Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how SMI - Digital ("we", "us", and "our") uses cookies, pixel tags, local storage, and similar technologies (collectively referred to as "Cookies") when you visit our website at https://www.smi-digital.com. It explains what these technologies are and why we use them, as well as your rights to control their use.
Please also read our Privacy Policy if you would like more information on how SMI - Digital collects, uses, and shares your personal data.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Cookies contain information that can later be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie. Website operators use cookies for various reasons, such as to make their websites work (or work more efficiently), to provide personalized content, or to generate website analytics.
Cookies are typically divided into "session cookies," which are automatically deleted as soon as you close your browser, and "persistent cookies," which remain on your device until you delete them or they expire. Cookies set by the website operator (in this case, SMI - Digital are called "first-party cookies". Only we can access them. Cookies set by parties other than the website operator are called "third-party cookies". These enable third-party features or functionality to be provided on or through the website (e.g., advertising, interactive content, or analytics). The parties that set these third-party cookies can recognize your device both when it visits our website and, in some cases, when it visits certain other websites.
In addition to cookies, we use similar technologies such as Local Storage. This allows a website to store information locally on your device to ensure certain functionalities (e.g., to save your choice in the cookie banner so that it does not reappear with every page view).
Why do we use Cookies?
We use cookies for three main reasons:
- Strictly Necessary: To make our website work and to save your consent preferences.
- Analytics & Statistics: To analyze usage patterns and improve the website.
- Marketing: To manage advertising campaigns and measure their success.
Details about the specific cookies can be found in the table below.
Types of Cookies
| Name | Type | Provider / Domain | Category | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cookieConsent | Local Storage | SMI – Digital (First Party) | Necessary | until withdrawal / max. 12 months | Stores your choice in the cookie banner |
| theme | Local Storage | SMI – Digital (First Party) | Necessary | persistent, until you delete it | Stores the selected appearance (light/dark) |
| smi_attribution | Cookie + Local Storage | SMI – Digital (First Party) | Marketing | 90 days | Attributes your request to the advertising source you came to us from |
| _ga | Cookie | Google (First Party) | Analytics | 2 years | Distinguishes visitors via a pseudonymous ID |
| _ga_<Container-ID> | Cookie | Google (First Party) | Analytics | 2 years | Persists the session state for Google Analytics 4 |
| _gcl_au | Cookie | Google (First Party) | Marketing | 90 days | Conversion Linker – links ad clicks to conversions |
| _gcl_aw, _gcl_dc, _gcl_gb | Cookie | Google (First Party) | Marketing | 90 days | Stores the ad-click identifier after a click on an ad |
| _gac_<Ads-ID> | Cookie | Google (First Party) | Marketing | 90 days | Links campaign data with Google Analytics |
| IDE, test_cookie | Cookie | doubleclick.net (Third Party) | Marketing | 13 months / 15 minutes | Recognition for remarketing – only when remarketing is enabled |
| __cf_bm | Cookie | Cloudflare (Third Party) | Necessary | 30 minutes | Bot detection as part of the spam protection in the booking form (Turnstile) |
| Google Tag Manager | no cookie | Google Ireland Ltd. | Necessary (management) | no storage | Loads and controls the other services. Sets no cookies itself, but transmits your IP address to Google when loaded. |
| Consent Mode signals | no cookie | Google Ireland Ltd. / Google LLC | No access to your device | no storage on your device | Cookieless signals transmitted to Google even without your consent — see “What happens if you decline?” |
Cookies from Google (_ga, _gcl_*, _gac_*) and from doubleclick.net may involve a transfer of data to Google LLC in the USA. This is based on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF) and Standard Contractual Clauses. For details, please see our Privacy Policy.
What happens if you decline?
If you select “Decline All” in the banner, no cookies requiring consent are set andno information is read from your end device. We want to be transparent here, however: we use Google Consent Mode v2 in its advanced mode. This means the Google Tag Manager container is still loaded and the Google services it contains transmit so-called cookieless signals to Google.
These signals contain your IP address, technical information about your browser and end device, the page requested and the time — but no identifier that would allow your device to be recognised. Google uses them exclusively to produce statistically estimated evaluations of the effectiveness of our advertising. No user profile is created in the process.
The legal basis for this is our legitimate interests under Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. You may object at any time, informally — an email to kontakt@smi-digital.com is sufficient. Further details can be found in the “Google Consent Mode v2” section of our privacy policy.
How can you control Cookies?
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies.
- Through our Cookie Banner: SMI - Digital offers you the option to set your preferences (separately for analytics and marketing) directly on our website. You can find the settings or the option to withdraw your consent at any time via the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of our website.
- Browser Controls: Additionally, you can set or amend your web browser controls to accept or refuse cookies. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. If you choose to reject cookies, you may still use our website, though your access to some functionality and areas of our website may be restricted. As the means by which you can refuse cookies through your web browser controls vary from browser-to-browser, you should visit your browser's help menu for more information.
How often do we update this Cookie Policy?
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to the cookies we use or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Please revisit this page regularly to stay informed about our use of cookies and similar technologies.
The date at the bottom of this Policy indicates when it was last updated.
Where can you get further information?
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please email us at team@smi-digital.com.
Last updated:August 13, 2026