NEW E-COMMERCE REPORT BY GOOGLE AND AKTION MENSCH
PIA UDG Supports the 2024 Accessibility Report
Internet for All – UDG Supports the 2024 Digital Accessibility Study
UDG is committed to promoting inclusion and digital accessibility. Together with Aktion Mensch and Google, UDG, in collaboration with the Pfennigparade Foundation and the consulting agency BITV-Consult, tested the accessibility of the most visited online shops in Germany. The study reveals that not all online retailers fully comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Why is Digital Accessibility So Important?
Starting in June 2025, the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act (BFSG) will come into effect, requiring companies to make their digital products and services, including online shops, accessible to people with disabilities. This law marks a significant step towards ensuring that every user, regardless of physical ability, has equal access to digital content.
The implementation of accessibility in e-commerce is of high urgency. According to the Federal Government's Participation Report of 2021, 13.4 million people in Germany live with impairments, 7.8 million of whom have recognized severe disabilities. They rely on accessible online shops to actively participate in digital life and make their purchases independently.
Checked: By Professionals and Users with Disabilities
Together with Aktion Mensch and Google, PIA UDG, in collaboration with the Pfennigparade Foundation and the consulting agency BITV-Consult, tested the accessibility of Germany's most well-known online shops.
Various criteria from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) were examined, including font sizes, spacing, contrasts, and technical requirements such as keyboard navigation and support for assistive technologies.
The shops underwent comprehensive testing, not only by usability experts but also by those directly affected. In the testing lab of Pfennigparade ChancenWerk, people with various impairments tested the usability of the offerings. Because only when everyone has access to online shopping can a true shopping experience be created.
Reactions to the Report
With Timo Tauchnitz, an expert in inclusive design, UDG was able to make a valuable contribution to this important study. Thanks to the existing collaboration with Google as a partner, there were "short coordination paths," and not only he but also Florian Frey, Managing Partner at UDG, was excited about the invitation.
Timo Tauchnitz reports: "I was delighted to be part of this report because the topic is incredibly close to my heart and gains more visibility through such a large study. We worked on the tests for about two months. It was a lot of fun cooperating with Google, Aktion Mensch, and BITV Consulting."
"At UDG, we want to offer our customers an outstanding customer experience. This includes the accessible usability of digital content. We are pleased that, as a certified Google partner, we were able to support the 2024 Accessibility Report," adds Florian Frey.
The result of the weeks-long testing – the Accessibility Report – was presented to the public on July 2, 2024, at a press conference attended by all involved parties.
The report contains all information on the methodology, objectives, and results of the testing in a very illustrative format. In addition, there is a welcome address from Jürgen Dusel, the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities, and an interview about AI as an opportunity for greater accessibility with Michael Wahl, Head of the Federal Monitoring Agency for Information Technology Accessibility (BFIT-Bund).
The study showed that many online retailers still need to improve their compliance with WCAG criteria. Despite some positive developments compared to 2023, there is still a great need for action, especially regarding keyboard accessibility.
An example of positive development is that 93% of the sites examined met the "Name, Role, Value" criterion, compared to only 71% the previous year. However, only 21% of the sites tested met the keyboard accessibility criterion.
The report not only provides detailed background information, assessment criteria, and results but also offers valuable recommendations. This is an indispensable resource for shop operators to optimize their strategies and enhance their competitiveness. Anyone who wants to succeed in e-commerce should utilize the insights from this report.
The tests show that there is still much to be done in terms of digital accessibility. My hope is that more companies will address this issue in the future, making the internet more accessible and inclusive step by step.
