Must Our Software Be Accessible?

Who Is Affected

The BFSG implements the European Accessibility Act. It covers certain products and services in consumer business, particularly:

• Online shops and other services in electronic commerce
• Banking services for consumers
• Passenger transport services
• E-books and e-readers
• Telecommunications services

Not covered are generally pure B2B applications – an internal CRM or a supplier portal typically does not fall under this.

For micro-enterprises (under 10 employees and a maximum of 2 million euros in annual revenue), there are exceptions for services.

What Accessibility Means in Practice

The standard is essentially the norm EN 301 549, which refers to the WCAG:

• Full operability via keyboard
• Sufficient contrast
• Alternative texts for images
• Form fields with associated labels
• Error messages that are understandable without color
• Meaningful structure for screen readers

Why It Is Also Worthwhile

Almost all of this improves usability for everyone. Keyboard operation is faster for experienced users, good contrast helps on screens in sunlight, and clear error messages reduce support inquiries.

When It Needs to Be Clarified

Before the design, not after. Retrofitting accessibility costs significantly more. This text does not replace legal advice – whether you are affected should be checked on a case-by-case basis.