As the June 2025 deadline for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) approaches, digital agencies across the EU and those building websites or applications for EU-based consumers face mounting pressure to deliver accessible and compliant websites, mobile applications, and digital documents.
The EAA currently mandates conformance to the accessibility standard EN 301 549, derived from WCAG 2.1 AA, for any company serving EU markets.
For EU-focused digital agencies, this moment represents a dual challenge and opportunity. Agencies that fail to prioritize accessibility risk falling behind as accessibility becomes a core requirement for website design and development project requests.
However, those agencies who embrace accessibility now, with the right partner, can secure their position as trusted leaders in compliance and inclusion.
Allyant’s Digital Agency Partner Program, now expanding globally, offers a proven framework for helping EU web and design agencies integrate accessibility into their services, exceed client expectations, and future-proof their businesses.
Why Accessibility is Non-Negotiable for EU Digital Agencies
The European Accessibility Act: A Catalyst for Change
The EAA requires that all digital products and services meet accessibility standards to be sold in the EU. This impacts a wide range of both websites and applications, including:
- E-commerce websites and platforms
- Mobile applications
- Digital marketing campaigns
- Enterprise software targeting EU businesses
Noncompliance risks penalties, varying by member state regulations, and procurement disqualification. As the June 2025 deadline approaches, more organizations are requesting conformance in product builds and ongoing releases.
Due to the potential legal ramifications, clients swiftly require accessible solutions from their digital agency partners.
Shifting Client Expectations
Leading EU brands and those selling in the European market are proactively seeking accessible solutions that align with the EAA and their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.
Agencies that can demonstrate expertise in accessibility will not only win more net new clients but also retain key existing clients and drive long-term client relationships.
Example
We can pull on what we have seen for years in the U.S., with organizations receiving a surprise ADA website lawsuit or demand letter after believing their digital agency was built with accessibility in mind or delivered an accessible product by simply deploying an overlay widget. Post-legal demand, they find out through research and more robust accessibility testing that their website is, in fact, not accessible to the baseline WCAG requirements and immediately move their business to another agency for ongoing work and accessibility remediation.
Now, let’s apply this same scenario to the EAA! A European retail brand hired an agency with no accessibility expertise to build them an e-commerce website.
Either proactively through research from their legal and compliance team with the forthcoming requirements under the EAA or after facing compliance issues, they learn their website is, in fact, not in conformance with EN 301 549, and they are therefore out of conformance with the EAA.
Most brands, like trends we see in the U.S., will switch to an agency that partners with a reputable accessibility vendor such as Allyant, gaining the expertise needed to meet EAA requirements—and securing a larger market share.
The Challenges EU Digital Agencies Face
While the benefits of prioritizing accessibility are clear, many agencies face obstacles that are not all foreign to historical accessibility challenges faced by leading design and development firms. These include challenges such as:
- Limited internal expertise: Accessibility requires specialized knowledge of standards like WCAG 2.2 AA and EN 301 549, as well as deep familiarity with assistive technologies and user needs.
- Client misconceptions: Many clients view accessibility as optional or secondary to aesthetics, making it difficult to advocate for its importance without a strong partner that can support an accessibility-first mindset from design through development.
- Tight deadlines and budgets: Without the right processes and support, accessibility can be deprioritized in the face of competing project demands. This is why engaging with a partner such as Allyant, which can support prioritization of the most critical issues, and an agile testing process is critical to success.
These challenges deeply underscore the need for a trusted accessibility partner that can seamlessly integrate accessibility into agency workflows.
Finding the right Accessibility Partner
Allyant’s Digital Agency Partner Program is uniquely designed to address the needs of EU agencies navigating the EAA and global accessibility standards.
Let’s break down the key elements of finding the proper accessibility to drive sustainable success for your agency and end clients.
Expertise in EAA Compliance
Allyant’s global team of accessibility experts specializes in aligning digital products with EN 301 549 and tests fully to WCAG 2.2 AA standards for every website and mobile application project we support. This ensures that your agency can deliver compliant solutions to its clients.
Seamless Integration with Agency Processes
Our agency partner program is geared toward providing your team with the tools, training, and resources tailored to driving success for your design and development staff.
- Live-user testing: Validate digital experiences with assistive technology users with a robust delivery output that includes detailed recommended fixes and code snippets for each accessibility barrier identified.
- Integrated Design Reviews: Our team of Accessibility-focused Designers and UX engineers can collaborate directly with your team to ensure accessibility is baked into your digital builds from the earliest design phases.
- Automated test tools: Quickly identify potential barriers that can be identified by automated testing tools (generally accepted to be about 1/3 of WCAG success criteria) – including on pre-production pages and content being built and deployed for your clients on an ongoing basis.
- Accessibility reporting and insights: Our Allyant HUB equips your team with clear and concise insights on accessibility progress over time – ensuring your team has the reporting and data needed to define success and promote legal conformance for your clients.
The Allyant Advantage: What Sets Us Apart as Your Proven Partner
- A Global Leader in Accessibility: With nearly 30 years of experience, Allyant has supported some of the world’s largest brands in achieving compliance and inclusion across their websites, mobile applications, and digital (PDF) documents. Our proven processes, proprietary tools, and commitment to human-led testing make us the trusted choice for accessibility across the globe.
- Full-Service Solutions Provider: Allyant is the premier global sole-source solutions provider, eliminating the need for digital agencies to juggle multiple partners. Unlike other vendors who rely on outsourcing various accessibility solutions, our in-house experts seamlessly handle all aspects of the customer communication journey – including websites, software, documents, or PDFs, and alternative formats such as braille and large-format. This expertise ensures unmatched quality, efficiency, and consistency. By consolidating services under one trusted partner, agencies can streamline workflows, reduce costs, and confidently deliver comprehensive accessibility solutions to their clients regardless of the need.
- A Partner, Not Just a Vendor: We collaborate with agencies to build their accessibility expertise, ensuring they can confidently lead client conversations and deliver measurable results. We become a trusted partner, not just an outsourced vendor. Our team will upskill your team, help with client conversations to build confidence, and collaborate through the entire customer journey to ensure a seamless partnership for your team and your client.
How to Get Started: Join Allyant’s Global Partner Program!
Partnering with Allyant means gaining the tools, expertise, and support needed to thrive in an increasingly accessibility-driven market, especially with the pending European Accessibility Act deadlines.
Get started today by contacting our team below or visiting our Digital Agency Partnership Program Page!
