Until now, accessibility has been a topic of website optimisation, usability and SEO performance. However, from June 2025, it will be a legal obligation for many companies to have an accessible and inclusive website.
INVICTUS supports companies in optimising and redesigning their website according to the applicable WCAG 2.1 criteria.
An accessible website is designed so that it can be used by everyone, regardless of limitations such as visual impairment or hearing difficulties.
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.
From 2025, the BFSG will come into force throughout Germany. With the entry into force of the law for companies, the EU Accessibility Act will be implemented into national law.
The aim is to remove barriers in everyday digital life and thus enable greater inclusion for people with disabilities. The Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG 2.1) provides a detailed insight into the requirements and framework conditions for implementing and complying with the law on your own website.
Here is an overview of the most important points:
The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) includes design-related and content-related measures, enabling problem-free navigation for people with limited usability.
From a design perspective, all content must be easily perceptible. This means that it is appropriately positioned and presented, and also easily recognisable for people with disabilities. On the technical side, attributes such as alt tags must also be formulated in detail and added. These alt tags not only serve for image descriptions in the backend, but also allow for a vocal description (via the read-aloud function) of images, videos, and other graphical representations for people with visual impairments.
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.
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.
Service providers with fewer than ten 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.
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.
Websites and mobile apps
Self-service terminals
E-commerce platforms and online shops
Digital services
