10% of Spanish stores are accessible

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10% of Spanish stores are accessible

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Achieving digital accessibility remains a pressing challenge for many of Spain’s leading online retailers. Despite increasing awareness and regulatory requirements, significant gaps persist, preventing individuals with disabilities from fully engaging with e-commerce platforms. A thorough evaluation of 30 of the top online retailers in Spain has revealed a variety of accessibility barriers that impact user experience and compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This evaluation is part of our series of reports evaluating the digital accessibility landscape across Europe in the context of the upcoming European Accessibility Act (EAA).

To assess the state of accessibility among these retailers, each website was assigned a score based on its level of compliance with EAA standards. A score of 5/5 indicates strong adherence to accessibility best practices, while lower scores highlight areas needing improvement. The results show that only 10% of retailers scored 4/5 or higher, while 60% fell below 3/5, revealing significant accessibility shortcomings.

Our research findings are particularly significant in light of Spain’s regulatory framework, which imposes a tiered penalty system to enforce compliance with accessibility standards. Infractions are categorized based on their severity, with consequences escalating accordingly: for minor infractions, fines can reach up to €30,000; for serious infractions, penalties range from €30,000 to €150,000; and for very serious infractions, the initial fine ranges from €150,000 to €600,000. Recurrent violations can result in the business being banned from operating within Spain for a period of up to two years. These punitive measures underscore Spain’s legislative dedication to upholding digital accessibility, yet they also put into question the current state of digital accessibility among the country’s top online retailers.

Overview of accessibility compliance

Many Spanish retailers are falling short in meeting basic accessibility criteria, with recurring issues found across multiple websites. These issues not only hinder usability for individuals relying on assistive technologies but also expose companies to potential legal and reputational risks. The evaluation highlights several recurring compliance shortcomings, such as:

• Missing or incorrect alternative text for images, making visual content inaccessible to screen reader users.
• Improper heading structures that disrupt content flow and navigation.
• Inadequate keyboard accessibility, preventing users from interacting with key site elements.
• Insufficient color contrast ratios that make text difficult to read for users with visual impairments.

While these issues persist across the board, some retailers have begun implementing minor improvements, such as adding descriptive link text and ensuring better focus management. However, these efforts remain inconsistent and fall short of meeting full compliance standards. Given that full compliance would result in a score of 5/5, the majority of Spanish retailers fall well below this standard. With 60% of retailers scoring below 3/5, these common failures reflect systemic accessibility shortcomings rather than isolated issues.

Breakdown of accessibility challenges

Accessibility barriers were observed across various sectors, with the most notable issues identified in the following categories:

E-commerce platforms

Many online stores exhibit significant challenges in fundamental functions such as product searches, filters, and checkout processes. Data analysis shows that nearly 60% of the retailers assessed had unlabeled buttons and form fields, creating difficulties for users relying on screen readers. Complex navigation structures also contribute to a frustrating user experience, with a lack of consistent focus indicators across interactive elements.

Notably, retailers in this sector performed among the worst, with the majority scoring below 3/5 due to critical accessibility failures. Sites that scored under 2/5 frequently lacked even the most basic compliance measures, such as semantic HTML for navigation and proper labeling of interactive elements. These low scores highlight a need for immediate intervention, as the impact extends beyond usability concerns – customers encountering such barriers are more likely to abandon their carts, leading to lost revenue.

Fashion retailers

This sector revealed persistent challenges related to non-descriptive links and missing alternative text for product images. Analysis of the data shows that over 70% of fashion retailers failed to provide sufficient text descriptions for key visuals, leaving visually impaired users unable to engage with promotional content or product details effectively. Additionally, inconsistent focus order affects users navigating via keyboard controls.

Fashion retailers overwhelmingly scored below 3/5, with a significant portion struggling to meet even the minimum accessibility criteria. Among the few that scored above 3/5, improvements were primarily limited to more descriptive link text and better focus management, yet these efforts still fell short of achieving a fully accessible experience. The industry’s reliance on visuals makes it imperative for retailers to prioritize accessibility efforts if they aim to meet EAA compliance and improve customer engagement.

Electronics retailers

The evaluation found that 50% of electronics websites exhibited poor contrast ratios and inaccessible form fields. Users with visual impairments often struggle with low-contrast text, especially in product specifications and checkout pages. Moreover, forms frequently lack proper labeling, leading to confusion when inputting information, which can discourage customers from completing their purchases.

Most electronics retailers fell within the 2/5 to 3/5 range, signaling moderate but insufficient compliance. Only a small fraction of retailers in this sector approached a score of 4/5, demonstrating that widespread accessibility improvements are necessary. Given the technical nature of electronics products, accessible product descriptions and clearly structured forms should be a priority, yet many businesses continue to overlook these fundamental aspects.

Quantitative insights

The evaluation assigned accessibility scores to each retailer based on the extent of their compliance with EAA standards. The findings indicate that:

• 40% of retailers scored between 2/5 and 3/5, highlighting a moderate level of compliance with significant areas requiring improvement.
• 20% of retailers scored below 2/5, showing major accessibility barriers that hinder usability and compliance.
• Only 10% of retailers achieved a score of 4/5 or higher, demonstrating a proactive commitment to accessibility best practices.

Spanish retailers with lower scores commonly lacked essential accessibility features such as semantic HTML elements, clear focus states, and comprehensive error identification within forms. Given that a 5/5 score represents full compliance, these results underscore a substantial gap between current performance and the necessary standard. While some retailers have made efforts to address accessibility concerns, the fact that 60% of businesses fall below 3/5 suggests that accessibility is still an afterthought rather than a core component of digital strategy. Without significant improvements, these businesses will continue to exclude potential customers and expose themselves to legal risks under the EAA.

Call to action for Spanish retailers

To bridge the current accessibility gaps, Spanish retailers should consider the following measures:

• Conducting regular accessibility audits using both automated tools and manual testing by users with disabilities.
• Implementing WCAG AA guidelines as a minimum standard across all digital touchpoints.
• Providing ongoing accessibility training for development and content teams to ensure a consistent approach.
• Engaging individuals with disabilities in the testing and feedback process to identify real-world challenges.

Addressing these accessibility issues is crucial for fostering an inclusive digital environment. By taking proactive measures to enhance accessibility, businesses can improve their user experience, comply with legal obligations, and expand their customer base. The findings of this report underscore the importance of prioritizing accessibility as an integral part of digital strategy. Spanish retailers that invest in comprehensive accessibility improvements will not only avoid regulatory risks but also benefit from a more engaged and diverse audience.

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