The European Accessibility Act (EAA) in practice. Are your e-commerce and self- checkouts (SCOs) compliant with the new law?

The amended regulations resulting from the European Accessibility Act (EAA) set new standards for the retail industry. The changes include the digital sphere and the physical space of stores. In recent months, retailers have come under increasing scrutiny from the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, which requires them to quickly verify their infrastructure. Check whether your e-commerce and self-checkouts meet the latest legal requirements.

Highlights

• The EAA treats e-commerce and traditional trade equally, imposing the obligation to adapt services and devices to the needs of people with disabilities.
• Until now, the implementation of SCO cash draws has been based on cost-benefit analysis; today, compliance is becoming a priority.
• The auditors are mainly focused on two areas: the availability of self-checkout counters and certified EAA payment terminals.
• A reliably conducted WCAG 2.1 e-commerce audit allows you to identify digital barriers and protects the company from severe financial penalties.

EAA Directive in e-commerce and retail – why is it so important?

Until recently, we talked about self-checkouts (SCOs) and other e-commerce innovations mainly through the lens of savings, shorter queues, and a quick return on investment. The EAA Directive assumes that digital and physical customer touchpoints must be barrier-free.

The main goal? Every person – regardless of mobility, visual or auditory limitations – must be able to shop freely. Ignoring these requirements is no longer just an image risk. Intensified inspections by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection show that state authorities are meticulous in enforcing new standards. Ensuring accessibility for every consumer is now a basic condition for safe and stable industry operations.

What needs to be changed in the sales room? Terminals and cash registers on censored

According to the new regulations, the workstations must be ergonomic and universal. The idea is to adapt them so they can be used freely, among other things, by people in wheelchairs and visually impaired customers. It is important to remember:

• appropriate placement of screens, scales and scanners;
• implementation of voice assistants;
• implementation of high-contrast interfaces.

Equally important are EAA payment terminals. Don’t assume smooth, completely tactile panels are acceptable without an alternative. Approved equipment must have well-felt buttons (or dedicated overlays) that make it easier for visually impaired people to enter the PIN, as well as intuitive sound signals.

Barrier-free online store. Time for an audit

Marketplaces must be designed to allow free navigation using only the keyboard and ensure full cooperation with assistive programs (e.g. screen readers used by blind people).

To ensure the platform meets legal guidelines, it is necessary to objectively check its functionality. A professional WCAG 2.1 e-commerce audit verifies, among other things:

• information architecture,
• colour contrast,
• alternative text descriptions for product graphics,
• readability of processes in the cart.

Investing in a well-thought-out UI/UX protects against penalties, expands the loyal customer base, and improves the website’s visibility in search engines.

How does Exorigo-Upos make it easier to enter a new reality?

Combining EAA’s legal requirements with modern design and reliable equipment doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you have the right support.

In our work, we focus on what matters most for business stability: we offer UI/UX consulting for e-commerce, designing shopping paths free of digital barriers. At the same time, we select appropriate, certified, and fully compliant hardware devices (including SCO cash registers and payment terminals). This ensures the implemented solutions are modern and user-friendly, safe, and adapted to legal requirements.

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