Accessible applications required: What does that mean for enterprise UX
May 22, 2025
Starting June 2025, digital accessibility will no longer be optional but mandatory. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires that all new digital products, from online stores to applications, be accessible to everyone. This is also important for organizations that primarily use internal tools.
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The EAA mandates accessibility for all digital services, including your website, webshop, or application. But what does 'accessible' mean exactly? It refers to the WCAG: international guidelines that help designers and developers make their products usable for everyone, including people with disabilities.
Why this is important for your organization
Accessibility is not an extra, it's essential. In the EU, over 27% of people over 16 years old have a disability. That's 101 million people you don't want to exclude from your product or service.
The good news? Working according to the WCAG guidelines is entirely feasible. It requires some adjustments in how you design and build. Consider:
keyboard navigation (not just mouse)
support for screen readers
smart use of colors and adequate contrast
accounting for customized browser settings
By considering this from the start, you make your product not only more accessible but simply better.
What changes specifically for Enterprise UX?
This directly impacts UX. Even though it may be less (or not) visible to consumers in Enterprise UX, the employees are part of the audience and require accessible software. The challenge is that an enterprise application is complex, with a lot of interaction and customization, requiring expertise.
What do we notice at Okapion?
At Okapion, we already see this happening with clients. Accessibility is increasingly explicitly included in the design phase. And rightfully so. You don't want to discover post-launch that your entire product isn't compliant.
We see:
More and more inquiries about WCAG and accessible design
Increased awareness, but also much uncertainty: what is strictly required?
What can we do for you?
We help organizations build future-proof, accessible digital products. We do this with:
UX design that considers accessibility from day one
Design systems with accessibility baked-in
User research including people with disabilities
Collaboration with developers for accurate technical implementation
Checklist or quick consultation?
June 28 is approaching fast. Want to know if you're ready? Download our checklist or plan a short consultation. We'll check together how you are prepared for the EAA.