B2B vs B2C Websites and ADA Website Compliance Responsibility
B2B vs B2C Websites and ADA Website Compliance Responsibility
One of the most significant risks to businesses with regard to ADA website compliance is thinking that an organization is exempt because of other Americans with Disabilities Act criteria pertaining to offline businesses. A brick-and-mortar office, store, or service facility falls under ADA Title I, which automatically exempts small businesses with less than 15 employees or that only operate less than 20 weeks out of the year. However, when it comes to business or consumer websites and ADA compliance, the number of employees or length of operation is not relevant. While it is true that neither the Department of Justice nor the ADA regulations have been clarified as to how all of this relates to web-based properties, precedence is being set in the courts regarding businesses of all sizes and types when it comes to ADA compliance issues.
B2B Organizations and ADA Compliance
While many of the lawsuits in the news surround consumer websites and ADA compliance, business to business websites (B2Bs) are not off the radar. A growing number of B2B organizations have been targeted for ADA website compliance in the past couple of years. Disabled individuals don’t just work with consumer websites, they own businesses and need to have access to other businesses that provide goods, services, and support online through their B2B websites. Business owners who are blind, deaf, or have other types of mobility, motor, visual, and audio disabilities, require websites that are easy to access and navigate. The courts have ruled that just because there is a lack of regulations specific to web-based businesses does not mean that accessibility issues can not be enforced. Many believe that these clarity issues are directly responsible for the increase in lawsuits pertaining to ADA compliance in the business community.
Legal issues aside, many business to business websites and organizations are discovering that it is in their best interest to ensure ADA website compliance to increase their market reach and boost their bottom line. Studies show that one in five Americans has some type of disability that is covered by the ADA. Companies that do not make changes relevant to B2B or consumer websites and ADA compliance could be missing out on 20 percent of the potential market for the products and services that they provide. B2C and B2B organizations and ADA compliance make good business sense going forward, not just to protect your company from possible lawsuits, but to ensure that you are accommodating the needs of your target demographic. Investing in a solution that will help you to meet the needs of all your visitors is a positive investment in the future of your organization.
How to Make a B2B Website ADA Compliant
There are a couple of ways to ensure ADA website compliance for your B2B website. The first would be to hire a developer to go through your entire website page by page, product by product, service listing by service listing, and ensure that all elements, navigation, and content meet the ADA requirements for accessibility. As you might imagine, this is a very costly and time-intensive approach that won’t provide you with the essential services you need going forward to ensure that future posts, products, and pages continue to meet ADA criteria. Other options can include plug-in applications and screen overlay programs, which have been unfortunately proven to provide only a small fraction of protection and may not even be considered a good faith effort by the courts.
The best approach to ensure that business to business websites tick off all the boxes with regard to ADA website compliance is to use an automated system that continues to scan and make adjustments to ensure continued accessibility for all. At SouthCoast Internet, we have discovered an artificial intelligence (AI) automated system that can get your website fully compliant within 48-hours. It provides ongoing 24/7 scans and maintenance to ensure that any new posts, pages, products, or content also meets compliance standards for the current ADA requirements. Compliance is offered for ADA, Section 508, WCAG 2.1, and EAA/EN 301549 and delivers the industry’s highest success rate. The best news is that this solution is very affordable and easy to implement, costing under $500 a year for websites with less than 1,000 pages. Developed side-by-side with real people who have disabilities; this solution even comes with an accessibility statement and certificate of performance to show proof of compliance.
Is Your Website ADA Compliant?
The first thing you need to know is whether your consumer or business to business websites meet the standards for ADA website compliance. B2C and B2B organizations and ADA are essential for the continued success of your business and to ensure that you meet the needs of everyone who visits your company website. If you would like to learn more about business or consumer websites and ADA compliance, SouthCoast Internet can help. We can answer all of your questions and assist you in implementing an automated solution that will help you to guarantee compliance with the current regulations. Lawsuits against B2B organizations and ADA accessibility have increased significantly in recent years. Take a proactive approach to this growing issue by making your website ADA compliant today. Call SouthCoast Internet at 508-415-8648 or visit our ADA compliance page for more information and a live demo of the program.