Digital accessibility is not an optional feature but a legal requirement

Accessibility is not a one-time project but an ongoing process. Our services cover the entire lifecycle: from initial auditing through remediation of identified barriers to continuous monitoring and team training. In over 50+ projects we have gained experience that we have consolidated into six coordinated service areas.

The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) has been in effect since June 28, 2025 and affects a wide range of digital products and services. Online shops selling products or services to consumers must make their websites accessible. The same applies to banking services, passenger transport, telecommunications and electronic books. Violations can result in fines of up to 100,000 euros (Source: BFSG Section 37). Additionally, consumer protection associations can file injunction lawsuits under the Consumer Rights Enforcement Act, which can lead to considerable legal costs.

The technical requirements of the BFSG reference the harmonized European standard EN 301 549, which in turn references WCAG 2.1 AA as the minimum standard for web content. Since WCAG 2.2 was published as an official W3C standard in October 2023 and represents the state of the art, we recommend conformance with WCAG 2.2 AA. The additional success criteria in WCAG 2.2, including Draggable Movements, Accessible Authentication and Consistent Help, address real usage barriers that frequently occur in practice.

The question of whether their own company falls under the BFSG concerns many managing directors and e-commerce managers. The short answer: virtually every online shop selling products or services to consumers is affected. Only micro-enterprises with fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover of no more than two million euros are exempt, and this exemption only applies to certain product categories (Source: BFSG Section 3 Para. 3). Even if your company formally falls under the exemption, we strongly recommend implementing accessibility: according to Aktion Mensch, around 7.8 million severely disabled people live in Germany (Source: Destatis 2023), and over 17 million people in Germany are over 65 (Source: Destatis 2024). These people are potential customers you can reach with an accessible website.

An accessibility audit is only as good as its methodology. Automated tools like axe-core, Lighthouse and WAVE are indispensable but demonstrably detect only around 30 to 50 percent of all accessibility issues (Source: WebAIM 2024). Complex barriers such as inconsistent navigation order, incomprehensible error messages or poor screen reader compatibility require human expertise. That is why we combine automated scans with manual expert evaluation and testing with assistive technologies. This three-pillar approach ensures that our WCAG 2.2 audit provides a realistic picture of the actual accessibility of your digital offerings.

Companies that view accessibility exclusively as a regulatory obligation are leaving significant business potential on the table. According to a study by Aktion Mensch, people with disabilities in Germany have an annual purchasing power of approximately 8 billion euros (Source: Aktion Mensch 2023). Add to that over 17 million people over 65 who increasingly shop online and benefit from accessible interfaces (Source: Destatis 2024). A WebAIM analysis of one million homepages found that 95.9 percent of all tested pages had at least one WCAG error (Source: WebAIM Million 2024). This means: companies that consistently make their websites accessible stand out in a market where the vast majority of competitors are not yet conformant.

Accessibility and search engine optimization go hand in hand. Many WCAG criteria directly overlap with SEO best practices: semantic HTML, meaningful alt texts, clear heading structure, fast loading times and mobile responsiveness. Websites that are systematically optimized for accessibility often show improved search engine rankings and lower bounce rates in practice. This synergy makes accessibility one of the few measures that simultaneously fulfills compliance requirements, improves user experience and increases search engine visibility.

Our work is based on the current state of the art in accessibility testing and development. We use a combination of leading open-source tools, commercial testing instruments and assistive technologies to ensure comprehensive analysis. Tool selection follows the recommendations of the W3C and European standardization. Our toolkit is complemented by proprietary audit checklists that we continuously develop and adapt to current normative changes.

WCAG 2.2 was published as an official W3C Recommendation in October 2023 and supplements WCAG 2.1 with nine new success criteria, six of which are relevant for conformance level AA (Source: W3C WCAG 2.2). Although EN 301 549 formally references WCAG 2.1 AA, WCAG 2.2 represents the current state of the art. Courts and supervisory authorities typically orient themselves to the state of the art, not the minimum standard. The additional criteria in WCAG 2.2 address real usage barriers we frequently encounter in practice: obscured focus indicators from sticky headers and cookie banners, too-small touch targets on mobile devices, drag-and-drop functions without keyboard alternatives and CAPTCHA-based authentication requiring cognitive function tests.

Choosing WCAG 2.2 over WCAG 2.1 brings two advantages for our clients: first, you are future-proof as EN 301 549 will foreseeably be updated to WCAG 2.2 in coming years. Second, the new criteria address barriers that actually affect real users, particularly people with motor or cognitive impairments. An audit against WCAG 2.2 does not cost significantly more than one against WCAG 2.1 but offers considerably more comprehensive protection against complaints and a better user experience for all your website visitors.

Accessibility and business success do not exclude each other, quite the opposite. Companies that systematically optimize their websites for accessibility regularly report improved business metrics. The reasons are manifold: accessible websites are better evaluated by search engines as semantic HTML, structured headings and meaningful alt texts are central SEO factors. The user experience improves for all visitors, not just people with disabilities, as clear forms, understandable error messages and logical navigation increase general usability. The target audience expands by millions of potential customers previously excluded by barriers (project experience).

The assumption that accessibility only concerns a small user group is a widespread misconception. In truth every website visitor benefits from accessible design. Clear form labels reduce input errors for all users. Sufficient color contrasts improve readability even in sunlight on smartphone displays. A logical tab order and visible focus indicators help power users who prefer keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation. Understandable error messages with concrete correction hints reduce abandonment rates in checkout processes for all customers, not just screen reader users (project experience).

The combination of regulatory obligation and economic benefit makes accessibility one of the most sensible investments in the future of your digital presence. Companies that act now not only secure BFSG conformance but position themselves as responsible brands that welcome all people. Demand for accessible digital offerings will continue to rise in coming years, driven by demographic change, increasing digitalization of all areas of life and growing awareness of inclusion in society. Those who lay the foundations today will benefit tomorrow from a broader customer base and a better overall digital experience.