The Business Case for Accessibility: Why Inclusive Design Matters

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workers in office with inclusive design

An inclusive design refers to the quality of products and services being usable and accessible by people and users of all backgrounds and abilities. Hence, the nickname, universal design.

In the modern age, where businesses can reach far-distant audiences in a matter of minutes, having an inclusive or accessible design for all could be the very difference between failure and success.

There are many ways in which an inclusive design can positively impact the user experience and build a loyal customer base for your business.

Without further ado, let’s take a closer look:

1. Wider Audience Base

An inclusive design allows you to tap into a larger audience base and diverse markets by considering a wide range of demographics such as their ability, language, culture, gender, age, finances, race, education, and so on.

With features such as voice recognition, dictation, sign language integration, eye tracking, etc, you can ensure that your products and services are used by as many people as possible including those with certain disabilities and conditions, which make up for about 16% of the world’s population.

Apart from the disabled, an accessible and ergonomic design also lets you meet the expectations of the elderly. Thus, helping you reach a significant size of the market.

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2. Greater Brand Reputation

By including accessibility for all as your top priority, you can build a stronger and loyal customer base of diverse consumers.

A brand that is committed to providing equal access to all customers is bound to gain a lot of positive reputation in the market, no matter what.

A perfect example of this notion is Apple, the tech giant that started its innovative journey by focusing on accessibility as its No. 1 priority. And look where it brought them!

Fast-forward to today, most companies including digital and physical lines of work are turning their attention to accessibility as a key aspect of inclusive design. All the while, improving their status as a forward-thinking and compassionate business that understands and demonstrates its social responsibility (CSR).

3. Competitive Edge 

Better accessibility in business has become quintessential in the modern landscape as it happens to meet the expectations of everybody, not just the disabled and elderly.

In that, the ability to personalize and customize the product according to one’s preference and needs has proven to be an innovative solution that benefits all users regardless of their age or condition.

At the same time, it allows your employees to perform better and increase their overall productivity, thanks to accessible tools and an inclusive work environment.

This eventually helps you cement your name as a thought leader in the industry and gain a lot of competitive edge in the market.

4. Regulatory Compliance for Inclusive Design

Perhaps the greatest advantage of including accessibility into your products is compliance with legal regulations recently launched and evolving as we speak.

That’s right, many countries including the United States and European Union have launched significant mandates regarding accessibility. For instance, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the EU Accessibility Directive.

In essence, the purpose of these laws is to make products and services more accessible to people with disabilities.

Non-compliance and violations of such acts can lead to significant lawsuits, fines, and long-term reputational damage.

To make sure that you are not inviting any of these legal risks, be sure to contact professional accessibility consultants in USA.

5. Higher ROI

While avoiding legal fees by ensuring accessibility in your business is one way of saving unnecessary expenditure, there are other ways in which it can help your company achieve a higher return on investment (ROI) on any given day.

According to research conducted by Accenture, companies that lead in disability inclusion tend to drive more traffic, revenue, net income, and profit. To be specific, 1.6 times more revenue, 2.6 times more net income, and double the overall economic profit.

As evident enough, accessibility is imperative not just from a societal perspective but also from a business point of view as far as financial output or growth is concerned.

6. Better User Experience (UX)

With better accessibility and inclusive designs, companies can make their products and services more usable and enjoyable for everyone.

Things such as larger buttons and fonts, intuitive and consistent navigation, voice control features, multimodal interaction (e.g., voice, keyboard, touch, or eye tracking), and cross-device compatibility can make designs more inclusive and accessible for all.

Products and designs that are easy to access can make users feel involved, appreciated, and respected regardless of their abilities. Thus, resulting in a superior user experience at all times. And that’s where a responsive and inclusive UX design emerges.

Conclusion

Accessible and inclusive design is not just crucial for a superb user experience but is also essential for meeting the diverse ethical and legal standards that businesses are expected to meet.

By making your products, services, and environments more accommodating and accessible for a wider range of users, you can drastically improve customer loyalty and engagement.

While satisfying a greater number of audiences from all walks of life, you can gain a lot of competitive edge in today’s fierce and global business landscape by working on accessibility as one of your top priorities.

For more information on mastering and streamlining accessibility in your business operations, consult an expert to ensure compliance for inclusive design and achieve your goals effectively.

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