E-Commerce Website Accessibility Audit

E-commerce Website Accessibility Audit

Meet EAA compliance according to WCAG standards before June 28, 2025

Accessibility is Now The Law in Ireland. Is Your Business Ready To Meet Compliance?

The European Accessibility Act is now part of Irish law, requiring businesses to make all digital services accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. This legislation covers various sectors, especially e-commerce, and enforces compliance by June 28, 2025. This law enforces businesses to comply with WCAG Level AA standards to create a more inclusive digital environment across Ireland and the EU.

Be Inclusive, Stay Legal, and Boost Your Business with Our Expert Accessibility Audits!

Why Website Accessibility is Essential For E-Commerce?

Accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement under the European Accessibility Act (EAA), it’s a critical part of creating an inclusive and positive experience for all customers. Ensuring your website meets accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), helps you reach a broader audience and significantly improve your business’s performance.

When you make your e-commerce website accessible, you can:

What is The European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a landmark piece of legislation aimed at improving accessibility across a wide range of products and services for people with disabilities within the European Union. This law, recently implemented in Ireland, requires businesses, including e-commerce websites, to make their digital services accessible to all users.

For e-commerce businesses, this means ensuring that your websites, apps, and online services comply with established accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. This ensures strict compliance with the EN 301 549 Web Accessibility Directive (WAD). These standards focus on making digital platforms user-friendly for individuals with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities.

As a matter of fact:

By June 28, 2025, all e-commerce websites must comply with accessibility standards!

Beyond Compliance: Building a Truly Inclusive Online Experience With Our Exceptional Audit Services

Our e-commerce accessibility audits thoroughly evaluate your website to ensure it meets the required accessibility standards. We focus on making your site user-friendly for everyone, including people with disabilities, and complying with the European Accessibility Act. Here’s what our audit services include:

Key Focus Areas For Accessibility
of E-commerce Websites

When it comes to making your e-commerce website accessible, we go beyond the basics to
ensure every element is user-friendly and inclusive for all. Here are the key areas we focus on:

Effortless
Interface

We create clear, intuitive navigation structures so every visitor can easily explore your site, regardless of their abilities, with well-organised menus, clear labels, and logical navigation structures.

Accessible
Forms

Our forms are designed to be accessible to everyone. They have clear labels, helpful error messages, and keyboard navigation options, making checkout and communication smooth and hassle-free.

Seamless Keyboard
Navigation

We ensure your site can be fully navigated using just a keyboard, catering to users with motor impairments and enabling those who rely on assistive technologies to access your content.

Vibrant & Readable
Colour Contrast

Strong, high-contrast colour schemes improve readability and are easy to distinguish, ensuring your content stands out clearly for all users and is readable for users with visual impairments.

Descriptive Alt Text
for Every Image

We provide meaningful alternative text for images, helping screen readers convey visual content and allowing users to understand it.

ARIA
Landmarks

Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) landmarks to improve navigation for screen reader users.

Captions & Transcripts
for Multimedia

Captions and transcripts for videos ensure that users with hearing impairments can engage with your multimedia content, making it convenient for all users.

Customisable
Text Sizes

We enable easy adjustments to text size on your website to suit their preferences so users can personalise their reading experience and improve legibility, making it easier for them to read your content.

Manual
Testing

Perform manual testing to identify issues that automated tools might miss. This includes testing keyboard navigation screen reader compatibility and checking the website’s overall usability for people with disabilities.

User Testing with
Assistive Technologies

Engage users with disabilities to test your website using assistive technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and voice recognition software. This will provide real-world insights into your site’s accessibility.

Detailed Documentation & Reporting: A Necessary Part of EAA

Don’t risk non-compliance because we are here to make:

Accessibility Statement:

Help draft and publish an accessibility statement that reflects your website’s current compliance status and ongoing commitment to accessibility and contact information for reporting accessibility issues.

Compliance Reporting:

Document all steps taken to improve accessibility and maintain records of audits, user tests, and fixes implemented. This can be important for demonstrating compliance in case of legal scrutiny.

Our Simple 3-Step Audit Process

Request Audit

Request a detailed audit for your website.

Website Analysis

We analyse your website for accessibility issues.

Get Report

Get a detailed report on accessiblity issues.

What Are The Benefits of Prioritising Accessibility?

Better SEO

Making your e-commerce website accessible helps boost SEO. Accessibility features, like proper alt text and semantic HTML, improve search engine visibility, leading to higher rankings and increased organic traffic.

Increased Sales

An accessible website opens your store to a broader audience, including people with disabilities. Your products and services are now available to a wider audience, which increases the possibility of sales.

Enhanced Reputation

Showing that your business values inclusivity by prioritising accessibility enhances your brand reputation. Customers are more likely to support businesses that are socially responsible and offer equal access to all.

Penalties For Breaching The EAA's Requirements

Businesses that neglect accessibility requirements may face substantial fines, legal action, and damage to their reputation.

Failing to comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) in Ireland can lead to significant consequences. There are two main types of penalties for non-compliance:

Summary Conviction

Penalties for a summary conviction may include fines or short-term imprisonment for up to 6 months, depending on the severity of the breach. In Ireland, the fines can range from €2,500 to €5,000 for less serious offences.

Indicted Conviction

Penalties for an indicted conviction can be much more severe, including heavier fines or longer imprisonment terms of up to 18 months. Fines in Ireland for indicted convictions can go beyond €10,000 to €60,000.

Day(s)

Hour(s)

Minute(s)

Second(s)

Time’s Ticking – Be Accessible Before June 2025!

Don’t wait until the last minute! June 28, 2025, is coming quickly. Make your website accessible
today to avoid costly fines. Ensure your site is inclusive and compliant before time runs out!

Take The First Step Towards An Accessible E-Commerce Site Because Time is Running Out!

Frequently Asked
Questions About Accessibility

Can existing websites be made accessible, or do they need to be rebuilt?

In most cases, existing websites can be updated to meet accessibility standards without a full rebuild. Our audits provide actionable recommendations for improving your current site, helping you avoid a complete overhaul.

How long does an audit take?

The length of an accessibility audit depends on the size and complexity of your website. Typically, a full audit can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. After the audit, you’ll receive a detailed report with actionable steps for improvement.

What happens if my website isn’t compliant?

If your website doesn’t meet the accessibility standards by the June 28, 2025, deadline, your business could face significant penalties, including fines or legal action. Non-compliance may also negatively impact your brand’s reputation and limit your potential customer base.

How can I ensure that my e-commerce website remains accessible in the future?

To ensure that your e-commerce website remains accessible in the future, you should regularly conduct accessibility audits and make necessary updates.

What are some common accessibility barriers in e-commerce websites?

Some common accessibility barriers in e-commerce websites include a lack of keyboard navigation, poor colour contrast, missing or incorrect alternative text for images, complex forms and flash-based content.

How can I test the accessibility of my e-commerce website?

You can test the accessibility of your e-commerce website using automated testing tools, manual testing, and feedback from users with disabilities.