On the one hand, the digitalization of retail comes with immense challenges, but also great opportunities - on condition that the transformation is approached strategically and with foresight. An explosive topic that all B2C providers will have to address by 2025 is how they deal with accessibility in the context of their online services. How this issue can be optimally addressed with the use of headless solutions is described below.
What is accessibility?
Digital accessibility ensures that digital content is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. This therefore includes people with permanent visual, auditory, motor or cognitive impairments, but also the inclusion of users with short-term limitations (e.g. a person carrying a baby in their arms and therefore only has one arm available to operate a smartphone).
Compliance with standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is therefore not only required by law, but is also crucial for an inclusive and demonstrably better user experience (UX).
From 2025, compliance with the European Accessibility Guidelines will be mandatory for all large companies. Among other things, the guidelines will then require
Perceivability: All information and components of the user interface must be presented to users in a way that they can perceive.
Operability: Users must be able to operate all functions of the website regardless of their abilities.
Understandability: The information and operation of the user interface must be understandable.
Robustness: Content must be robust enough to be reliably interpreted by a variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
The implementation of these guidelines should ensure that digital content is accessible to a broader user base while also improving the overall user experience and usability of interfaces.
What are headless frontend solutions?
Simply put, headless solutions separate the user interface (frontend) from the backend system.
This architecture makes it possible to develop flexible, scalable and high-performance applications that work seamlessly on different platforms and devices.
The separation gives developers the freedom to choose the best technologies for the frontend without being limited by specific backend requirements.
Would you like more in-depth insights on the topic of headless? You can find specific recommendations for action in our white paper Headless revolution in retail.
Synergies between accessibility and headless
Headless architectures offer numerous advantages in the context of accessibility, as headless systems enable easier implementation of accessibility standards. The separation of frontend and backend allows better control and customisation of the user interface. This results in a number of key synergies:
Flexibility in development: decoupling allows developers to use specialised frontend technologies that are specifically designed for accessibility. This makes it easier to adapt and optimise the user interface for all user groups.
Faster customisation: Headless architectures allow for faster updates and customisations in order to, most importantly, continuously respond to new accessibility requirements and standards.
Better performance: Because headless solutions deliver content more efficiently, all users - including those with limited internet connections or older devices - benefit from a faster and more responsive user experience.
Built-in accessibility features: Many headless frameworks support accessibility features out of the box, making it much easier to implement accessibility standards.
Perspective
The combination of accessibility and headless solutions therefore represents an important step towards inclusive and future-proof digital commerce. Content can be displayed seamlessly across different end devices and browsers, ensuring a consistent user experience for all user groups at all times.
Positive effects such as reduced bounce rates can also be demonstrably achieved as a result, which generally leads to an increase in conversion rates for digital commerce. It is therefore advisable for companies to follow these approaches in any case, not only to fulfil legal requirements, but also to achieve a better user experience and greater reach. Those who act early still have the opportunity to take on a pioneering role and strengthen their market position. The continuous adaptation and optimisation of digital experiences in terms of accessibility and performance will be crucial.
How fit is your company when it comes to accessibility?
Our diva-e experts would be happy to audit your website's accessibility or advise you on other topics in the field of digital business consulting. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
