The law based on the EU Accessibility Directive, also known as the Digital Services Act, will expand to cover most e-commerce platforms in the summer of 2025. Accessible e-commerce benefits all users and supports the growth of your business. If an online store is not usable with a keyboard or screen reader, many users will find it impossible to make purchases and are unlikely to return. However, it’s important to remember that true e-commerce accessibility goes beyond just meeting technical requirements and should not be done solely with legal compliance in mind.
What does the legal change mean for e-commerce?
In practice, this means that e-commerce websites must comply with WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines and be accessible to all users by the deadline, which is June 28, 2025. This ensures that e-commerce platforms are usable for people with various disabilities. It’s advisable to begin working on improving accessibility as soon as possible to meet the requirements on time.
What is an accessible e-commerce platform?
An accessible e-commerce platform must provide all users with a barrier-free and easy-to-use shopping experience. The interface should be clear, logical, and intuitive so that all users can easily find the information and products they need. Here are some concrete examples of how to implement accessibility:
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Navigation and logical structure: The structure of the site should be easily understandable and navigable without obstacles, for example, by using a keyboard.
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Clear visual appearance: Buttons should be large enough, and visual elements should have sufficient contrast to stand out, even for users with low vision.
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Simple interface: The interface should be straightforward and simple, allowing users to navigate between different stages easily. Searching for products and completing purchases should be straightforward and fast.
How can we help?
The first step in improving accessibility is to assess the current state of your e-commerce platform. This can be done through an accessibility audit to identify problem areas. After the audit, corrective measures should be implemented gradually to ensure that the e-commerce platform meets the legal requirements on time. If the site requires extensive changes, it may be worth considering building a completely new platform with accessibility in mind from the design phase.
As a result of our audit, you will receive a clear list of actions needed to make the e-commerce platform accessible and compliant with the law. We specialize in improving the accessibility of e-commerce websites and meeting legal requirements. We offer comprehensive audits, design recommendations, and implementation support to ensure that your online store is ready to meet future accessibility requirements.
Don’t wait until the last minute! Contact us today to ensure your e-commerce platform is accessible to all users well before June 2025.