Nearly half (44%) of the respondents confirmed that digital accessibility is a greater priority now than it was last year, a significant increase from 27% in 2023. Additionally, over three-quarters (77%) reported having a dedicated person or team in place to ensure their products are accessible.

The survey, which involved over 3,500 software testers, product engineers, legal professionals, software developers, QA, and UX professionals globally, explored how companies are prioritising accessibility in their digital developments and assessed the respondents' understanding of accessibility issues.

The survey revealed that developers are testing for accessibility earlier in the design process and employing inclusive design principles. When asked about their level of accessibility knowledge, over a quarter (26%) described their current understanding of digital accessibility as advanced, up from 21% in 2023. Crucially, 87% said their accessibility expert or team employs inclusive design principles, while another 79% said they build accessibility into their design plans at the earliest stages.

However, the survey suggests a disconnect between making accessibility a priority and investments in internal resources. When asked how well-equipped they are to test for accessibility on an ongoing basis, only 19% said they have adequate internal resources. The number of respondents who said they have limited resources increased from 23% in 2023 to 26% in 2024.

The survey revealed that conformance to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 has increased, with 42% stating their company meets WCAG 2.2 standards, up from 35% who met WCAG 2.1 standards in 2023. Despite growing WCAG adoption, only around one-third (32%) are on schedule to comply with the  European Accessibility Act, which comes into effect in June 2025. The EAA applies to any business that wishes to trade in the EU. Surprisingly, more than a third (34%) of European businesses haven’t even started their compliance journey. However, when asked about the primary motivation for achieving accessible conformance, the overwhelming response (57%) was to improve usability for all, compared to 45% globally.

Automation and AI usage is on the rise in accessibility testing with 50% of respondents admitting to using automated accessibility tools to identify potential issues, up from 40% in 2023. When asked whether they think AI will provide a significant additive to accessibility testing in the next two, five or ten years, the majority (60%) said two years.

“Accessibility is an increasingly important focus area for companies. Growing awareness of the importance of employing inclusive design principles and writing code with accessibility in mind is not just driving value for people with disabilities, but helps deliver great digital experiences for all users,” said Bob Farrell, Vice President of Solution Delivery and CX Practices for Applause.

“However, prioritising accessibility needs to come with the right investments. While automation can be a valuable tool when used as part of a mature accessibility testing strategy, it should bolster, not replace, internal resources,” he said. “Many accessibility issues are simply not machine-detectable, and though AI is already improving issue discoverability, it too is still not a stand-in for real human perspectives.”

“Though the results of the survey show a promising upward trend, under half of all companies still do not meet WCAG 2.2 standards and two thirds are behind schedule to comply with the forthcoming European Accessibility Act. Considering compliance is just the starting point for accessibility, many companies still have a long way to go on their journey to true inclusivity,” said Farrell.