On July 25, 2025, website accessibility will become mandatory in Germany and Austria for the public sector, but also for many B2C industries such as the financial sector and online retail. Companies that use chatbots for sales and support purposes must comply with the Accessibility Act (BFSG)which is based on the European Accessibility Act is also complied with. Failure to do so could result in fines of up to 80,000 euros. However, a transitional period until mid-2030 applies to content published before July 25, 2025.
Similar to the GDPR a few years ago, the Accessibility Act will change the fundamental approach to the development of websites and online services. In this article, we look at what you need to consider when designing your website for accessibility and how chatbots and AI assistants can help with compliance. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines can help.
Multimedia & Multimodality
The overarching goal of digital accessibility is to enable people with physical, cognitive, or linguistic limitations—due to age or migration background—to participate in online life. This is supported by offering content and online functionalities, such as registrations and orders, in various formats (text, audio, video). Additionally, existing content can be optimized for simplicity, such as improved readability, reduced overly strong design effects, and usability across different devices.
Usability
The simplicity and efficiency of the user interface are crucial for website accessibility. All content must be operable via keyboard without requiring a mouse and compatible with assistive technologies like speech recognition software. Integrating a chatbot can effectively meet these requirements, making content more accessible and actions easier to perform through natural language interaction. Additionally, chatbots can be equipped with reading or translation functions. Innovative developments, such as talking avatars, will further enhance the natural and personal experience of using websites in the future.
Technical Standards
Adherence to best practices for websites is reinforced by the directive: websites and apps must use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in line with current standards. This also includes the technically correct integration and design of chatbots.
In high demand: digital agencies as transformation companions
EU directives can be controversial and lead to additional costs for companies. However, with the right will, they can also be used as an opportunity. In the case of accessibility, this can mean tapping into new target groups and become important groundwork for making online offerings innovative overall. We work with digital agencies that support you in designing accessible websites and at the same time utilize the productivity potential of artificial intelligence.