Businesses must now attempt to make their websites accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. Web accessibility is not only a legal obligation but also a critical business decision that can improve the user experience as well as brand perception.
Within this context, accessiBe presents accessWidget, an AI-powered solution that aids companies on their web accessibility journey while also potentially improving user engagement and search engine visibility.
The need for accessible websites is growing, driven by both legal requirements and ethical considerations. Global standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide businesses with a framework to improve website accessibility for users with disabilities. Many legal requirements reference these standards and failing to address accessibility concerns can potentially lead to lawsuits, reputational damage, and most importantly, a lack of inclusion for potential visitors.
However, accessibility goes beyond mitigating risk. Prioritizing web accessibility promotes inclusion, ensuring everyone—regardless of ability—has equal access to information and services. This is crucial when considering that 16% of the population lives with some form of disability. By embracing web accessibility, businesses send a clear message of inclusion and care for providing a positive experience for users with disabilities.
accessWidget by accessiBe is an AI-driven tool designed to help businesses to address accessibility needs more efficiently. The widget integrates seamlessly with your website, allowing users with disabilities to access and navigate the site without facing barriers—all without requiring significant changes to the website's original code.
accessWidget consists of two key components:
The AI-powered Process: This process addresses more complex requirements, such as optimizing the site for screen readers and enabling keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse.
The Accessibility Interface: This component manages user interface adjustments, such as changing font sizes, contrast settings, and more, providing a customizable browsing experience for users with different needs.
accessWidget is designed to be simple to implement, helping businesses take steps toward improving accessibility without needing to overhaul the website’s structure or UX.
accessWidget provides several benefits that extend beyond legal compliance, making it a compelling choice for businesses of all sizes:
An accessible website enhances the user experience for all website visitors, not just those with disabilities. By making navigation smoother and clearer, accessWidget helps businesses reduce bounce rates and improve conversion rates. When users can easily interact with your site, they’re more likely to engage with your content, products, or services.
Web accessibility doesn't only support users—it can also improve your business’s search engine rankings. Google favors websites that deliver a clean, accessible experience, leading to higher rankings in search results. By implementing accessWidget, your business can potentially attract more organic traffic, broadening your customer base and increasing online visibility.
With accessWidget, businesses can take significant steps toward aligning their websites with WCAG standards, which can potentially help to reduce the risk of accessibility-related legal action. Proactively improving your website’s accessibility not only mitigates legal risks but also demonstrates your commitment to corporate responsibility.
accessWidget’s adaptable user interface empowers people with disabilities to personalize their browsing experience according to their needs. Whether by adjusting the contrast, increasing text size, or enabling screen reader optimization, accessWidget helps users access content in a way that best suits their requirements.
For businesses that invest in web accessibility, there are both ethical and financial benefits. Companies that implement tools like accessWidget may qualify for a tax credit of up to $5,000 per year in the United States. This credit helps offset the costs of making websites accessible and can be claimed annually for ongoing improvements.
This tax incentive underscores the idea that web accessibility isn’t just a legal imperative—it’s also a smart financial decision. By taking proactive steps to improve accessibility, businesses can reduce risks, increase customer loyalty, and reap financial rewards.
By incorporating accessiBe’s accessWidget, businesses can gain an edge through improved user experience, SEO benefits, and legal preparedness.
More importantly, accessWidget should be viewed as part of an ongoing, long-term accessibility strategy. Accessibility is a continuous process that evolves with technology and user needs, rather than a one-time solution. So don’t take considerable time thinking, be proactive and make a decision for a more inclusive digital landscape today.
In partnership with accessiBe.