Safeway Inc., did what every company that has a website should, they made their e-commerce website usable for visually impaired shoppers. Safeway, like many retail stores, offers their food products as well as a delivery service by means of an online platform. Web Accessibility guidelines and standards are beginning to be enforced and Safeway made a wise business choice to implement changes before it became a problem. Other businesses, no matter their size, should take into account the actions of this major retailer and make their online site or store available to visually impaired users.
Safeway has stated, the actual look of the website is exactly the same, but now the site satisfies the W3C (World Wide Web consortium) specifications. The W3C creates guidelines for web accessibility as well as many other areas of the web. W3C guidelines are readily available online for internet site creators and organizations to follow. There are also validation tools that can test a website for areas that do not meet W3C standards.
The company claims it will likely continue to improve their website accessibility in the upcoming 12 months to further meet W3C suggestions. Safeway has even gone so far as to have blind shoppers navigate their page to determine the best possible way to improve the site for blind users. Larree Renda, vice president of Safeway Inc., expressed that the choice was an essential for giving buyers who are blind or have visual impairments to have the most positive online shopping encounter possible.
The W3C upgrades won’t only aid in a blind users experience, it also will provide assistance to those with other impairments. By implementing web accessibility guidelines, as an example, the audio requirements will likely provide subtitles for customers that are deaf or hard of hearing.
It is becoming significantly important for web accessibility to be a priority for businesses as they recognize the benefit in providing an equal experience for all shopper. Shoppers with disabilities really should have the same access to goods and services available on the internet, however the needs of impaired customers are being missed by many businesses. This can be a major mistake for companies that could result in severe legal issues.
Safeway Inc. has made a proactive decision and created an accessible website. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the major taxpaying service, H&R Block Inc., who is currently managing a serious lawsuit for denying visually impaired users the ability to access their webpage. Safeway Inc. has set an excellent example that businesses need to follow, to implement website accessibility standards now, before facing legal trouble.
Safeway has stated, the actual look of the website is exactly the same, but now the site satisfies the W3C (World Wide Web consortium) specifications. The W3C creates guidelines for web accessibility as well as many other areas of the web. W3C guidelines are readily available online for internet site creators and organizations to follow. There are also validation tools that can test a website for areas that do not meet W3C standards.
The company claims it will likely continue to improve their website accessibility in the upcoming 12 months to further meet W3C suggestions. Safeway has even gone so far as to have blind shoppers navigate their page to determine the best possible way to improve the site for blind users. Larree Renda, vice president of Safeway Inc., expressed that the choice was an essential for giving buyers who are blind or have visual impairments to have the most positive online shopping encounter possible.
The W3C upgrades won’t only aid in a blind users experience, it also will provide assistance to those with other impairments. By implementing web accessibility guidelines, as an example, the audio requirements will likely provide subtitles for customers that are deaf or hard of hearing.
It is becoming significantly important for web accessibility to be a priority for businesses as they recognize the benefit in providing an equal experience for all shopper. Shoppers with disabilities really should have the same access to goods and services available on the internet, however the needs of impaired customers are being missed by many businesses. This can be a major mistake for companies that could result in severe legal issues.
Safeway Inc. has made a proactive decision and created an accessible website. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the major taxpaying service, H&R Block Inc., who is currently managing a serious lawsuit for denying visually impaired users the ability to access their webpage. Safeway Inc. has set an excellent example that businesses need to follow, to implement website accessibility standards now, before facing legal trouble.
