Starting in 2025, all web shops must comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA). But this is not only an obligation – it is also an opportunity. By making your web shop accessible, you improve the user experience, strengthen your SEO, and reach new customers. Turn this improvement into an advantage and ensure that your web shop stays ahead of the competition!
On October 5, 2023, the new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 were released. These guidelines are intended to make websites more accessible for everyone, including people with visual, auditory, or motor impairments. Following these rules makes your web shop not only more accessible but also more user-friendly for all your customers.
What’s new in WCAG 2.2?
The WCAG 2.2 guidelines build on the previous versions (2.0 and 2.1). Nine new rules have been added, including:
Visible focus (2.4.11): Ensures that the focus on interactive elements, such as buttons or links, is always clearly visible and not overlapped by other content.
Drag operations (2.5.7): Features that require dragging, such as sliders or sorting lists, must also be usable in another way.
Consistent help (3.2.6): Functions such as a search bar or customer service must be positioned consistently so that users can easily find them.
The complete list of new rules can be found on the official WCAG website.
What can you do to improve your web shop?
Adapting your web shop to WCAG 2.2 doesn’t have to be a huge task, especially if you take a planned approach. Here are a few tips:
Have a scan performed - Check your web shop to see which parts are not yet compliant with the guidelines. This can be done through an accessibility audit.
Learn the basics - Ensure that your team knows what accessibility means. This prevents new problems from arising in future updates.
Implement technical improvements - Work, for instance, on better focus indicators and offer alternatives for drag operations. Small adjustments can often make a big difference! We can help you with that.
WCAG and Hyvä: A perfect match?
Are you using the Hyvä template in Magento? Then you are already one step in the right direction. Hyvä has paid a lot of attention to accessibility. Consider the following:
Easy navigation with keyboard
Use of clear HTML code for screen readers
Consistent layout of menus and pages
Although Hyvä provides a good foundation, it remains important to check your own content and custom features. This way, you can be sure that your web shop fully complies with the guidelines.
Conclusion
With the new WCAG 2.2 guidelines, you demonstrate that your web shop is accessible to everyone. Using Hyvä? Then you’re already on the right track! Don’t forget that accessibility is more than just technology. It also involves clear content and a great user experience.
Want to know if your shop complies with WCAG? Leave a message and we will call you back.
