Visa and Chase are crowned the most accessible eCommerce websites in the world with accessibility scores of 100 Renault and Volvo are the most accessible automotive brands in the world Chanel and H&M are leading the way for accessible fashion websites Fan favourite Costa revealed as the most accessible restaurant website
Accenture tops the list as the most accessible tech website
The full Online Shopping Accessibility Index can be found here: https://affise.com/blog/online-shopping-accessibility-index/
For those wanting to browse the internet and shop at their favourite brands, the new Online Shopping Accessibility Index from the experts at Affise has determined which of the world’s most valuable online brands and retailers are the most accessible to a wide range of web users.
Web users that are visually impaired, suffer with hearing loss, or have neurological or cognitive limitations can struggle to navigate through websites which can make online shopping an extremely difficult task.
Using Google’s Chrome DevTools and Lighthouse, the Online Shopping Accessibility Index determines the user experiences of some of the world’s top online conglomerates, to discover whether the best interests of all customers are really at the heart of operations.
Top 10 most accessible online brands in the world:
Brand | Industry | Accessibility rating Score (Google Lighthouse) | |
1 | Visa | Financial Services | 100 |
2 | Chase | Financial Services | 100 |
3 | Accenture | Business Services | 99 |
4 | Technology | 98 | |
5 | Samsung | Technology | 98 |
6 | AT&T | Telecom | 98 |
7 | Frito-Lay | Consumer Packaged Goods | 98 |
8 | HSBC | Financial Services | 98 |
9 | Deloitte | Business Services | 98 |
10 | Microsoft | Technology | 97 |
Source: Affise
Utilising ‘Google Lighthouse’, a tool which takes into account factors that compromise a site’s accessibility such as unhelpful alt text, irrelevant page titles, and brands using colour to convey their messages, the report determines which brands came out on top regarding their appeal to as wide a range of web users as possible.
Taking the top spot is financial service provider Visa, scoring an admirable 100 in the convenience rankings. This includes only one web accessibility error and 13 web alerts, highlighting that a great deal of time would have been spent on making things suitable for customers with disabilities.
Second on the list is Chase Bank, also scoring 100, with one accessibility error and two contrast errors.
Ranking different industry sectors by their online accessibility credentials
Are some industries simply more accessible when it comes to their online offering than others? The report suggests that different industries have taken more online shopping accessibility measures than others when it comes to online shopping.
Renault and Volvo are the most accessible automotive brands in the world:
Brand | Accessibility Rating Score | |
1 | Renault | 97 |
2 | Volvo | 97 |
3 | Geely | 96 |
4 | Audi | 93 |
5 | Chevrolet | 93 |
6 | BMW | 89 |
7 | Honda | 89 |
8 | Ford | 85 |
9 | Land Rover | 84 |
10 | Tesla | 84 |
11 | Toyota | 84 |
12 | Jeep | 83 |
13 | Porsche | 83 |
14 | Nissan | 82 |
15 | Mercedes-Benz | 81 |
16 | Volkswagen | 80 |
17 | Hyundai | 76 |
18 | Kia | 75 |
19 | Lexus | 75 |
20 | Subaru | 72 |
Source: Affise
At the top of the automotive industry were Renault and Volvo, both scoring 97. However, Renault was seen to have 120 accessibility alerts, while Volvo only had 34. Despite scoring the same score, the Renault website features more alerts than Volvo overall, perhaps due to the website’s small text which makes the site difficult to read, particularly for those with low vision.
A redeeming feature for Renault is the website’s black and white colour-scheme making it ideal for colourblind individuals.
Head & Shoulders crowned the most accessible hair & beauty brand for online shopping:
Brand | Accessibility rating score | |
1 | Head & Shoulders | 98 |
2 | Olay | 98 |
3 | Dove | 96 |
4 | Lancôme | 95 |
5 | SK-II | 94 |
6 | Yves Rocher | 91 |
7 | Guerlain | 90 |
8 | Estée Lauder | 84 |
9 | Procter & Gamble | 84 |
10 | Garnier | 81 |
11 | Maybelline | 79 |
12 | Clinique | 78 |
13 | L’Oréal | 78 |
14 | Benefit | 77 |
15 | Johnson’s | 77 |
16 | Clarins | 73 |
17 | Pantene | 62 |
18 | Nivea | 57 |
19 | M.A.C | 54 |
20 | Gillette | 45 |
Source: Affise
Anti-dandruff hair brand Head & Shoulders emerged as the most accessible hair and beauty brand on the list, with a score of 98. With zero accessibility errors on the entire site, and just 15 other problems flagged, the haircare powerhouse is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to user-friendliness.
Second on the list was Olay, also scoring 98. Impressively, the beauty brand also had zero accessibility errors on site, alongside 33 detected issues, highlighting the time and effort taken to make its online presence as convenient as possible for disabled people.
Skincare giants Dove scored a respectable 96, placing them third on the list of the most accessible beauty brands.
At the bottom of the list was Gillette, with a score of just 45, suggesting that there are definitely changes to be made to the website.
Chanel takes the crown for the most accessible online fashion website:
Brand | Accessibility rating score | |
1 | Chanel | 100 |
2 | H&M | 100 |
3 | Cartier | 98 |
4 | Omega | 98 |
5 | Rolex | 98 |
6 | The North Face | 98 |
7 | Puma | 93 |
8 | Anta | 89 |
9 | Chow Tai Fook | 89 |
10 | Hermès | 87 |
11 | Louis Vuitton | 87 |
12 | Dior | 85 |
13 | NIKE | 83 |
14 | UNIQLO | 82 |
15 | Tiffany & Co. | 81 |
16 | Victoria’s Secret | 81 |
17 | Zara | 80 |
18 | COACH | 76 |
19 | Adidas | 72 |
20 | Gucci | 60 |
Source: Affise
Luxury brand, Chanel took the top spot, with an awe-inspiring score of 100. This also takes into account six accessibility errors and 15 alerts, placing the luxury brand firmly in the lead.
Next up was H&M, also with top marks of 100. 43 overall errors showcased the company’s attention to detail when it came to online accessibility, which is instantly obvious thanks to its clean, minimalistic colour-scheme.
Trailing behind was luxury brand Gucci, with a less than desirable score of 60. What is immediately recognisable is the brand’s reliance on colour to convey their message, as the busy, garish site would no doubt make things incredibly difficult for colourblind people to read.
Costa crowned the most accessible restaurant website:
Brand | Accessibility rating score | |
1 | Costa | 99 |
2 | Tim Hortons | 98 |
3 | Jack In The Box | 98 |
4 | KFC | 94 |
5 | Jollibee | 94 |
6 | Pizza Hut | 92 |
7 | Papa John’s | 91 |
8 | Cheesecake Factory | 91 |
9 | Starbucks | 90 |
10 | Wendy’s | 90 |
11 | Taco Bell | 88 |
12 | Dunkin’ | 88 |
13 | Burger King | 88 |
14 | Domino’s Pizza | 85 |
15 | Chick-fil-A | 85 |
16 | Haidilao | 84 |
17 | Chipotle | 84 |
18 | Subway | 80 |
19 | McDonald’s | 76 |
20 | Wetherspoons | 75 |
Source: Affise
For anybody with access needs looking to research the menu of a restaurant or foodservice establishment prior to a visit, a clear and easy to follow website is a must-have. Taking the top spot for the restaurant industry with an accessibility score of 99 and just 18 errors flagged, is beloved coffee shop chain Costa.
Next on the list is Canadian multinational fast food restaurant chain Tim Hortons, scoring a very respectable 98. Despite some messages being conveyed through colour, such as vegan options in green, the website is very simplistic and easy to navigate.
In last place is restaurant chain Wetherspoons, with a score of 75. 64 highlighted errors were found in the report’s research.
Elements of the Wetherspoons website that could be considered for improvement involve enhancing the alt text on included images, simplifying the colour-scheme, and improving the contrast of the site, for people with colour-contrast sensitivity.
Accenture tops the list as the most accessible tech website:
Brand | Accessibility rating score | |
1 | Accenture | 99 |
2 | Dell Technologies | 98 |
3 | Samsung | 98 |
4 | Huawei Investment & Holding | 97 |
5 | Microsoft | 97 |
6 | Apple | 96 |
7 | Intel | 93 |
8 | IBM | 92 |
9 | Hitachi | 91 |
10 | Sony | 91 |
11 | Hon Hai Precision Industry | 89 |
12 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing | 87 |
13 | Panasonic | 86 |
14 | 85 | |
15 | Cisco | 83 |
16 | LG | 82 |
17 | Alphabet | 81 |
18 | Tencent | 75 |
19 | Lenovo | 73 |
20 | HP | 72 |
Source: Affise
Reigning supreme in first place is Accenture, with a score of 99. With just 52 errors flagged overall, the site does not have far to go when it comes to being as convenient and as accessible as possible.
Scoring 98 and following closely behind in second place are computer giant Dell Technologies, with just 17 accessibility errors.
HP came in last place with a score of 72, the site instantly conveying colour-contrast issues, which would make navigation difficult for visitors with colour-contrast sensitivity. Bright, garish colours against a white background are guaranteed to offer a nightmare experience for people living with colour blindness, while lots of extremely small writing would be frustrating for people with visual impairments.