Website Accessibility for Retail/E-commerce Industry
Your e-commerce website's accessibility has a direct impact on revenue and legal compliance. Prioritizing accessibility is not just ethical, it is important for business growth.
Why Accessibility Matters for E-Commerce Websites
Shopify accessibility matters because it allows all users, including those with disabilities, to access and navigate your online store with ease. By applying accessibility best practices, such as adding alt text to images, enabling keyboard navigation, and using high-contrast colors, you create a more inclusive and user-friendly shopping experience for everyone, including people with temporary impairments or those using mobile devices. Shopify accessibility also supports compliance with legal standards like the ADA and WCAG, helping you avoid potential lawsuits. In addition to being the right thing to do ethically, accessible design can improve SEO, boost customer satisfaction, and expand your store’s reach to a wider audience.
Legal Vulnerability
E-commerce websites face the highest number of ADA compliance lawsuits, with thousands of cases filed annually. Non-compliance exposes your business to costly legal action, demand letters, and reputation damage that could have been prevented.
Navigation Frustrations
Poor color contrast, unclear link text, and non-responsive design create immediate barriers for users. On many retail sites, numerous accessibility issues appear on each page, and color contrast failures are among the most common problems.
Product Discovery Barriers
Without descriptive alt text, product images are inaccessible to visually impaired shoppers. Since 75% of online buyers depend on product photos, missing descriptions exclude an entire customer group from making informed choices.
Benefits of Website Accessibility for E-Commerce
Making your e-commerce website accessible creates powerful business advantages. It opens your store to 1.3 billion people worldwide with disabilities, who collectively control $1.3 trillion in disposable income in the United States. Accessibility reduces cart abandonment by removing barriers on key pages, such as checkout and product listings.
It also boosts SEO, as search engines favor structured content, headings, and descriptive elements like alt text and captions. These features improve indexing and visibility.
Finally, accessibility strengthens brand loyalty. Many assistive technology users feel overlooked, so demonstrating genuine commitment sets your business apart and builds lasting customer relationships.
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ADA Requirements for e-Commerce/Retail Industry
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- Providing full support forscreen readers
- Adding meaningful text alternatives for product images
- Allowing text to be resized without breaking page functionality
- Designing interactive elements that work with keyboard navigation
Our Accessibility Services for E-Commerce Include
Making your e-commerce site accessible is a smart business. An inclusive online store expands your customer base and helps you avoid legal risks. We help your online store stay compliant and user-friendly by providing:
Website Accessibility Audit
We conduct a comprehensive website accessibility audit of your e-commerce platform, testing with real assistive technologies and disabled users. Your detailed report includes defect prioritization, repair recommendations, screenshots, and a roadmap.
Document Remediation
Your PDFs, product catalogs, and downloadable materials receive professional document remediation to provide screen reader compatibility. We add proper tag structures, fix reading order, verify color contrast, and include appropriate alternative text descriptions.
Accessibility Repairs
Our experts implement accessibility repairs directly in your content management system. We address complex JavaScript functionality, form labelling, keyboard navigation issues, and visual design elements while maintaining your site's appearance and performance.
Shopify Accessibility
We offer professional Shopify accessibility solutions to help create inclusive, compliant online stores. Our services include platform-specific accessibility audits, theme-level code adjustments, custom accessibility implementations, and continuous monitoring to meets legal and usability standards.
WordPress Accessibility
Our WordPress accessibility services focus on optimizing your website for all users, including those with disabilities. We provide comprehensive audits, custom plugin and theme modifications, accessibility repairs, and ongoing compliance checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who benefits from an accessible e-commerce website?
Everyone. People with disabilities gain equal access, and all users enjoy clearer navigation, better mobile use, and smoother functionality.
What is the ADA and how does it relate to e-commerce websites?
The ADA bans disability discrimination. Courts apply it to websites, requiring equal access through WCAG compliance.
What are the most common accessibility issues on e-commerce sites?
The most common accessibility issues on e-commerce sites include missing alt text, unlabeled forms, poor contrast, inaccessible menus, auto-playing media, unclear links, and checkout barriers.
How often should I audit my e-commerce website for accessibility?
Audit quarterly and use automated scans to stay compliant and user-friendly.
Contact Be Accessible today to transform your online store into an inclusive shopping experience.