EAA Compliance Roadmap: How Digital-First Businesses Can Prepare for 2025
Executive Summary
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires digital-first businesses to ensure accessibility compliance by June 28, 2025. Compliance is underpinned by EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Failure to comply introduces legal, reputational, procurement, and operational risks. Early movers, however, can reduce risk, strengthen trust, and gain a competitive advantage.
Wally’s roadmap emphasizes three critical pillars: Leadership, Compliance, and Culture to ensure comprehensive readiness.
Why EAA Matters
Legal Implications: Non-compliance risks fines, enforcement actions, and exclusion from contracts.
Reputational Risk: Negative publicity and loss of consumer trust can damage brand equity and market position.
Procurement Requirements: Accessibility certifications are increasingly mandatory in RFPs, especially for public sector contracts.
Accessibility is no longer optional; it’s a business imperative.
EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 AA: The Technical Foundation
The EAA compliance framework is built on two complementary technical standards:
EN 301 549: The EU’s harmonized ICT accessibility standard, providing the regulatory framework.
WCAG 2.1 Level AA: Covers contrast ratios, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and responsive design.
Understanding these standards is essential to creating a compliance strategy and avoiding penalties.
Roadmap to Readiness
Step 1: Audit
Conduct a WCAG/EN 301 549 audit
Document compliance status
Identify high-risk areas
Establish baseline metrics
Step 2: Remediation
Implement fixes
Provide team training
Integrate accessibility into the product lifecycle
Update development processes
Step 3: Accessibility Statement
Publish conformance level
Establish feedback channels
Communicate ongoing efforts
Step 4: Monitoring & Governance
Implement continuous testing
Define accountability structure
Track accessibility metrics
Risk / Reward Analysis
Legal: Non-compliance can lead to fines, lawsuits, and regulatory penalties. By contrast, achieving compliance provides regulatory certainty and reduces legal exposure.
Reputation: A failure to meet accessibility standards risks brand damage and the erosion of consumer trust. Compliance, however, enhances brand image as inclusive and responsible.
Procurement: Organizations that ignore accessibility may lose bid opportunities, especially in the public sector. Meeting requirements opens eligibility for more contracts and creates a competitive advantage.
Operational: Waiting until the last moment often results in reactive, high-cost fixes under tight deadlines. Proactive implementation lowers costs and ensures higher quality outcomes.
Strategic compliance transforms a regulatory requirement into a business advantage.
Wally’s Three Core Pillars
Leadership: Executive alignment, governance structures, and strategic advisory services to drive organizational commitment.
Compliance: Rigorous audits, VPAT creation, and monitoring systems to meet technical and regulatory requirements.
Culture: Training, enablement tools, and change management to embed accessibility throughout the organization.
Wally’s integrated approach ensures accessibility becomes a sustainable competitive advantage rather than just a checkbox.
Call to Action
The EAA deadline is approaching fast. Accessibility is not just compliance; it is a growth driver for forward-thinking organizations.
Wally offers tailored audits, remediation services, and readiness packages designed for digital-first businesses preparing for the 2025 deadline.
- Written by Venu Moola, CEO of Wally
Contact us today to start your EAA Compliance Readiness Assessment:
