An accessible website is better for all users.
Making your website, intranet or web app accessible to everyone. It's ingrained in our DNA for a reason. As true Digitals, we want everyone on board in the digital world. Even if you have a disability.
If accessibility is included from the start of a project, it certainly does not have to mean a large additional cost. As an organisation, you do get a lot of additional benefits.
Let's start with an inconvenient truth: accessibility often gets cut as one of the requirements during budget discussions.
And that is a shame. Because there is a business case for accessibility.
Positive brand identity
A clear commitment to accessibility reflects positively on your brand identity.
Reach a larger target audience
The global market for people with disabilities is estimated at USD 7 trillion.
Better customer experience
An accessible application is more usable on multiple operating systems or browsers.
Boosts your SEO scores
Search engines such as Google also give bonus points for accessible websites.
Positive brand identity
As an organisation, you are engaged daily in protecting and further strengthening your brand.
A clear commitment to accessibility reflects positively on your brand identity. It also fits perfectly within the broader framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Building your website, intranet or web app according to the rules of accessibility (WCAG) is a strong signal to your customers, employees and other stakeholders that your commitment in this area will not remain a dead letter.
Reach a wider target audience
The market for people with disabilities is growing. Currently, at least 1,000,000,000 (yes: 1 billion) people have some kind of disability. The global market for people with disabilities is estimated at 7 trillion dollars.
The numbers clearly say: it is worth it.
By making your website accessible, you do not unintentionally exclude this important target group.
Better customer experience
Several studies have now shown that accessibility can contribute to cost savings over time. The only condition is that accessibility is taken into account permanently, both during the (UX) design and development phases.
Accessibility creates a positive experience and higher loyalty.
In addition, overall customer satisfaction improves. And that results in a positive experience and higher loyalty. It is not only users with physical disabilities who experience this. All users benefit:
- Users with a smaller screen such as a smartphone or tablet.
- Users with devices without a keyboard or touch screen such as some smartwatches or TVs.
- Users with older hardware, or poor connections
- ...
A standards-compliant application is often also more usable on multiple operating systems or browsers. This ensures that all users have the same positive experience when using your product.
Give your SEO a boost
Many of the points that are important for making your website accessible will also help you score better in search engines such as Google.
Indexing is much easier with an accessible website because the HTML structure and descriptive metadata provide much more context.
Search engines like Google also give bonus points for accessible websites. This gives you that extra edge over your competitor who has done away with it.
It's a legal requirement
Last but not least.As a government organisation, you have a legal obligation to be accessible to everyone.
Since 23 September 2018, the European directive on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public authorities has been transposed into Belgian law.
In a nutshell, this means that your website or web app must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 level AA. This includes text and other information, downloadable documents and forms, and interaction, such as authentication, digital form processing and online payments.