Accessibility

We make your website accessible.

According to WCAG requirements under the BFSG

Accessibility has so far been a topic of website optimization, usability, and SEO performance. But as of June this year, many companies are legally required to operate an accessible and inclusive website. INVICTUS helps you optimize and redesign your website according to the new WCAG 2.1 criteria coming into effect.

What is an accessible website?

An accessible website is designed so that it can be used by everyone, regardless of limitations such as visual impairment or hearing difficulties.

Why do I need an accessible website?

Aside from ensuring user-friendliness to minimize the website's bounce rate, as of June 28, 2025, it will be a legal requirement for companies to provide inclusive digital accessibility on their websites.

Das Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz oder BFSG

From June 28, 2025, the BFSG (Accessibility Strengthening Act) will come into force throughout Germany. With this law, the EU directive on accessibility (European Accessibility Act) is implemented into national legislation for companies. The aim is to reduce barriers in everyday digital life and thus enable greater inclusion for people with disabilities. To help you implement and comply with these legal requirements on your own website, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) provide a detailed overview of the requirements and framework. Here is an overview of the most important points:

These are the requirements your website must meet:

Das Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) umfasst gestalterische, wie inhaltliche Maßnahmen, die Menschen mit eingeschränkter Nutzungsmöglichkeit eine problemlose Navigation ermöglichen. Gestalterisch gilt hier, dass alle Inhalte gut wahrnehmbar sind, d. h. dass sie passend positioniert und dargestellt sind und auch für Menschen mit Einschränkungen gut erkennbar sind. Auf der technischen Seite müssen hier auch Attribute, wie Alt-tags, ausführlich formuliert und hinzugefügt werden. Diese Alt-tags dienen nicht nur der Bildbeschreibung im Backend, sondern erlauben eine vokale Beschreibung (über die Vorlesefunktion) der Bilder, Videos und anderen grafische Darstellungen, für Menschen mit Sehbeeinträchtigungen.

These requirements must be met by your online store:

All online shops that are aimed at end consumers must also comply with accessibility requirements. In addition to the conditions that apply to websites in general, there are some specific additional requirements for online shops: Payment processes must be operable and easy to understand. Methods for identification and authentication, shopping cart and checkout processes, product reviews and ratings, as well as an inclusive way to contact customer service, must all be presented in an accessible manner.

Bist du vom Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz betroffen?

The obligation to provide an accessible website applies to all companies that offer and manufacture products and services for consumers. This also includes manufacturers, importers, and distributors of products, as well as service providers—including those in e-commerce and online shops.

Who is exempt from this law?

Service providers with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than 2 million euros.

If implementing accessibility poses a significant financial or organizational burden, an exemption can be requested.

Products and services whose fundamental characteristics would be altered to the extent that they lose their original purpose due to accessibility adjustments can be exempted from the requirements, provided that appropriate evidence is submitted.

Even if you fall under the exemption conditions, it is still advisable to make your website accessible. An inclusive website offers an optimized user experience, which also positively affects your SEO ranking, meaning better visibility in search engines. If the website is well-organized, easy to understand, and follows a logical page structure, users are more likely to stay on your site for longer periods. This reduces your bounce rate, which in turn has a positive impact on your SEO performance.

Since 2025, accessibility is considered a direct ranking factor for search engines like Google.

Perceptibility

ausreichend Kontraste, Alternativtexte für Bilder, Untertitel für Videos,
gut lesbare Schrift

Comprehensibility

klare Sprache,
strukturierte Texte, nachvollziehbare Navigation, Angebote in leichter Sprache

Usability

Alle Funktionen müssen mit den verschiedenen Eingabegeräten bedienbar sein (Tastatur, Maus, Sprachspeuerung).

Robustness

Alle Inhalte müssen mit verschiedenen Technologien und Hilfsmitteln (Screenreader, Vergrößerungssoftware) benutzt werden können.

How do I know if my website complies with WCAG requirements?

The WCAG criteria can be checked using specialized tools. You can get a rough overview by manually scanning the website according to the most important criteria. However, it is advisable to have a professional check conducted by experts to verify all points and make adjustments if necessary. It is also important to note that these guidelines are continuously evolving. From June 2025, WCAG 2.1 will apply, while the WCAG 2.2 update was already released in 2024.