Compliance Is Just the Beginning: The Business Case for Accessible Analytics

For years, accessibility in software has been viewed as nothing more than a box to check and a legal risk to manage. But in enterprise analytics, that view is shifting. As regulations like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and WCAG 2.1 enforcement deadlines draw closer, companies are recognizing that accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about delivering better products, fostering innovation, and gaining a competitive edge.

For analytics vendors, meeting compliance is just the starting point; companies that prioritize accessibility differentiate themselves in the market, win enterprise contracts, and improve the user experience for all. Research consistently shows that accessibility-driven businesses see higher engagement, increased customer satisfaction, and stronger growth.

In the EU alone, 1 in 4 adults (around 101 million people) have a disability, representing a significant portion of the workforce and consumer base. With nearly 30% of women and 24% of men affected, inclusive design is no longer optional.

Compliance Gets You In. Leadership Sets You Apart.

By June 28, 2025, enterprises operating in Europe must comply with the EAA, which mandates accessibility across digital services, including analytics platforms. Similar regulations, such as ADA and Section 508, already influence procurement decisions in the U.S.

But when compliance becomes an industry-wide requirement, it no longer differentiates one platform from another. The real opportunity lies in leveraging accessibility as a driver of innovation, usability, and business success.

The Business Impact of Accessible Analytics

1. Winning Enterprise Deals & Expanding Market Reach: Accessibility is now non-negotiable in industries like finance, healthcare, and government. Companies that prioritize accessibility will gain a competitive edge when bidding for high-value contracts.

2. Delivering a Better User Experience for Everyone: Accessibility improvements — like clearer navigation, high-contrast visuals, structured tooltips, and keyboard shortcuts — enhance usability for all users, not just those relying on assistive technology. Many of today’s best UX practices originated as accessibility features.

3. Future-Proofing Against Changing Regulations: Accessibility standards continue to evolve. Companies that treat compliance as a one-time fix risk falling behind. Leading vendors integrate accessibility into their product roadmaps, ensuring long-term compliance and continuous innovation.

GoodData’s Approach: Setting the Standard for Inclusive Analytics

At GoodData, we’ve long recognized the importance of accessibility and continue to push the boundaries of inclusive analytics. Over the past year, we’ve implemented key improvements that boost our platform’s usability:

Recent Enhancements in Accessibility

• Improved navigation & faster access to insights: Users can now skip repetitive content, reducing unnecessary tabbing. Key dashboard elements use semantic HTML for improved screen reader interpretation. The application header and menus feature proper ARIA labels and structure for better accessibility.
• More accurate screen reader output: The interface now dynamically detects language for better text-to-speech support. Logos, buttons, and icons include descriptive alt text and ARIA labels. Status messages (e.g., errors, notifications) are announced in real-time without disrupting workflow.
• Easier data entry & better user interaction: Search bars, dropdowns, and input fields now have clear ARIA labels. Checkboxes, radio buttons, and toggles use correct semantic HTML for improved readability. Action buttons like "More Actions" and "Dismiss Notification" now have ARIA attributes for better usability.

Our commitment doesn’t stop here. We continue to deepen our investment in accessibility with a clear, forward-thinking roadmap:

• Enhancing accessibility across cognitive, visual, and motor disabilities.
• Optimizing screen reader support and keyboard navigation.
• Conducting an external audit (Q2 '25) to validate compliance.
• Going beyond compliance to set the benchmark for inclusive analytics.

Industry Insights: The Future of Accessible Analytics

Accessibility isn’t static, it’s a constantly evolving field. A key takeaway from axe-con 2025, the world’s premier accessibility conference, was the growing role of AI and automation in accessibility testing. While automation has been in place for years, recent advancements have made tooling more effective and user-friendly, streamlining accessibility assessments within development workflows.

Tools like Axe Developer Hub now provide end-to-end accessibility testing as a service, allowing teams to seamlessly integrate accessibility checks into their continuous development processes. This evolution enables organizations to more efficiently maintain compliance while improving usability. However, automated tools alone aren’t enough. The most complex accessibility challenges — such as ensuring seamless screen reader compatibility and refining interactive elements —  still require a human touch. That’s why at GoodData, we emphasize expert manual evaluations to ensure every update enhances the experience for all users.

This proactive approach is critical as accessibility standards rapidly evolve. With WCAG 2.2 adoption underway, the next major focus will be its implementation into legislation and industry standards. Organizations must be strategic, not reactive, to stay compliant and competitive.

Read more about the trends and takeaways from axe-con 2025.

Making Analytics Accessible to Everyone

The shift from compliance to inclusion is already happening. Companies that recognize accessibility as a business enabler — rather than just a legal requirement  — will set the standard for the next generation of enterprise analytics.

At GoodData, we’re not just meeting the standards, we’re setting them. Our commitment to accessibility ensures that organizations can provide inclusive, seamless analytics experiences for all users. As accessibility becomes a key enterprise buying criterion, our leadership in this space is not just the right thing to do — it’s a strategic advantage.

Stay tuned as we dive deeper into this topic in upcoming articles, focusing on accessibility for users with cognitive, visual, and motor disabilities, as well as those relying on screen readers. If you're interested in discussing how accessibility can drive your business forward, we'd love to connect.