user is withdrawing their saving as cash, we take care of that automatically using a hosted wallet that sits in the keyboard.

What about the latest iOS privacy requirements?
We conform to all iOS and Android developer requirements, with multiple versions approved by both app stores. Importantly, the SDK requires no cross-app tracking to work, and so we do not require the cross app opt in by users.

Key Terms:

The Kindred SDK - The SDK (software development kit) licensed under this agreement is a keyboard extension comprising a proprietary keyboard interception layer, API's and a keyboard functionality which surfaces search results from Kindred's database of merchant offers (discount codes, cash back or similar benefits), connects end users with those merchant offers as they shop on their mobile devices, and enables users to allocate a portion of the merchant's offer to their chosen charities.

Commission - Kindred will pay to Licensee 25% of Kindred’s net revenue from the merchant, for each activated and completed end-user transaction, as further specified in section 6 below. Paid monthly based on monthly and statements.

Commission:

How is the commission calculated –

The Commission is payable on the merchant's commission to Kindred for each completed and validated transaction between the End User and the merchant activated through the Implemented App. The merchant's commission is determined by the agreement in place between Kindred and the relevant merchant or aggregator.
Kindred shall provide monthly statements to the Licensee.

Example Calculation:
The following is provided as an illustrative example of a Commission calculation, for an End User in a given month:

AVG Basket Value: £50.00
Transactions per month: 2
Total GMV per month: £100.00
Average merchant commission: 4%
Total commission from merchant: £4.00
% to end user as cash back/in-app credit: 60%
User savings: £2.40
% to Kindred: 40%
Amount credited to Kindred: £1.60
Licensee's Commission: 25%
Commission credited to Licensee: £0.40

When the Commission is payable:
Kindred shall produce a statement of Commission to the Licensee monthly at the end of each calendar month, and then on receipt of a valid invoice from the Licensee, Kindred shall pay this invoice within 90 days.

Data:

Data generated and processed:
The Licensed Technology generates unique tokenised IDs each time an End User navigates to and selects a merchant offer surfaced by the Kindred SDK. Kindred processes such IDs together with limited transaction data (basket amount, merchant's commission amount, time of transaction, merchant's referral URL) solely for the purpose of matching and authenticating transaction data from the merchant, crediting discounted amounts to End Users and their chosen charities, accounting for the Commission and crediting it to the Licensee.

Data excluded from processing:
Kindred does not collect or process End User's card details or any other personal data of (or capable of identifying) the End User. The Licensee does not need to transfer any personal data of its End Users to Kindred in order to operate the Licensed Technology and make use of the Settlement Service and shall not transfer any such personal data to Kindred.

How Data will be used:
End User transaction data generated and collected by the Licensed Technology and Settlement Service will only be used by Kindred to operate and improve the Licensed Technology and Settlement Service. Kindred will not license or sell any such data or any generated IDs to third parties.

Data Available to Licence:
Kindred shall provide aggregated data relating to Licensee's End User transactions (such as is available to Kindred in the normal course of operating the Settlement Service) to the Licensee on request.

How Secure is the Keyboard?

Information Security:
Kindred operates an information security management system (ISMS) aligned with the international standard ISO 27001: a best-practice approach to information security addressing people, processes and technology. Kindred is certified under ISO 27001 and will carry out periodic audits at its cost (both internally and with external auditors). Kindred shall provide copies of such audits and its certification status to the Licensee on request.

Penetration Testing:
Kindred shall conduct annual penetration tests.

Licensee's audit rights:
Kindred shall grant to Licensee (including to Licensee's auditors) access to its systems, personnel and records during normal business hours as reasonably required to verify Kindred's statements used to calculate the Commission payable, or to enable Licensee to fulfil any formal request by a regulator. Licensee shall provide at least 10 business days' notice prior to an audit.

Audit Costs: The party undertaking an audit shall bear the cost of it.

Merchant Commissions:
All Merchant discounts, special offers or commissions (“commissions”) made available to End Users are determined by the merchants. Kindred will distribute the commission to End Users (and where relevant to their chosen charities and to the Licensee) based on the amount received from the merchant. The amount of commission the merchant decides to pay per transaction is outside of Kindred’s control. The merchant’s decision is final in relation to commission amounts distributable by Kindred on any transaction.

End User Terms:

User terms of use:
Licensee shall be responsible for providing to its End Users the necessary terms of use, legal notices and opt-in procedures as required by law to inform End Users of their rights and obligations with regard to relevant functionality of the Licensed Technology as embedded in the Implemented App.

Terms that must be included:

In addition to the general obligation above, Licensee is recommended to include provisions in its End User terms and privacy policy substantially similar to the following provisions. "You" refers to the End User. Other definitions are used in accordance with this agreement and can be adapted by Licensee as required.

(a)

The [Insert App name] has a feature that acts as a platform to connect You to merchants and special offers provided by those merchants. You will enter into a direct relationship with the merchant in relation to any purchase you choose to make, and any matter relating to the fulfilment, payment, returns and refunds is a matter between you and the merchant.

(b)

Discounts, cash-back earnings and special offers ("Cashback") which You may access as the result of signing up to features in [Insert app name] are determined by the relevant merchants and the amounts are therefore outside of the control of Licensee and its technology partners. The merchant's decision is final in relation to the amount of Cashback distributable to You on any transactions. If you choose to donate between 1%-100% of the discount to a charity of your choice the remainder will be credited to you as described below.

(c)

Cashback payments will be available for processing and crediting to Your account or wallet following the end of the applicable returns policy for that transaction (as per the merchant's terms of sale) - this is normally 90 days but may be longer for some merchants. Any credits to Your account with [Insert app name] will further be dependent on the merchant’s transaction validation and cycle, final validation of the transaction by the merchant, your billing cycle or other [Insert app name] internal processes - so an additional delay may occur above the applicable returns period.

(d)

The [Insert app name] connects you with merchants through our trusted technology and transaction processing partner Kindred Soul Ltd (“Kindred”) . Kindred provides the technology that enables you to receive your Cashback from merchants and to allocate a portion of it to your chosen charity.

By using the [Insert App name, You are instructing [Licensee] and, indirectly, Kindred to collect Cashback due from validated transactions from the merchant and credit the Cashback to You or to Your account with [insert app name]. [Note for Licensee: if the credit is used to reduce the user’s next bill, converted into game currency or similar, then this paragraph should be adapted to reflect this to make it clear that the user is not receiving it in cash form]

(e)

Kindred does not hold funds on your behalf. The Cashback assigned to your transaction (excluding the amount you have allocated for donation to a charity) will be the property of Kindred Soul Ltd until a withdrawal request has been made by You or on Your behalf by [insert app name]. Legal title to your portion of the Cashback will pass to You once it has been successfully withdrawn from Kindred and credited to you.