Digital accessibility is still not a formal requirement for many entities, but… is that reason enough to give up on adapting your business to the needs of every user, without exclusion and barriers? Here are 10 key arguments for checking and adapting your website for WCAG compliance.
WCAG 2.1 AA in E-commerce – Why It’s Worth It?
As an owner or manager of an online store in Poland, you face an important challenge: adapting your platform to digital accessibility standards. Here are the 10 most important arguments why you should do it.
1. Increasing the Customer Base
Adapting the store to WCAG 2.1 AA standards opens it up to a new group of customers – people with various disabilities – from visual to cognitive. This is a potentially new group of users who may have previously had difficulty using your store or were simply unable to use it.
2. Improving Brand Image
Caring about digital accessibility shows that your company is socially responsible and cares for all users. This builds a positive brand image and can contribute to increased loyalty.
3. Increasing Conversion
A website that is easy to navigate and understandable for all users can contribute to an increase in the conversion rate. When customers can easily find and buy products, they are more likely to finalize purchases.
4. Competitive Advantage
Adapting your store to WCAG 2.1 AA standards can give you a significant advantage over the competition. It is more than certain that many of your competitors still have not done much to ensure real digital accessibility. However, awareness is growing fast enough that this may change. It is worth being at the forefront of good changes, not playing catch-up.
5. Better Search Engine Ranking
Many digital accessibility practices, such as properly describing images or structuring content, positively influence the positioning of your store.
6. Universality of Solutions
Adapting the store to WCAG 2.1 AA standards makes it more user-friendly for all users, not just those with disabilities. This can translate into a better shopping experience for all customers.
7. Compliance with Future Regulations
Adapting the store to the current WCAG 2.1 AA standards will facilitate future updates and adjustments to subsequent versions of the guidelines that will appear in the future.
8. Long-Term Savings
Although the initial costs of adapting the store may seem high, in the long run, it is an investment that can bring savings. You will avoid potential penalties, as well as the costs associated with serving customers who have difficulty using an inaccessible website.
9. Ethical Business Conduct
Ensuring equal access to your store for all users is not only a legal issue but also an ethical one. It shows that your company cares about inclusivity and equal treatment of all potential customers.
10. Avoiding Financial Penalties
Last, but not least. Regulations resulting from the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force on June 28, 2025, which will impose an obligation on online stores to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in high financial penalties, reaching even several hundred thousand Polish zlotys.
Adapting an online store to WCAG 2.1 AA standards is not only a legal obligation but, above all, an opportunity to develop your business and reach new customers. Remember that there is little time left – it is worth starting the adaptation process now to avoid haste and potential problems in the future.
