The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is fast approaching, and businesses must prepare for its significant implications.
Coming into effect on June 28, 2025, the EAA aims to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to a wide range of products and services across the European Union. Companies failing to comply risk severe penalties, including fines and reputational damage. But how can organisations meet these requirements efficiently? The answer lies in leveraging intelligent content management systems (CMS) that streamline the creation and transformation of accessible content.
What Is the European Accessibility Act?
The EAA establishes clear guidelines to enhance accessibility in sectors such as banking, e-commerce, transportation, and public services. These regulations require businesses to make digital products and services accessible to individuals with disabilities, following international standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). However, web accessibility is just one piece of the puzzle. Many companies overlook document accessibility, which is equally important under the EAA.
Personalised documents like contracts, invoices, and billing statements are often stored in non-compliant formats that cannot be easily navigated by assistive technologies. These documents, accessed through customer portals and websites, need to be made accessible in formats such as Accessible PDF (PDF/UA), HTML, or even Braille. This is where a modern, intelligent CMS comes into play.
Who does the European Accessibility Act apply to?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies to a broad range of businesses, particularly those offering products or services within the European Union. Specifically, it targets companies with more than 10 employees or an annual turnover exceeding €2 million. This includes industries like e-commerce, banking, transportation, and public services, among others.
How an Intelligent CMS Can Help Ensure EAA Compliance
An intelligent CMS offers more than just content storage and retrieval. It provides automation, integration, and transformation capabilities that can help organisations meet the EAA’s accessibility requirements efficiently and cost-effectively. Here's how:1. Automated Document Transformation
Modern CMS platforms can automatically convert documents into accessible formats. By integrating powerful transformation engines, businesses can process high volumes of documents and ensure they meet WCAG and PDF/UA standards.
Whether you're dealing with legacy formats or newly generated content, a CMS can convert these into accessible PDFs or other web-friendly formats, making compliance seamless.
2. Centralised Content Management
A CMS provides a unified platform to store, manage, and retrieve content. This centralised system makes it easier for organisations to maintain control over the accessibility of their digital assets. When a new regulation like the EAA comes into effect, organisations using a centralised CMS can quickly assess and update content to ensure compliance, without manual effort across multiple systems.
3. Scalability and Efficiency
For large organisations dealing with massive amounts of data and documents, scalability is crucial. Modern CMS solutions are built to handle high volumes of data, making them perfect for businesses that need to transform and deliver accessible content at scale.
Automated workflows also eliminate the manual, time-consuming tasks associated with transforming each document individually, ensuring compliance deadlines are met on time.
4. Real-Time Accessibility Checks
Many intelligent CMS platforms now include real-time accessibility checks that can scan content and flag any issues that might hinder compliance. By automating the compliance audit process, companies can instantly detect any accessibility gaps, saving both time and resources.
5. Future-Proofing for Changing Regulations
Compliance doesn’t stop with the EAA. Accessibility legislation is continually evolving across the globe. By investing in a forward-looking CMS, businesses can ensure they are ready for future changes in the regulatory landscape. A CMS with built-in compliance tracking and update capabilities will allow organisations to quickly adapt to new accessibility laws without disrupting operations.
The Risks of Non-Compliance
Failing to comply with the EAA poses significant risks. The most immediate consequence is financial, with fines that could be damaging, particularly for large organisations with extensive customer bases. In addition to financial penalties, failing to comply can severely harm a company's reputation. In an era where inclusivity and corporate responsibility are increasingly scrutinised, being seen as a company that doesn't prioritise accessibility could harm customer trust and loyalty.
Furthermore, businesses could face legal action from individuals with disabilities, leading to prolonged and costly litigation. Perhaps most importantly, failing to meet accessibility standards can result in a loss of market share. With millions of people in the EU living with disabilities, companies that fail to cater to this demographic may alienate a significant portion of potential customers.
With the EAA deadline fast approaching, businesses need to act now to ensure compliance. A modern, intelligent CMS can play a crucial role in helping companies meet the EAA’s accessibility requirements by automating document transformation, centralising content management, and ensuring real-time compliance monitoring.
The risks of not complying with the EAA are substantial, but with the right tools and systems in place, organisations can not only meet these regulations but also deliver an inclusive, accessible experience to all customers. Investing in accessibility is more than a legal obligation—it’s a business imperative that enhances customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
