Web accessibility companies: Bridging the gap in digital equality

Written on May 17, 2024. Posted in Accessibility.

Everyone needs to have equal access to online resources – our lives are on the internet, so it’s more important than ever.

For ecommerce businesses, this means making your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Web accessibility companies play a big role in this process, helping businesses bridge the gap in digital equality. So let’s explore how web accessibility companies help and why investing in accessibility is beneficial for your ecommerce business.

Web accessibility and why do you need it

Web accessibility ensures that people with disabilities, including users with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments, can use your website effectively.

By making your website accessible, you comply with legal requirements and enhance the user experience for a significant portion of the population.

Over 1 billion people, or about 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability. Ignoring this demographic can mean losing potential customers and missing out on significant revenue. If you’re in ecommerce, losing customers might be the biggest nightmare.

Web accessibility companies specialize in helping businesses create inclusive websites. They offer a range of services, from conducting accessibility audits to implementing necessary changes.

These companies ensure that your website meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a set of international standards for web accessibility. But also, for some countries there might be additional regulations like ADA compliance in the US. By hiring a web accessibility company, you can make sure that your ecommerce site is usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities.

Ecommerce accessibility and challenges

People with disabilities often face significant challenges when shopping online due to various accessibility barriers.

For instance, individuals with visual impairments may struggle with websites that lack alt text for images, making it difficult for screen readers to convey the content. Low-contrast text can also be challenging for those with vision issues, leading to difficulties in reading product descriptions and other important information.

People with motor disabilities might find it hard to navigate sites that are not keyboard accessible, while those with cognitive impairments may struggle with complex layouts and inconsistent navigation. According to GAAD, 98.1% of home pages have at least one WCAG 2.0 failure. We can do better than that.

How web accessibility companies help

Web accessibility companies offer a spectrum of services to make your website accessible. First, they conduct a thorough audit to identify any accessibility issues. This audit covers everything from text readability and color contrast to keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility. By pinpointing each issue, they can create a detailed plan to address it.

Why do you need a website accessibility audit?

Once the audit is complete, web accessibility companies implement the necessary changes. This may include adding alt text to images, ensuring that all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard, and providing transcripts for audio content. These changes make your website more inclusive and improve the overall user experience. However making the website accessible includes more complex operations.

If you agree to that, web accessibility companies provide training and support to your team. They educate your staff on the importance of accessibility and how to maintain it. This ensures that your website remains accessible even as you update and expand it. At Byteout Software, we offer all these services under one roof, providing a seamless experience from start to finish.

Start by applying for a website accessibility audit 👉 here.

What do you get by investing in web accessibility

Investing in web accessibility offers numerous benefits for ecommerce businesses. First and foremost, it opens your website to a larger audience. By making your site accessible, you ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access your products and services. This can lead to increased traffic, higher conversion rates, and more sales.

Moreover, accessible websites often perform better in search engine rankings. Search engines like Google prioritize websites that offer a good user experience, including accessibility. By improving your site’s accessibility, you can boost your SEO efforts and attract more organic traffic.

Legal compliance is another critical benefit. Many countries have laws and regulations that require websites to be accessible. By partnering with web accessibility companies, you can ensure that your site complies with these regulations and avoid potential legal issues. We stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility standards and regulations to keep your website compliant. Plus, we’re a full-service ecommerce agency that might give you the whole image.

Why we’re into website accessibility

Our goal is to help ecommerce businesses achieve digital equality. Our team of experts provides web accessibility services, from audits and implementation to full support. We understand the unique challenges that ecommerce businesses face and offer solutions to meet your needs.

No matter which one you choose for your needs, web accessibility companies play a vital role in making the internet a more inclusive place. For ecommerce businesses, investing in accessibility is a legal requirement but also a smart business move. You ensure that your website is usable by everyone, leading to increased traffic, higher conversion rates, and better SEO performance.