Act now before it's too lateWhy accessibility is important for websites and mobile apps

The digital world is developing rapidly, and with it the opportunities and possibilities for every company are increasing. At the same time, however, the expectations and needs of users are also growing. The issue of accessibility, i.e. the design of websites and mobile apps so that they are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, is becoming increasingly important. Companies that ignore this aspect not only risk excluding large user groups, but also face serious legal consequences.

 

Figures speak a clear language

It is important to realise one thing: Accessibility is not just a moral obligation. It also brings tangible benefits. By making your website or app accessible, you open the doors to a larger and more affluent target group. But how big is this target group really?

• People with visual impairments: There are around 1.3 billion people worldwide with some form of visual impairment. Of these, around 36 million are blind and around 217 million people have a moderate to severe visual impairment. In Germany alone, around 1.2 million people are severely visually impaired or blind. But even minor visual impairments such as short-sightedness or presbyopia affect millions of people.

• Colour blindness: Around 8% of men and 0.5% of women in Europe are affected by some form of colour blindness. This means that around 3.5 million people in Germany are unable to perceive colours correctly.

• Hearing impairments: Around 466 million people worldwide are affected by hearing loss, including 34 million children. Here, too, accessibility plays a decisive role, for example by subtitling videos.

• Motor impairments: People with limited mobility, whether due to a physical disability, a temporary injury or age-related restrictions, require alternative operating options, such as navigation using only the keyboard or voice control.

 

Increasing age of the population:

In Germany, age-related limitations are a growing issue as the population ages. Here are some estimates:

• Visual impairment: About 20% of people over the age of 60 have age-related visual impairments that make it necessary to enlarge font sizes or adjust contrast. This equates to around 4 million people in this age group.

• Hearing impairments: Around 30% of people over the age of 65 have a hearing impairment, which increases the need for accessible content such as subtitles. This affects around 6 million people.

• Motor impairments: Age-related motor impairments that require easy navigation and larger click surfaces affect an estimated 10-15% of over 65s, or around 2 to 3 million people.

To summarise, an estimated 6 to 8 million people in Germany are dependent on accessible websites due to age-related limitations in order to participate in digital life without any problems. So this affects all of us!

These figures clearly show that accessibility is not just a "nice extra option", but an essential requirement for a large, growing and affluent target group. What's more, accessibility doesn't just apply to extreme cases of disability. Think of the many people who are confronted with deteriorating eyesight or limited fine motor skills as they get older. Small fonts or hard-to-hit buttons can quickly become a real obstacle here.

 

What does accessibility mean in the digital context?

Accessibility means that all users - including people with disabilities - have unrestricted access to information and functions on websites and apps. This includes the ability to navigate content using a keyboard instead of a mouse, providing text in a form that is understandable for screen readers and designing colour contrasts in such a way that they can also be easily perceived by people with visual impairments (e.g. colour blindness).

While accessibility is primarily aimed at facilitating access to digital content for people with disabilities, all users benefit from the improvements brought about by accessible design. Addressing the most common accessibility issues has a positive impact on the overall user experience, especially in a digital environment where reading habits have changed significantly.

 

Changing reading habits: Fast scanning instead of attentive reading

Studies show that the majority of internet users no longer read content carefully, but scan it instead. A study by the Nielsen Norman Group found that 79% of users only skim websites, while only 16% read them word for word. This makes it all the more important that websites are designed in such a way that they can be scanned quickly and easily. The basics simply have to be taken into account:

• Text alternatives for images: Alt text not only helps blind or visually impaired users to understand the content, but also supports visual learners who often grasp images faster than text.
• Keyboard operability: Clear and simple keyboard navigation makes it easier for all users to quickly switch between different areas of a website without interrupting the reading flow.
• Good colour contrast: A strong colour contrast between text and background ensures that information is easily recognisable even in difficult lighting conditions, making it easier to grasp content quickly.
• Subtitles for videos: Subtitles not only make it possible for deaf users to understand content, but also for those who need to watch videos without sound, for example on public transport or in noisy environments.
• Simple navigation: Well-structured and intuitive navigation helps users to get to the desired content quickly. This is particularly important as, according to a study by Forrester Research, 50% of potential sales are lost because users cannot immediately find the information they are looking for.
• Optimised forms: Simple, well-designed forms that are quick to complete not only reduce barriers for people with motor impairments, but also reduce abandonment rates for all users.
• Structured headings: A clear hierarchy of headings makes it easier to scan a page and find the relevant information quickly. This is particularly important at a time when users only spend an average of 6-8 seconds deciding whether a page is relevant to them.

These improvements not only increase accessibility, but also the overall user experience, leading to higher customer satisfaction and ultimately greater customer loyalty. Companies that make their websites and apps accessible ensure that their content can be effectively absorbed by all users, regardless of their reading habits or abilities.

 

Legal requirements for accessibility and upcoming stricter regulations

Accessibility is not only an ethical concern, but is also increasingly becoming a legal obligation for companies. With the upcoming tightening of the legal situation in 2025, in particular through the implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the requirements and possible consequences of non-compliance are increasing.

 

Who is affected?

Not only public bodies are affected, but also private companies that offer products and services via the internet. These include:

• Online shops: Operators of e-commerce platforms and retailers who sell their products online.
• Banks and financial service providers: Anyone who offers online banking or other digital financial services.
• Telecommunications companies: Providers of mobile phone and internet services.
• Transport service providers: Airlines, railway companies and other transport companies with online booking systems.
• Companies that develop software or apps: Especially those that appeal to broad user groups.

 

Tightening through the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act requires digital products and services to be accessible by 2025. The transposition of this directive into national law will also result in stricter controls and sanctions in Germany.

 

Competition law risks and sanctions

A non-accessible website can be considered an infringement of competition law as it makes access difficult or impossible for certain user groups. This can be categorised as discrimination, which can have considerable financial consequences.

Example calculation:

• Warning letters from competitors: A competitor could send you a warningletter due to insufficient accessibility. Warning letters in the area of competition law often include costs for the lawyer issuing the warning letter and a contractual penalty if the problem is not rectified within a certain period of time. These costs can easily amount to between 1,500 and 3,000 euros per warning letter.

• Contractual penalty: If the problem is not rectified and further infringements occur, contractual penalties may be incurred. These can quickly amount to 5,000 to 10,000 euros per offence.

• Legal disputes: If the matter ends up in court, the costs for legal proceedings, lawyers and possibly claims for damages can skyrocket. Such proceedings can quickly result in total costs of 20,000 to 50,000 euros or more, depending on the size of the company and the severity of the offence.

 

Specific penalties and fines

In addition to warnings, direct fines can also be imposed for breaches of accessibility regulations.

• Fines: In Germany, fines of up to 100,000 euros per offence are possible, depending on the severity and extent of the impairment. These fines can be cumulative if several areas are affected or the offences are not rectified over a longer period of time.

• Claims for damages: Users who are disadvantaged due to a lack of accessibility can assert claims for damages. Here too, the sums involved can be considerable, especially if access to important services (e.g. banking transactions, insurance) has been prevented.

 

Example calculation for a medium-sized company:

A medium-sized company with an online shop that receives a warning letter due to a lack of accessibility could expect the following costs:

1. Warning costs: 2,000 euros
2. Contractual penalty for non-compliance: 5,000 euros
3. Fine by authorities: 20,000 euros
4. Costs for court and lawyers (if necessary): 25.000 euros

Total costs: 52,000 euros

This amount could mean serious financial burdens for many medium-sized companies.

 

Our experience and expertise in the area of accessibility

Back in 2005, we had the honour of taking part in the prestigious "Biene Award", a national competition that recognises the best accessible websites. Our invitation to the final rounds in Berlin was a clear sign to us that we were on the right track.

Since then, we have continuously worked on our expertise and integrated accessibility as an integral part of all our projects - both web and mobile. One example of this is our own TYRIOS software, which we made sure was accessible to all users from the very beginning.

 

Accessibility in our TYRIOS software

Our commitment to accessibility is particularly reflected in our TYRIOS software. From the very beginning, we have made sure that all functions and content are accessible to as many users as possible. For example, we have made sure that our software can be operated entirely with a keyboard and that all important information can also be read by screen readers. The positive feedback from our users encourages us in our endeavours to continue setting the highest standards in accessibility in the future.

 

Conclusion

Today more than ever, accessibility is indispensable. It opens doors to a wider target group, improves the user experience for everyone and demonstrates a company's sense of social responsibility. In light of tighter legislation next year and the potential legal risks, it is essential for companies to make their digital offerings accessible. We are committed to promoting and continuously improving accessibility in our projects in the future. After all, accessibility is not just a trend, but a necessary step towards an inclusive digital future.