Why 75% of BigCommerce Apps Fail Basic Accessibility Standards in 2026 & How to Fix It

The rise of mobile commerce has been explosive. Yet, a staggering 75% of mobile apps, including those built on platforms like BigCommerce, fail to meet even basic accessibility standards. This isn’t just a compliance issue; it’s a business risk, a legal liability, and a missed opportunity to reach a significant portion of your customer base. This article will explore why this failure is so prevalent, specifically within the BigCommerce ecosystem, and provide actionable steps to improve accessibility.

The Accessibility Crisis: A Numbers Game

Globally, over 1 billion people live with some form of disability. Ignoring accessibility means excluding a massive potential customer base.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, the internationally recognized standard for web accessibility, provides a framework for creating inclusive digital experiences. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the US, and similar legislation like the Equality Act 2010 in the UK, increasingly hold businesses accountable for accessible online presence. Even the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2026, recently enforced, mandates accessibility for many digital products and services.

Why then, are so many apps failing? The reasons are complex, but often boil down to a lack of understanding, insufficient training, and the inherent complexities of app development. Adding to the challenge is the proliferation of third-party apps and plugins within platforms like BigCommerce.

BigCommerce's Role: A Double-Edged Sword

BigCommerce itself provides a solid foundation for building accessible online stores. The platform’s templating system, while requiring developer skill, allows for granular control over HTML structure and ARIA attributes. However, the vast ecosystem of apps and plugins – often developed by third parties – introduces significant accessibility risks. These apps frequently lack proper accessibility considerations, creating barriers for users with disabilities.

The Problem with Third-Party Apps

Many BigCommerce apps are developed with speed and functionality as primary goals, often neglecting accessibility. This can manifest in several ways:

• Poor Keyboard Navigation: Users relying on keyboard navigation (a crucial accessibility technique for those with motor impairments) may find it impossible to access all features within an app.
• Missing or Incorrect ARIA Labels: ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes provide semantic information to assistive technologies like screen readers. Incorrect or missing ARIA labels can lead to confusion and frustration for users.
• Insufficient Color Contrast: Low color contrast between text and background can make content difficult or impossible to read for users with low vision.
• Lack of Alternative Text for Images: Alternative text (alt text) describes images to users who cannot see them. Missing or generic alt text deprives users of vital information.
• Inaccessible Forms: Form elements (like address fields or payment details) must be properly structured and labeled to be accessible to screen readers and keyboard navigation.

A Real-World Scenario: The Abandoned Cart

Imagine a user with a visual impairment attempting to complete a purchase on a BigCommerce store using a screen reader. A third-party shipping calculator app, lacking proper ARIA labels, prevents the screen reader from announcing the available shipping options. The user, unable to understand the choices, abandons their cart. This isn't just a lost sale; it's a negative brand experience that could have been easily avoided.

Diagnosing Accessibility Issues in Your BigCommerce Store

Using BigCommerce's Built-in Tools

BigCommerce’s admin panel offers some basic tools for identifying accessibility issues, although they are limited. The "Theme Settings" section allows you to adjust color contrast and font sizes. While helpful, these are superficial fixes and don't address deeper accessibility problems.

Leveraging Third-Party Accessibility Apps

The BigCommerce App Marketplace offers several accessibility apps. While some are simply widget overlays that attempt to fix issues on the fly, these are often ineffective and can even introduce new problems. We strongly discourage relying solely on these overlays. Instead, look for apps that offer accessibility audits and remediation suggestions.

The Power of Automated Accessibility Testing

Automated accessibility testing tools, such as WAVE, axe DevTools, and Lighthouse, can quickly identify many common accessibility errors. These tools analyze your store's code and provide reports highlighting potential issues. However, automated testing only catches about 20-30% of accessibility problems. Manual testing by accessibility experts is crucial.

AI-Powered Accessibility: A New Frontier

Traditional accessibility audits are time-consuming and require specialized expertise. Accessio.ai utilizes artificial intelligence to automate many aspects of the accessibility audit process. It identifies issues at the source code level, offering specific remediation suggestions and prioritizing fixes based on severity. This dramatically reduces the time and cost associated with accessibility remediation.

Implementing Accessibility: A Step-by-Step Guide for BigCommerce Users

1. Audit Your Store: Start with automated tools, then engage an accessibility expert for a manual audit. Prioritize issues based on WCAG guidelines and potential impact on users.

2. Review Third-Party Apps: Before installing any app, check its accessibility documentation and reviews. Contact the app developer to inquire about their accessibility practices.

3. Implement Semantic HTML: Ensure your store’s HTML structure is semantic, using appropriate tags like <header>, <nav>, <main>, <footer>, <article>, and <aside>. This provides context for screen readers.

4. Provide ARIA Labels: Use ARIA attributes to provide additional information to assistive technologies where HTML cannot adequately convey meaning. For example, use aria-label to describe the purpose of a button.

5. Ensure Keyboard Navigation: Verify that all interactive elements are reachable and operable using the keyboard alone. Use the tabindex attribute judiciously to control the order of focus.

6. Maintain Sufficient Color Contrast: Ensure a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Use color contrast checkers to verify compliance.

7. Provide Alternative Text for Images: Write concise and descriptive alt text for all images that convey meaningful information. Decorative images should have empty alt attributes (alt="").

8. Test with Screen Readers: Regularly test your store using screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver to experience it from the perspective of a visually impaired user.

9. Educate Your Developers: Provide accessibility training to your development team and encourage them to incorporate accessibility considerations into their workflows.

BigCommerce-Specific Implementation Notes

• Theme Customization: If you've customized your BigCommerce theme, ensure your changes adhere to accessibility best practices. Use the BigCommerce developer documentation as a guide.
• Stencil Framework: If you're using the Stencil framework, leverage its built-in accessibility features and follow the accessibility guidelines provided by BigCommerce.
• Custom Apps: If you're developing custom BigCommerce apps, prioritize accessibility from the outset. Follow WCAG guidelines and utilize ARIA attributes appropriately.

Key Takeaways

• Accessibility is not optional; it's a legal and ethical imperative.
• The vast majority of BigCommerce apps fail basic accessibility standards due to a lack of focus on inclusivity during development.
• Relying solely on accessibility widget overlays is insufficient; a holistic approach that addresses code-level issues is essential.
• Accessio.ai offers an AI-powered solution for identifying and remediating accessibility issues at scale, significantly reducing the time and cost of compliance.
• Continuous monitoring and testing are crucial for maintaining accessibility over time.

Next Steps

1. Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Use automated tools and engage a qualified accessibility expert.
2. Review Your App Ecosystem: Evaluate the accessibility of your installed apps and prioritize replacements if necessary.
3. Explore Accessio.ai: Request a demo to see how AI-powered accessibility can streamline your remediation efforts. [Link to Accessio.ai]
4. Educate Your Team: Provide accessibility training to your developers and content creators.
5. Commit to Continuous Improvement: Accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. Regularly monitor and test your store to ensure it remains accessible to all users.