BAF Business Accessibility Forum

Accessibility Transformation 

Two years of EAA implementation reveal a striking pattern: systematic approaches win. Organizations treating accessibility as continuous process—not one-time project—achieve and sustain results above 80%.

Here's what the data shows:

1. Banking: Europe's New Benchmark

   Polish banking sector achieved 80% compliance compared to the EU average of 73%, marking a dramatic transformation from 59% in 2023. This qualitative shift reflects systematic investment in design systems, dedicated accessibility teams, and regular audit cycles. Polish banks now set the European standard for accessible financial services.

2. E-Commerce: Incremental Progress

   Poland's e-commerce sector reached 54% compliance, slightly below the EU average of 58%, with steady growth from 51% in 2023. The sector faces distinct challenges: complex user flows, heavy reliance on third-party integrations, and rapid development cycles. Organizations embedding accessibility into design systems show fastest improvement trajectories.

3. Telecommunications: Closing the Gap

   Telecommunications sector demonstrated strong momentum, improving from 57% to 63%, though still below the EU average of 70%. Companies applying banking-sector learnings—systematic audits, design pattern libraries, and regular user testing—are closing the gap most effectively.

The result Solid Foundations Method

Sector	Poland 2023	Poland 2025	Europe 2025
Banking	59%	80%	73%
E-commerce	51%	54%	58%
Telecommunications	57%	63%	70%

Beyond Initial Compliance  

Banking can be a good example for other industries.

Maintenance is crucial. Without regular testing and checking of changes, it is not possible to maintain results above 80%. Daily routine is needed: WCAG checklists, tests with screen readers (NVDA/VoiceOver), clear rules for components in the design system, and mandatory accessibility verification before each deployment.

Success Factors 

Companies that have well-defined design systems, persons responsible for accessibility, and regularly conduct consultations and audits as well as test with people with diverse needs exceed 80% faster and can maintain that level.

This translates into real growth in compliance with the entire WCAG standard. Banking in Poland clearly above the EU average, telecommunications with a strong growth leader, e-commerce moving from the "bottom shelf" to "solid middle."

Our sample demonstrates a clear correlation: organizations combining external accessibility expertise with systematic implementation approaches – including design pattern libraries and regular testing cycles – achieve 80-90% compliance faster and maintain it more consistently.

What This Means

Poland's banking sector proves European organizations can exceed EAA requirements when accessibility is embedded in culture and process. The challenge isn't knowing what to do, it's building systems to do it consistently. 

Banking Sector Perspective