Accessibility Requirements in 2025: What Barrierefreiheit Means for eCommerce, SaaS and Corporate Websites

Why Accessibility Matters Now More Than Ever

The push for digital accessibility, or "Barrierefreiheit" in German speaking regions, is no longer a fringe concern. As legislation tightens and expectations rise, businesses that ignore it are not just missing potential customers, they may soon be in breach of law.

This article explores what accessibility means in 2025, which regions and sectors are affected, and how this applies to everything from eCommerce shops and SaaS dashboards to corporate landing pages and portals.

Key Regulations You Must Know

European Union: The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The EAA came into force in 2019 and member states must comply by June 28, 2025. It targets digital products and services considered essential, including:

eCommerce websites and apps — Online shops must ensure that product discovery, cart, checkout, and customer service experiences are fully navigable for people using screen readers, alternative input devices, or those with cognitive limitations.
Banking and financial services platforms — Digital banking tools must be accessible to all users, including secure yet accessible authentication flows.
eBooks and eReaders — Publishers must ensure text scaling, screen reader output, and logical content structuring.
Transport and ticketing platforms — Timetables, booking systems, and mobile travel apps must allow users with various impairments to plan and purchase journeys independently.
Telecoms and hardware interfaces — Interfaces for routers, mobile phones, and telecom software must meet accessibility thresholds.

This affects all EU countries, including Austria and Germany, and non EU businesses selling into the EU.

Germany: Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG)

Germany has implemented the EU directive with the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), which targets private sector businesses that meet one or both of the following criteria:

10 or more employees
Over 2 million euros in annual turnover

The law applies to websites, mobile apps, self service terminals, and customer communication interfaces. German regulators have national enforcement power, including inspections, mandatory remediation, and administrative fines.

Austria: Web Zugänglichkeits Gesetz (WZG)

The WZG governs accessibility for public sector websites and mobile applications in Austria. Currently, private sector companies are not legally bound unless they serve in a public capacity. However, accessibility is increasingly part of government tenders and procurement. As the European Accessibility Act deadline nears in 2025, Austrian law will expand to cover private digital services.

United States: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA has been interpreted by courts to apply to websites and online services. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed, particularly in New York, California, and Florida. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is broadly accepted by courts as the required benchmark.

EN 301 549: The Technical Standard

EN 301 549 is the European Union's harmonised standard for accessibility. It incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA but also adds extra requirements for software, hardware, documentation, and support services. Compliance with EN 301 549 is presumed conformity under the European Accessibility Act.

What Accessibility Means in Practice

Accessibility refers to whether people with disabilities can use your website or application independently and effectively. Key principles include:

Screen reader compatibility for blind or low vision users
Keyboard navigation for those who cannot use a mouse
Contrast and font scaling for readability
Avoiding motion or flashing content that could trigger seizures
Descriptive labels and ARIA roles for buttons and links
Form accessibility with proper labels and error messages
Navigation structure and skip links

eCommerce and Accessibility

Online shops have a legal obligation to make every part of the purchase journey accessible:

Product listings must be readable by screen readers
Forms must be navigable by keyboard alone
Colour contrast must meet WCAG guidelines
Error messages must be descriptive
Third party payment gateways must also comply

SaaS Platforms and Dashboards

SaaS platforms are especially affected because they are highly interactive environments:

Keyboard accessible UI elements including modals, dropdowns, and toggle switches
Semantic HTML for forms, headings, and data tables
Screen reader friendly dashboards, especially for metrics and charts
Accessible onboarding and help flows

Clients are beginning to include WCAG compliance in their procurement checklists. Lack of accessibility can disqualify vendors from tenders.

Corporate Sites and Landing Pages

Even static websites must comply:

Company info, contact forms, and legal disclosures must be accessible
Cookie banners and consent flows must support keyboard navigation
PDFs and downloads must be machine readable
Video content must include captions

Tools and Techniques

To audit and improve accessibility:

Use automated testing tools such as Google Lighthouse, axe DevTools, WAVE, or Accessibility Insights
Follow the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard
Write clean, semantic HTML
Use proper form labelling with labels and ARIA attributes
Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text
Provide clear focus indicators and include skip links
Use manual testing with screen readers such as NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver

Accessibility Is a Growth Lever

Accessible websites and applications are not just inclusive, they are smarter business:

Reach more users including older demographics and mobile first contexts
Reduce legal risk by complying with national and international law
Improve UX for everyone with clearer forms, better contrast, and more intuitive navigation
Win public sector and enterprise clients who require accessibility conformance reports

I approach accessibility not just as a legal requirement, but as a product principle. It improves code quality, SEO, conversion rates, and trust. If you want help with auditing, planning, or implementation, I would be happy to show you how I integrate accessibility into both technical delivery and growth strategy.