What Businesses Need to Know
As of June 2025, businesses across the European Union will need to ensure their digital services are accessible to all, thanks to the upcoming European Accessibility Act (EAA). This new legislation mandates that payment service providers and many other businesses make their services compliant with accessibility guidelines. Whether you're operating a webshop, a news site, or a point-of-sale system, it's crucial to understand what the EAA means for your business and how to prepare.
Who Does the EAA Affect?
The EAA will apply to a wide range of businesses, meaning your company is likely included. Payment service providers in particular must ensure their services are accessible. For e-commerce companies, this includes, but is not limited to:
- News websites
- Online sales of products and services
- Platforms with advertisements
- Providers of professional services (e.g., doctors, lawyers, estate agents)
- Entertainment and media services
- Telecommunications services sales
Additionally, the EAA also covers card payments at physical payment terminals. At CCV, we are committed to helping our customers and partners comply with these new regulations.
What Does the EAA Mean for Your Business?
From June 2025, businesses must ensure that their product or service offerings are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This means that whether your customers have visual, auditory, physical or cognitive impairments, they should be able to navigate and use your website, platform, or webshop as easily as any other user. To achieve this, your digital services must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Key Accessibility Requirements
Your website and physical stores need to meet the generally accepted accessibility standards outlined in the WCAG. Here are the four basic principles:
- Perceivable: Content must be available to everyone, including those using screen readers or other assistive technologies. This also includes ensuring that images have alternative text and that audio content is accessible.
- Operable: Users must be able to interact with your site or webshop in multiple ways—whether via mouse, keyboard, or voice commands. This ensures that all users, regardless of their abilities, can perform necessary actions.
- Understandable: Content should be clear and easy to understand. Avoid using complex terms or jargon. If technical language is necessary, consider providing a glossary to aid comprehension.
- Robust: Your site must function effectively across a range of devices, browsers, and assistive technologies. This ensures that your services remain accessible under various circumstances.
How CCV is Preparing for the EAA
At CCV, we recognize the importance of making our services accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We have begun by raising awareness within our company and are actively taking steps to ensure compliance with the EAA.
Our first priority is to make sure that our payment services are fully accessible. We're focusing on ensuring that our online and point-of-sale payment solutions meet the necessary standards. You won’t need to worry about compliance when it comes to your payment processes, as CCV is committed to integrating accessibility features into our systems.
We understand that compliance with the EAA may require technical adaptations and possibly new equipment, which could affect logistics and dependencies on suppliers. Despite these challenges, CCV is dedicated to providing accessible payment solutions to all our customers and consumers within the European Union.
To make our payment terminals as user-friendly as possible for people with disabilities, we’ve developed a concept specifically designed for visually impaired and blind users. This includes integrating an accessibility mode into our payment software, featuring spoken commands and visually adapted PIN entry modes to meet regulatory requirements.
Final Thoughts
The European Accessibility Act is a significant step toward making digital services more inclusive. While the compliance deadline is still some time away, it’s crucial to start preparing now. By understanding what the EAA requires and taking steps to ensure your business meets these standards, you can make your services accessible to everyone, thereby expanding your customer base and enhancing your brand's reputation.
At CCV, we're here to help. If you have any questions or need support in making your payment services compliant with the EAA, don’t hesitate to reach out.