Online shopping must be more accessible to people with disabilities
August 2024 - From next year, European companies will have to make their digital products and services more accessible to people with disabilities. This new obligation, set out in the European Accessibility Act (EAA), will have a major impact on several sectors. Online shops, streaming services, e-books and even self-service checkouts in supermarkets will have to meet new accessibility standards...
From Spotify to Netflix, from ATM to payment terminal
The European Accessibility Act takes into account a wide range of disabilities, including visual, hearing, motor and cognitive impairments such as dyslexia... The law requires companies to design their digital platforms so that they are accessible to all. This means that online shops must ensure that their websites and applications are easy to use for people with different disabilities. This involves not only the legibility of texts, but also the use of technologies such as screen readers.
However, the law goes beyond online shops. Banks, providers of streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix, and even manufacturers of consumer electronics such as smartphones must also adapt their products and services... This means that ATMs, payment terminals and cash dispensers should also become more accessible.
Challenges and opportunities for businesses
Although the law will not come into force until 28 June 2025, it is important for companies to start adapting now. Companies employing more than 10 people and with an annual turnover or balance sheet total of at least €2 million are required to adapt. Small businesses and the self-employed are excluded for the time being, but can still enjoy the benefits of a more accessible service.
Recent surveys show that many businesses still have a long way to go. A sample of 260,000 websites in Europe revealed that 94% of the Belgian sites surveyed did not meet accessibility criteria... The most common problems are poor colour contrast and the lack of description of links and buttons, which is essential for people using voice technology...
The way forward
The transition to digital accessibility is not limited to technical adaptations... It requires an integrated approach involving not only website designers, but also editors and graphic designers... Adjusting colour contrasts and improving the readability of websites are relatively simple, inexpensive measures that can have a major impact.
For businesses, the new regulations also offer opportunities. By making their services more accessible, they can reach a wider audience. Research suggests that companies can attract up to 30 per cent more customers by making their products and services fully accessible to people with disabilities.
