Why Accessibility in E-Commerce Is Essential
Accessibility means designing online shops so that they can be used by as many people as possible without restrictions—regardless of physical or cognitive limitations. This includes:
People with visual impairments, who require screen readers or special contrast settings.
Users with motor impairments, who rely on keyboard navigation or alternative input devices.
People with cognitive disabilities, who need clear and simple navigation.
Beyond the social responsibility, there are also economic and legal reasons to take accessibility seriously. The WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) set the international standard for digital accessibility. Additionally, an increasing number of countries, including Germany with its Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), are enforcing legal requirements for accessible webshops.
Exceptions: Companies providing services (e.g., webshops) with fewer than 10 employees and either a maximum annual turnover of €2 million or a maximum annual balance sheet total of €2 million.
Technical Implementation of Accessibility
As web developers, we use modern technologies and best practices to build fully accessible online shops from the ground up or optimize existing systems. Our measures include:
Compliance with WCAG 2.2 and WACA standards – We follow the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Web Accessibility Compliance Assessment (WACA) requirements to ensure the highest standards.
Clean, semantic HTML – Properly structured code enhances usability for screen readers and assistive technologies.
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) landmarks and attributes – We strategically implement ARIA roles to make dynamic content and interactive elements understandable for assistive technologies.
Keyboard navigation and focus management – All interactive elements are fully operable via keyboard, with intuitive focus management.
Alternative text for images and media – Visual content is supplemented with descriptive alt text to make it accessible to blind or visually impaired users.
Color contrast and font sizes – We ensure sufficiently high contrast and flexible font sizes for optimal readability.
Simple and intuitive navigation – A clear structure and user-friendly menu facilitate the shopping experience for all users.
Form and error handling – Forms are easy to fill out, clearly labeled, and provide helpful feedback in case of errors.
Transition periods: The operation of a webshop itself is not covered by the specified transition periods. Existing webshops must therefore be made accessible by June 28, 2025, unless an exception applies.
Testing Accessibility: Tools and Evaluation
To ensure an online shop is accessible, we rely on a combination of automated tests and manual reviews:
Automated Testing Tools:
WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
AXE Accessibility Testing
Lighthouse (Google Chrome DevTools)
Pa11y
Siteimprove Accessibility Checker
Manual Testing with Screen Readers:
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
VoiceOver (macOS and iOS)
Validation by Testing Bodies:
BIK BITV Test (Germany)
WACA Certification
WCAG Compliance Tests
Accessibility as a Competitive Advantage
Companies that prioritize accessibility benefit from greater reach, improved usability, and stronger customer loyalty. Additionally, an accessible website often enhances search engine rankings, as Google favors accessible content.
Our goal is to create e-commerce platforms that are accessible to all—without compromising on design or functionality. With our expertise and experience, we help businesses make their online shops accessible, ensuring compliance with legal requirements while fostering an inclusive shopping experience for all.
Would you like to learn more about how we can make your online shop accessible? Feel free to contact us for a non-binding consultation!
