European Accessibility Act Raises Bar for Retailers, Customers Demand Seamless Experiences
The European Accessibility Act has raised the bar for global retail chains, mandating stricter accessibility standards. Customers now expect seamless experiences, with 80% valuing this as much as products. However, accessibility barriers, such as broken links and missing descriptions, are rife in retail, driving cart abandonment and inviting legal action.
Retailers can start tackling these issues by focusing on high-impact areas like product pages, carts, and checkout flows. On average, eight links per page lack context, making navigation difficult for assistive technologies. Nearly one in three retail pages fail basic keyboard navigation, and over three-quarters lack clear image descriptions. Addressing these issues proactively reduces customer frustration and business risk. The retail industry is a top target for accessibility lawsuits in the U.S., with an average of over 350 accessibility issues per page. The AudioEye Digital Accessibility Index highlights struggling companies, with giants like Amazon and Walmart often featured due to their complex, ever-evolving websites.
The AudioEye Digital Accessibility Index and the European Accessibility Act underscore the urgent need for retail chains to prioritize accessibility. By addressing key customer journeys and common issues, retailers can enhance user experience, boost customer satisfaction, and mitigate legal risks.
