Accessibility in the Digital Age: What Companies Need to Do Now

Starting June 28, 2025, businesses must ensure their digital offerings are accessible—or face hefty fines! But what does this mean in practice? Which products and services are affected, and how can companies prepare? Find out in our article.

Accessibility is becoming increasingly important in our digital world. With the implementation of the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) on June 28, 2025, companies are required to make their digital offerings accessible. While public institutions have been obliged to do so in the past, this now also applies to the private sector. But what does this mean in practice?

What is the BFSG and Who Does It Affect?

The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) transposes the European Directive (EU) 2019/882 and obliges companies to make their digital products and services accessible. The goal is to promote digital participation for all people – regardless of potential limitations.

A key aspect of the law is that not only customers but also affected associations and competitors can sue for the compliance with these standards. In addition, non-accessible products or services can be prohibited or recalled. Furthermore, fines of up to €100,000 can be imposed.

Which Products and Services Are Affected?

The BFSG specifically applies to products and services with digital operation, including:

• Electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, smart TVs, kiosks, or routers
• Digital services such as telecommunications, online banking, e-commerce, websites, and mobile apps
• Self-service terminals such as ATMs and ticket vending machines

Why Is Accessibility Important?

Accessibility ensures that digital content is accessible to everyone – regardless of visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 7.9 million people with severe disabilities were living in Germany at the end of 2023. However, accessible design benefits not only people with permanent impairments. Situational impairments, such as noise or a temporary injury, also benefit from features like keyboard operability and sufficient contrast. Clear navigation and a well-thought-out structure of the content enhance the user experience for all.

Benefits for Companies

Implementing accessibility standards offers several benefits to companies:

• Expanding the target audience: Accessible offerings appeal to more potential customers, including people with disabilities and older individuals.
• Improved user-friendliness: Accessible design increases satisfaction among all users.
• Legal security: By complying with legal requirements, companies avoid potential lawsuits and sanctions.
• Positive image: Commitment to inclusion and accessibility strengthens a company’s public reputation.
• Long-term cost savings: Companies that consider accessibility from the outset can avoid costly retrofitting and legal disputes.

The WCAG 2.1 as a Standard

The BFSG refers to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines form the international standard for accessible digital content and are a critical basis for meeting legal requirements.

The WCAG 2.1 are based on four fundamental principles:

• Perceivability
• Operability
• Understandability
• Robustness

These principles are further specified by 78 testable success criteria, divided into three levels:

• A: Minimum standard (30 criteria)
• AA: Recommended standard (20 criteria)
• AAA: Highest standard, recommended for core content (28 criteria)

Each level of accessibility describes how well a website or application meets the needs of different user groups. However, a level is only considered met if all criteria are fulfilled, including those of the lower levels. To ensure that the requirements of the BFSG are met and digital content is accessible, targeted testing must be conducted. Some success criteria can be tested automatically or with the help of tools, while others require manual testing to ensure full accessibility.

Conclusion

Accessibility is not only a legal obligation but also an important step toward greater digital participation and inclusion – for everyone, regardless of possible limitations. By implementing the WCAG 2.1 standards, companies can ensure that their digital offerings are accessible to all people, thus creating a better user experience for everyone.

At andagon, we are also actively committed to digital accessibility. With our years of experience in quality assurance and professional software testing, we support companies in meeting the requirements of the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG).

Our expertise in both automated and manual testing allows us to evaluate digital products and services according to the WCAG 2.1 standards and ensure that all content is accessible.

Together, we are shaping a digital world that enables inclusion and participation for all people.

Sources:

WCAG 2.1 Leitfaden - Barrierefreiheit für Webseiten - viergrad.digital Richtlinien für barrierefreie Webinhalte (WCAG) 2.1 Bundesfachstelle Barrierefreiheit - Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz 7,9 Millionen schwerbehinderte Menschen leben in Deutschland - Statistisches Bundesamt Digitale Barrierefreiheit – Darauf kommt es bis 2025 an – Gehirngerecht Digital Portal Barrierefreiheit - EN 301 549