E-commerce accessibility solutions

€100,000

Max EAA fine for non-compliance

71%

Of users abandon inaccessible sites

1.3B

People worldwide with disabilities

Why accessibility matters for online stores

The European Accessibility Act requires all e-commerce businesses to make their websites accessible by June 28, 2025. That deadline has passed. Non-compliant stores face fines up to €100,000 and risk losing a massive customer base.

Legal compliance

The EAA is now enforceable across all EU member states. E-commerce sites must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards or face significant penalties.

EAA compliance is mandatory for all online stores
Fines up to €100,000+ for violations
Applies regardless of business location if selling to EU
No exemption for small e-commerce businesses

Business benefits

Beyond avoiding fines, accessible e-commerce sites see measurable business improvements.

Reach 1.3 billion customers with disabilities
Reduce cart abandonment rates
Improve SEO and search rankings
Better mobile experience for all users
Increase customer trust and brand reputation

Common accessibility barriers in online stores

E-commerce sites have unique accessibility challenges that generic websites don’t face. Here are the most critical issues to address:

Inaccessible product images

Missing or poor alt text on product images prevents screen reader users from understanding what’s being sold. Every product image needs descriptive, meaningful alt text.

Broken checkout process

Form fields without labels, unclear error messages, and keyboard navigation issues make checkout impossible for many users with disabilities. This directly impacts revenue.

Shopping cart issues

Dynamic cart updates without screen reader announcements, inaccessible quantity controls, and missing ARIA labels create barriers to completing purchases.

Filter & search problems

Product filters that aren’t keyboard accessible, autocomplete that doesn’t work with screen readers, and unclear search results prevent users from finding products.

Color-only information

Using color alone to show sale prices, stock status, or size options excludes colorblind users. Information must be conveyed through text or icons as well.

Poor mobile accessibility

Touch targets too small, pinch-to-zoom disabled, and mobile-only gestures create barriers for users with motor disabilities shopping on mobile devices.

What to scan in your online store

Don’t just scan your homepage. These are the critical pages that must be accessible for EAA compliance and customer conversion:

Essential pages:

Homepage
Product listing pages (category pages)
Individual product pages
Shopping cart
Checkout process (all steps)
Search results pages

Important pages:

Account creation / login
Order confirmation
Customer account dashboard
Password reset flow
Contact forms
Help / FAQ pages

How Scanluma ensures e-commerce compliance

Scanluma is built specifically to handle the unique accessibility challenges of online stores. Here’s how we help:

Scan entire store

Test product pages, checkout, cart, and all customer-facing pages for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.

Product image alt text validation
Form field accessibility checks
Dynamic content testing
Mobile responsiveness

Get Fix-ready reports

Every accessibility issue includes HTML code snippets showing exactly how to fix it in your store.

Copy-paste code examples
Platform-specific guidance
Prioritized issue lists
Before/after comparisons

Monitor continuously

Automated scans catch new issues when you add products, update themes, or change checkout flows.

Monthly automated scans
Email alerts for new issues
Track improvements over time
Compliance documentation

E-commerce accessibility implementation timeline

Most online stores can achieve WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance in 3-4 weeks. Here’s the recommended approach:

Week 1

Assessment & critical fixes

Scan all critical pages (homepage, product pages, cart, checkout). Fix show-stopper issues that block purchases.

Scan homepage and 5-10 key product pages
Fix checkout form accessibility
Add alt text to hero images
Ensure keyboard navigation works

Week 2

Product catalog & images

Add descriptive alt text to product images. Fix color contrast issues on product listings.

Write alt text for all product images
Fix color contrast on pricing/buttons
Make product filters keyboard accessible
Test search functionality

Week 3

Forms & dynamic content

Fix account creation, login, and contact forms. Ensure shopping cart updates are announced to screen readers.

Add ARIA labels to dynamic cart updates
Fix form validation and error messages
Make account pages accessible
Test mobile accessibility

Week 4

Final testing & documentation

Run final scans on all pages. Export compliance documentation. Set up ongoing monitoring.

Complete scan of entire store
Export compliance reports
Create accessibility statement
Enable automated monthly scans

Features built for online stores

Scanluma includes features specifically designed for e-commerce accessibility challenges:

Product image validation

Automatically detects missing or generic alt text on product images. Ensures every product is described for screen readers.

Form field analysis

Identifies unlabeled checkout fields, missing error messages, and form accessibility issues that block purchases.

Dynamic content testing

Tests AJAX cart updates, product filters, and dynamic content to ensure screen reader compatibility.

Mobile commerce checks

Validates touch target sizes, mobile gestures, and responsive design for mobile shoppers with disabilities.

Color dependency detection

Identifies where color alone conveys information (sale prices, stock status) without text alternatives.

EAA compliance reports

Export detailed reports showing EAA compliance status specifically for e-commerce requirements.

E-commerce Accessibility FAQs

Does the EAA apply to my online store?

Yes. If you sell products or services online to EU consumers, the European Accessibility Act applies to your e-commerce site regardless of where your business is located. The deadline was June 28, 2025 and the law is now enforceable.

What parts of my store need to be accessible?

Every customer-facing page must be accessible: homepage, product listings, individual product pages, shopping cart, checkout process, account pages, search, and customer service pages. If a customer needs it to complete a purchase, it must be accessible.

Will Scanluma work with my e-commerce platform?

Yes. Scanluma works with all web-based e-commerce platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, custom builds, and headless commerce solutions. We scan the rendered HTML, so the underlying platform doesn’t matter.

How long does it take to make an online store accessible?

Most e-commerce sites can achieve WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance in 3-4 weeks using Scanluma’s code snippets. Timeline depends on store size and complexity. A small store with 50 products might take 2 weeks, while a large marketplace could take 6-8 weeks.

Can I scan just my checkout process?

Yes, with the free plan (10 scans per month) you can scan specific pages like checkout steps. However, for EAA compliance, you need to scan your entire customer journey from homepage to order confirmation.

What about product descriptions and content?

Scanluma tests the technical accessibility of your store structure, forms, and interactive elements. Product descriptions should be written in clear, simple language, but content quality requires human review. We focus on technical WCAG compliance.

Do I need to add alt text to every product image?

Yes. Every product image needs descriptive alt text that explains what the product is. Generic text like “product image” doesn’t meet WCAG requirements. The alt text should describe the product as you would to someone who can’t see the image.

Will accessibility fixes break my store’s design?

No. Most accessibility fixes are invisible to sighted users (proper HTML structure, ARIA labels, form labels) or improve the experience for everyone (better contrast, larger touch targets). Accessibility and good design go hand in hand.