Published: 9 May 2026
Every Vendor Needs a Repeatable Accessibility Process
Buyers are demanding accessibility compliance, and suppliers must deliver if they want to remain competitive. But many vendors struggle to produce consistent, credible Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) or to remediate issues in a timely manner. The solution is to build a repeatable accessibility process that can be integrated into product development and procurement cycles.
Step 1: Establish Governance
Accessibility needs ownership. Understand who is responsible for accessibility across your organisation and define clear roles and responsibilities. Key actions:
- assign an accessibility lead
- define roles and responsibilities
- create internal policies
- set expectations for testing and reporting.
Governance is the backbone of repeatability.
Step 2: Audit the Product
A proper audit includes:
- WCAG 2.2 testing
- EN 301 549 alignment
- assistive technology testing
- functional performance evaluation
The audit identifies gaps and informs your Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) - your primary document for demonstrating accessibility compliance to prospective buyers.
Step 3: Produce the ACR
A high-quality ACR includes:
- accurate conformance statements
- clear explanations
- evidence of testing
- versioning and dates
- scope and limitations
Avoid vague or overly optimistic claims — procurement teams will notice. “Partially supports” is not a strong position. Be transparent about what you support, what you don’t, and your plans for improvement. Conversely, a well-crafted ACR builds trust and positions you as a credible supplier.
Step 4: Build a Remediation Roadmap
Buyers don’t expect perfection. They expect a plan. A strong roadmap includes:
- prioritised issues
- timelines
- responsible owners
- planned releases
- communication points
This reduces procurement risk and builds trust.
Step 5: Operationalise Accessibility
Make accessibility part of everyday delivery. Key practices:
- integrate accessibility into design and dev
- update the design system
- add accessibility acceptance criteria
- run regular audits
- maintain updated ACRs
Operationalised accessibility is a game changing capability.
Conclusion
A repeatable accessibility process is now essential for ICT vendors. It reduces risk, accelerates sales cycles, and positions suppliers as credible, enterprise ready partners. By establishing governance, auditing products, producing high-quality ACRs, building remediation roadmaps and operationalising accessibility, vendors can meet buyer expectations and win more tenders in an increasingly competitive market.
Tools & Resources
Services
ICT Supply: Learn how AccessUX helps ICT suppliers and vendors win more tenders by improving their product accessibility, and evidencing it to government and enterprise buyers.