Digital experiences should be easy for everyone to use—regardless of individual abilities or the devices they use. For businesses, however, achieving this is often a challenge. Websites and applications typically evolve over many years, with new features added and content continuously expanded. As a result, accessibility barriers frequently emerge unnoticed in day-to-day operations, while significantly limiting access to essential information, products, or services for people with disabilities.
Since the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) came into effect, digital accessibility has become even more important. Organizations are asking whether their websites and digital applications meet legal requirements and where improvements are needed.
This is exactly where a professional accessibility audit comes in. It provides transparency about the current state of digital accessibility, identifies specific issues, and delivers a reliable foundation for further optimization—from legal, technical, and user experience perspectives.
Why Automated Accessibility Checks Alone Are Not Enough
Many organizations begin their accessibility journey with an automated accessibility scan. Modern testing tools can identify missing alternative text, insufficient color contrast, or invalid HTML structures within minutes. This provides a quick overview and helps uncover obvious issues early.
However, digital accessibility goes far beyond technical errors.
Whether forms are easy to understand, keyboard navigation works seamlessly, or screen readers can interpret content correctly can only be assessed to a limited extent through automation. Content clarity, consistent navigation, and the actual user experience also require manual evaluation by accessibility experts.
In addition, digital platforms are constantly evolving. New components, campaign pages, or system updates can introduce new accessibility barriers at any time—even if a website has previously been optimized.
As a result, automated testing alone only provides part of the picture. A realistic assessment of digital accessibility requires the combination of technical analysis, manual testing, and expert evaluation.
Identifying Barriers Before They Become a Problem
For many organizations, the biggest challenge is not finding accessibility barriers—it is deciding which improvements should be implemented first. Large websites and complex digital platforms often contain numerous accessibility issues of varying severity. Without a clear optimization strategy, resources can easily be spent on less critical improvements while major barriers remain unresolved.
Our accessibility audit takes a holistic approach. The goal is not only to identify individual issues but also to evaluate the overall user experience from the perspective of people with different abilities and needs.
The audit is based on recognized standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as well as applicable legal accessibility requirements. In addition to technical compliance, it evaluates areas including:
Website structure and semantic markup
Keyboard accessibility
Screen reader compatibility
Color contrast and visual design
Forms and interactive elements
Content clarity and readability
Responsive behavior across different devices
This comprehensive assessment provides a far more accurate picture than an automated scan alone. The key advantage is that you receive not only a list of individual issues but also a clear understanding of how they affect the real-world usability of your digital products and services.
How Does an Accessibility Audit Work?
An accessibility audit provides much more than a snapshot of your organization's current accessibility status. It systematically analyzes where barriers occur, evaluates their impact on different user groups, and identifies the measures that will deliver the greatest value. The audit follows a structured multi-step process.
Step 1: Initial Assessment
The process begins by identifying the relevant websites, applications, or digital workflows. At the same time, critical areas—such as the checkout process of an online store, customer portals, or forms—are defined. This creates a solid foundation for the subsequent analysis.
Step 2: Automated Testing
Next, specialized accessibility testing tools are used to identify a wide range of technical issues, including:
Missing alternative text for images
Insufficient color contrast
Invalid HTML structures
Missing form labels
Incorrect heading hierarchies
Automated testing enables the rapid detection of recurring issues and often uncovers a large proportion of technical accessibility problems.
Step 3: Manual Expert Evaluation
Many aspects of accessibility cannot be evaluated automatically. Therefore, UX and accessibility experts manually assess all relevant areas. Questions examined include:
Is the entire website fully operable using only a keyboard?
Can screen readers correctly interpret all content?
Are forms clear and easy to understand?
Are error messages communicated clearly?
Is navigation logical and consistent?
Can interactive elements be operated without difficulty?
Only the combination of automated testing and manual evaluation provides a complete picture of the actual user experience.
Step 4: Evaluation and Prioritization
Not every accessibility issue has the same impact on website usability. For this reason, all findings are assessed according to their severity and prioritized accordingly. Critical barriers that prevent users from accessing essential functionality receive higher priority than minor optimization opportunities. This creates a clear implementation roadmap.
Step 5: Action Plan
Conclusion
Digital accessibility is no longer just a legal requirement. It is a fundamental part of the overall digital experience, ensuring that websites and applications are accessible to as many people as possible.
Our accessibility audit helps you systematically identify existing barriers, evaluate their impact, and define concrete actions for sustainable accessibility improvements.
By combining automated testing, manual expert evaluation, and clear prioritization, the audit provides a reliable decision-making foundation for development, UX, and business stakeholders. The result is a structured path from individual accessibility issues to meaningful improvements that enhance both the user experience and the overall quality of your digital products over the long term.
