Navigating the European Accessibility Act (EAA): What It Means for Enterprise Clients and How TIMIFY Delivers Compliance with Confidence

Introduction

In the European Union, digital inclusion is no longer optional—it’s a legal requirement. As of June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into full effect, requiring that a wide range of digital products and services—from e-commerce platforms to self-service terminals and audiovisual media services—be made accessible to all, including people with disabilities. For private businesses operating in the EU market, including those using TIMIFY, meeting these accessibility requirements isn't just about EAA compliance—it’s about delivering inclusive, future-proof digital experiences.

Despite the urgency, many businesses remain behind. 96.3% of the world’s top 1 million home pages still fail to meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, averaging 56 issues per page (WebAIM) - highlighting systemic accessibility issues in today’s digital platforms. This points to a significant gap between regulation and real-world readiness.

Supporting this, a 2025 Storyblok survey of 200 European digital accessibility professionals revealed that 18.5% of companies were completely unaware of the European Accessibility Act EAA, while 16% had not started implementing necessary changes. Even among those aware of the act’s requirements, just 25% felt fully prepared for the upcoming EAA standards (Storyblok).

This widespread lack of preparedness reflects a critical need for trusted accessibility expertise—especially for enterprises providing essential services across EU member states. TIMIFY supports its clients by offering tools and workflows designed to align with WCAG 2.1, meet technical requirements outlined in the EAA, and provide accessibility features like adjustable settings, keyboard and screen reader navigation, and compliant accessibility statements. Our goal? Help enterprises ensure compliance while delivering seamless, inclusive scheduling experiences for all users.

What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?

The EAA (Directive (EU) 2019/882) is a unifying EU regulation introduced by the European Commission aimed at harmonizing accessibility requirements across member states, reducing fragmented barriers across EU member states (European Commission). It aims to reduce the burden of diverging accessibility requirements that previously existed under different national regulations, ensuring a consistent approach across all EU countries.

The EAA applies to a broad range of products and services, including:

• Digital services such as websites, mobile apps, and e-commerce platforms
• Related consumer equipment services such as TV equipment, operating systems, and audiovisual media services
• Self-service terminals including ATMs, check-in machines, and ticketing systems
• Essential services like online banking, television broadcast interfaces, and e-books

It mandates that these digital products and services must be accessible to individuals with disabilities (PwC Legal Germany). Common compliance timelines included transposition into national law by June 28, 2022, with full enforcement starting in June 2025, at which point non-compliance may lead to penalties, market restrictions, or legal action, depending on country-specific requirements.

The EAA builds on established accessibility foundations: Its Annex I principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust (POUR)—mirror the WCAG framework (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Though the EAA references these principles rather than WCAG explicitly, businesses commonly align with WCAG 2.1 AA (and increasingly WCAG 2.2) to meet the directive’s goals.

How TIMIFY Addresses Accessibility for EAA Compliance

TIMIFY embeds accessibility into every aspect of our platform, aligning with the four POUR principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—which underpin both WCAG standards and the requirements of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Here's how we ensure our scheduling software is inclusive, compliant, and future-ready.

Making Information and Interfaces Accessible to All

We ensure that all users—regardless of sensory ability—can access and interpret the content on our platform. This includes providing alt text for non-text elements, maintaining sufficient colour contrast, and allowing users to scale text using relative units such as em and rem without breaking the layout. All instructional videos come with captions and subtitles, and audio-only content is accompanied by full transcripts.

Ensuring Seamless Navigation and Interaction for Every User

Our platform is fully operable by keyboard and compatible with other assistive input methods such as voice commands or switch controls. We ensure a logical tab order, clear focus indicators, and consistent navigation structures. Features like “skip to content” links and flexible interaction options make it easy for users to move through the interface and complete tasks without barriers.

Designing Clear, Predictable, and User-Friendly Experiences

We prioritise clarity and consistency in our content and layout. All text is written in plain language, and we avoid jargon or unexplained abbreviations. Forms are clearly labeled, with actionable error messages and logically grouped fields, making it easier for users to input and understand information. Our predictable design patterns reduce cognitive load and improve overall usability.

Building a Future-Proof Platform That Works Across Technologies

TIMIFY’s infrastructure is built to work seamlessly with assistive technologies and meet evolving accessibility standards. We use semantic HTML, apply ARIA roles and attributes appropriately, and ensure accessible error recovery mechanisms are in place. Our platform is tested with leading screen readers and remains compatible across devices, browsers, and input types.
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​​​​​​​Conclusion

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) represents more than just a legal requirement—it marks a fundamental shift toward equal access and inclusive digital services across EU borders. For businesses delivering essential services and operating in multiple jurisdictions, aligning with accessibility requirements is no longer optional—it’s a strategic necessity.

With TIMIFY, you gain more than an EAA-compliant scheduling solution—you gain a partner committed to helping you ensure compliance, meet evolving technical requirements, and provide truly accessible digital products. By embedding inclusive design into every interaction, TIMIFY empowers your organisation to stay ahead of national laws, serve a wider range of users, and strengthen your position in the EU market.

Now is the time to move from compliance to competitive advantage—with accessibility as a driver of innovation, usability, and impact.