Does the EAA apply to the B2B sector?

The EAA B2B Check 

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to harmonise the EU internal market for digital products and digital services. 

While the legislation primarily focuses on consumer protection (B2C), it impacts the B2B sector through several "backdoors" simultaneously.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• why the EAA is also relevant for B2B companies

• in which specific B2B scenarios action is required

• how to prepare strategically and in a legally compliant way

When you must take action in the B2B sector

Product liability and placing on the market

Do you manufacture hardware (e.g. computers or routers) that is, by its nature, suitable for consumers?

If so, these digital products must be accessible – regardless of whether you sell them to a distributor or another business. 

Example: 

Even if you sell 5,000 of these notebooks to a corporation in a pure B2B transaction, they must be fully accessible. You cannot claim exemption just because no end-consumer is named in the salescontract. As soon as the product is placed on the market, it must meet the legal standards.

Accessibility is a mandatory product feature – just like electrical safety. 

Digital services in the supply chain

If you provide a software solution used by a B2C company to fulfil its own obligations (e.g. a checkout system or a customer portal), your client will contractually demand compliance with accessibility standards from you. 

Example: 

A fintech startup offers an innovative checkout system for online shops. The online shop (B2C) is legally required to make the entire purchasing process accessible. Since the checkout is the core ofthis process, the shop operator will only use a system that meets WCAG 2.1 and, looking ahead, WCAG 2.2. Without compliance, the fintech startup loses its entire B2C customer base.

Public procurement (B2G)

While public bodies are governed by specific national accessibility regulations (such as the UK’s PSBAR or Germany’s BITV 2.0), they are increasingly awarding contracts only to providers whose products meet these requirements. 

For B2B companies, this means that even if they do not fall directly under the EAA, accessibility is becoming a decisive award criterion in tenders. 

Example: 

A B2B company bids for a government agency tender for new HR management software. Since public authorities are mandated to ensure accessibility, the compliance of the user interface is a strict exclusion criterion. 

Technical standards: WCAG and assistive technologies 

To meet the requirements for digital accessibility, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the central benchmark.

Currently, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the legally authoritative standard referenced by the EAA.

Looking ahead, however, WCAG 2.2 is considered the state-of-the-art standard. Companies that already align their digital offerings with WCAG 2.2 are better prepared for future requirements and reduce the risk of costly retrofitting. 

Why WCAG matters to you

Accessibility means more than just contrast ratios. It is about ensuring your interactive websites are compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, Braille displays, or voice control systems. This is the only way to ensure that people with disabilities can use your digital services to their full extent. 

How Eye-Able supports your implementation 

Meeting legal requirements can seem complex—but you don’t have to go it alone. Eye-Able provides a comprehensive platform to help you make your digital solutions both legally compliant and user-friendly. 

• Software solutions: From visual adjustment tools to automated testing tools, Eye-Able helps you identify and resolve barriers on your websites in real time.

• Audits: We perform detailed audits based on WCAG 2.2 and generate the necessary reports you need for your declaration of conformity.

• Documentation: Digital accessibility doesn’t end with technical implementation. For many websites and applications, an Accessibility Statement is a legal requirement. 

Eye-Able supports you with an Accessibility Statement Generator, which creates a structured, legally compliant declaration based on your audits—tailored to current requirements. Changes can be updatedat any time without having to manually recreate the statement. 

This ensures you not only fulfil your formal obligations but also stay on top of audits, enquiries, or tenders. 

Want to ensure your B2B platform is future-proof? 

Let’s check together whether your current infrastructure meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Eye-Able helps you take your accessible websites and digital services to the next level.