Accessible Experience Leadership
Embracing Digital Accessibility as an Opportunity
Imagine a world without physical barriers—now apply that vision to the digital realm. Companies are slowly beginning to recognize this as a necessity, but many still have a long way to go. valantic’s mission is not to warn clients about the European Accessibility Act (EAA), set to come into force in 2025, but to develop the full potential of an inclusive customer experience for their online businesses.
Why is digital accessibility important?
Accessibility ensures that web content is available to everyone, without barriers or restrictions. The success of an accessible online presence relies on four key qualities. It must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These qualities are defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Perceivable
Content is presented to users such that it can be perceived without impairments—regardless of the device or the nature of the content.
Operable
Content and functions are operable through mouse, keyboard, touch control, and voice input.
Understandable
Content is easy to understand, and help can be called up quickly and easily anytime.
Robust
Content is compatible with various browsers, screen readers, and other assistive technologies.
Slavy Slavov
VP Delivery - AIOPSGROUP a valantic company
”Improving digital accessibility is crucial, affecting around 100 million people with disabilities across Europe. Over the next 10 months, companies will have a unique opportunity to invest in making their websites more inclusive. For some, this will involve quick updates; for others, it will mean more extensive enhancements to architecture, processes, CMS, and translation. Addressing these challenges will lead to a more accessible and user-friendly web experience.“
Accessible E-business
Costs, or benefits, or both?
By the end of June 2025, online stores and digital services must be accessible to all EU consumers. However, many companies remain unaware of the huge benefits that an accessible web presence offers:
Inclusive offerings broaden the user base
Around 25% of all internet users in Europe are inflicted by some form of impairment. Adherence to the WCAG standards lets companies create inclusive digital offerings, significantly broadening their user base. Accessibility is therefore not just a matter of fairness, but a smart business decision.
Accessible websites improve operational efficiency and profitability
Implementing the WCAG guidelines ensures more readable HTML and more uniform code. It also results in better SEO and higher content maintenance standards: mandatory link and image descriptions, along with audio and video alternatives, enhance the semantic quality of the web presence, improving operational efficiency, profitability, and online visibility.
Accessibility enhances the experience of all
Accessibility is a prerequisite for good design, benefiting all users, not just those with impairments. An intuitive, instantly recognizable design with clean structures, straightforward navigation, and sensible typography simplifies use for all. An end-to-end engaging user experience (UX) boosts conversion rates and enhances a company’s public image.
Alexander Fetzer
Director Retail & Customer Business
”Only around 3% of the internet is currently accessible to people with impairments. Most companies are unaware of how to make their websites accessible to the over 20 million people living with impairments in Germany. I am proud to be part of an international team passionately dedicated to creating a more inclusive digital world with our expertise.“
Our Digital Accessibility Consulting Portfolio
Table of contents
1. Accessibility Quick Check
Goal: Quick diagnosis
The Accessibility Quick Check provides you with full insights into the accessibility level of your website, or online store, along with the main optimization opportunities.
Approach
- Assessment of your digital products and services based on the latest accessibility standards (European Standard DIN EN 301 549 with a focus on BITV and WCAG 2.2, Level A + AA)
- Preparation of a management summary highlighting the most important findings and identifying relevant areas for action
Result
You receive a summary of the current accessibility status of your digital products. Our experts outline comprehensibly the main opportunities for improving accessibility.
2. Accessibility Audit
Goal: Full compliance with all accessibility standards; best practice analyses for accessibility and user experience.
Approach
Our comprehensive Accessibility Audit positions you to recognize and leverage optimization opportunities, elevating the accessibility and user-friendliness of your digital products.
- Holistic analysis of your websites, stores, based on the latest accessibility standards (European Standard DIN EN 301 549 with a focus on BITV and WCAG 2.2, Level A + AA)
- Comprehensive evaluation of the accessibility of your digital products through a combination of advanced automation tools and manual tests, including screen readers and, if desired, user feedback
- Accessibility assessment derived from the latest user needs and recommendations identified through networking insights and A/B testing
- User-friendliness evaluation based on established user experience heuristics
- An optional review of PDFs and emails is also possible
Result
You receive specific recommendations for actions needed to improve user-friendliness and ensure compliance with all accessibility guidelines—including suggestions for optimizing the UX/UI design, frontends, and content. We also provide you with a prioritized list of the results, containing ready-for-ticket proposed solutions.
3. Accessibility Development Studio
Goal: End-to-end accessibility
With the help of our expertise, create an accessible online experience that—through optimal usability, robust programming, and WCAG-compliant content—is inclusive and engaging for all user groups.
Approach
- Comprehensive UX and UI optimization support, ensuring optimal accessibility
- Technical implementation of accessibility features, either realized incrementally or during relaunch or redesign projects
- Assurance that all design, editorial, technical, and communicative elements meet accessibility standards
- Establishment of accessibility as a fundamental quality benchmark
Result
Your digital portfolio offers an accessible brand and product experience for all users. Additionally, AX Development Studio provides your internal development team with a powerful in-page monitoring tool for testing and addressing accessibility issues in your systems in real-time. This tool identifies errors and offers appropriate corrections.
4. Accessibility Monitoring and Assurance
Goal: Accessibility performance
Our continuous monitoring services allow you to maintain consistently high-quality, inclusive design across all your system environments.
Approach
- Real-time monitoring of all systems, including sandboxes and development, staging, and production environments
- Optimized monitoring through custom test scenarios specifically tailored to your digital solutions
- Use of AX Development Studio to quickly identify and address accessibility issues
- Continuous testing to ensure all changes comply with accessibility requirements
- Realization of a workflow that converts findings quickly and easily into actionable tickets
- Comprehensive consulting and support on all questions related to digital accessibility
Result
You receive a customized monitoring system that systematically ensures compliance with prevailing accessibility standards and facilitates ongoing accessibility improvements.
5. Accessibility Training
Goal: Accessibility enablement
Our accessibility training shows you how to foster an inclusive mindset and practices across all value-adding areas of your company and position yourself as a leader in Accessible eXperience.
Approach
- Conduct training sessions and workshops to raise awareness and share knowledge about accessibility, and to foster a unified cross-team understanding of barriers and how to overcome them
- Coaching the design, content, and development teams, enabling them to implement and integrate accessibility standards and principles effectively
Result
Your team fully understands the added value of digital accessibility and is equipped to ensure accessibility throughout every product development and content management phase.
6. Accessibility Research
Goal: Accessibility insights
Gain detailed, data-driven insights into the accessibility of your digital products and services, along with comprehensive recommendations for optimization.
Approach
- Conduct user and usability tests to understand and evaluate the actual user experiences of people with various disabilities
- Carry out customer interviews and surveys to receive direct feedback from users, recognizing their needs and challenges in interacting with your products
- Facilitate persona and customer journey workshops to consider accessibility from different perspectives and develop targeted improvement measures
Result
You will receive a comprehensive analysis of the current state of your digital products concerning accessibility. Our experts will clearly present the key insights and offer practical recommendations to optimize the user experience for all user groups.
Certified Expertise for Maximum Quality
With the certification as a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), among others, our colleague Alexandra Gurtner has proven her expertise in the field of digital accessibility. Her focus on UX design not only helps to make digital products and services inclusive but also to align them sustainably with user-centered design.
This knowledge means for our customers that we have the necessary know-how to design their digital offerings in a way that they are accessible to all and meet the highest quality standards.
Ready to attract new target audiences, enhance your brand reputation, and unlock additional sales opportunities? Let’s do it! We’ll guide you on your journey to becoming an Accessible eXperience champion.
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Receive answers to these and other questions:
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and who does the new directive affect?
What technical standards must be maintained and what exceptions apply?
What support do companies receive in implementing necessary measures?
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[Blog] Is My Online Shop Accessible? – A Practical Guide to Digital AccessibilityJoin us in shaping an accessible Digital Now!
Zdraveĭ from Sofia
Slavy Slavov
Partner & Managing Director
valantic Division Customer Experience