Savira launches free privacy tools for small firms

Savira has launched a privacy and consent management platform for small and medium businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The service includes a free Starter plan and free privacy training.

The Sydney-based company built the platform for businesses that collect personal information away from a website, including at property inspections, patient appointments, venue entrances and vehicle test drives.

The launch comes as privacy compliance faces closer scrutiny in Australia, particularly in sectors that gather personal information in person. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has reviewed privacy policies in areas including rental and property, pharmacies, licensed venues, car rental businesses, car dealerships, and pawnbrokers and second-hand dealers.

That focus matters for smaller operators because privacy obligations do not always depend on turnover. Health service providers that hold health information are covered by the Privacy Act even if they would otherwise fall within the small business exemption, bringing medical practices, dentists, pharmacists and allied health providers such as physiotherapists into scope.

Rules have also widened for other professions. Real estate professionals, lawyers, conveyancers, accountants, trust and company service providers, and dealers in precious metals and stones became reporting entities under Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime from 1 July 2026. That means the Privacy Act applies to personal information handled in connection with those obligations, regardless of business size.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner estimates that more than 100,000 small businesses have been brought within the Privacy Act for the first time through those changes.

Free entry

Savira's free Starter plan is aimed at micro businesses and startups. It includes consent management for up to 1,000 contact records, snapshot reporting, two compliance templates and access to a self-help centre.

The company has also released privacy training modules to help owners and staff understand the Australian Privacy Principles and their responsibilities when handling personal information.

Paid Growth and Pro plans add higher contact volumes, reporting, integrations and artificial intelligence-assisted functions for businesses with more complex needs.

Savira is entering a market where many tools have been designed for larger organisations or focused narrowly on website cookie notices. Its pitch is that smaller businesses need a broader way to track consent and privacy records across everyday operations.

Evelyn Daoud, Principal, C & E Property Co, said, "We're collecting people's details every single day, at open homes, inspections and throughout the customer journey. With privacy under greater scrutiny, we needed something practical we could actually use, not a $10,000 enterprise system. A free way to start getting this right is exactly what agencies like ours have been crying out for."

Broader changes

Australia's privacy rules continue to evolve. Further requirements under the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 are due to take effect in December 2026, including new transparency obligations for certain automated decisions that use personal information and could significantly affect an individual's rights or interests.

Separately, the Australian Government has published draft privacy reform proposals that point to a tighter approach to consent and data handling. They include a new definition of consent that must be voluntary, informed, current, specific and unambiguous, shorter timeframes for data breach notifications, and treatment of precise location tracking data as sensitive information.

For smaller businesses, the practical challenge is not only understanding whether the law applies to them, but also keeping internal processes current as obligations change. That creates demand for systems that can document consents, maintain records and support staff training without requiring specialist privacy teams.

Vicki Iszatt, Director, OMDIGI Group, said, "Savira transformed our consent management. It's given us greater customer trust, simpler processes and real peace of mind. With the focus on privacy right now, having a practical way to manage consent has become essential for us."

Tori Starkey, Managing Director, Savira, said, "Privacy tools have been built and priced for big companies for too long, but smaller businesses collect personal information every day too. A physio clinic, real estate agency or local venue shouldn't need an enterprise privacy team to get the basics right. That's the gap we're trying to close with Savira. We're starting free and including training because we want businesses to understand what they're responsible for, then give them a simple way to put that into practice."