Estimating the ROI for Incorporating an Accessibility Linter into the Developer Desktop

Previously in the Series, we delved into how important Including Country Specific(non-WCAG) A11y guidelines into the AWA Linter is. But making a decision about investing in A11y isn't an easy one.

To understand the ROI of incorporating an accessibility linter into the developer desktop as a shift-left initiative, we need to consider various factors, including software accessibility guidelines currently in place, upcoming changes to accessibility laws, and the potential savings or benefits associated with addressing accessibility early in the development process.

Current and Upcoming Software Accessibility Guidelines

Global Accessibility Guidelines

1. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

• Version: WCAG 2.1 (current) and WCAG 2.2 (upcoming, 2024).
• Scope: The WCAG guidelines, developed by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium), provide standards for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines apply globally and are the foundation of many national and regional laws.
• Key Focus Areas: Visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities, as well as navigability using various assistive technologies (screen readers, speech recognition, etc.).

Regional Accessibility Guidelines

1. United States

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

Scope: ADA requires that public-facing websites and mobile apps be accessible to people with disabilities. This includes compliance with WCAG standards.

Upcoming Changes: The DOJ (Department of Justice) is expected to increase enforcement of web accessibility under ADA, with greater scrutiny on WCAG 2.1/2.2.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Scope: Applies to U.S. federal agencies and contractors, requiring accessibility for all federal websites and apps.

2. European Union

EN 301 549 (EU Accessibility Requirements for ICT)

Scope: European standard for accessibility of ICT products and services, aligning with WCAG 2.0/2.1.

Upcoming Changes: In 2024, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will strengthen enforcement across member states, ensuring digital products and services are fully accessible.

3. United Kingdom

Equality Act 2010

Scope: Requires public sector organizations and service providers to ensure their websites and apps are accessible.

Upcoming Changes: The UK government has promised to adopt stronger enforcement mechanisms for accessibility and provide more stringent guidelines in line with WCAG 2.2 by 2025.

4. Australia

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

Scope: Similar to the ADA in the U.S., requiring businesses to make digital content accessible.

Upcoming Changes: The Australian government plans to increase accessibility standards and enforcement across digital services.

5. Canada

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Scope: Requires accessibility compliance for websites and apps, focusing on WCAG 2.0/2.1 guidelines.

Upcoming Changes: Ontario is adopting more stringent enforcement mechanisms, with tighter deadlines for compliance.

6. Japan

Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities

Scope: Japan's digital accessibility guidelines follow WCAG 2.0/2.1 with an emphasis on government and public sector websites.

Key Impact Factors for ROI Calculation

1. Legal Risk Reduction

• Increased lawsuits and fines related to non-compliance with accessibility laws.
• More stringent enforcement of accessibility standards globally (e.g., ADA, EN 301 549, WCAG).

Example:

USA: A single ADA lawsuit settlement can range from $10,000 to $500,000, depending on the severity and the size of the company.

EU: Non-compliance fines for accessibility violations can range from €50,000 to €500,000, or higher depending on the case.

2. Brand Reputation

• Accessibility compliance leads to a positive brand image, enhancing trust and customer loyalty.
• Failure to comply can result in negative media attention and customer dissatisfaction.

3. Market Reach

• Companies that focus on accessibility can reach more users, especially those with disabilities. The global disability market is estimated to be worth over $8 trillion annually.

4. Development Cost Savings

Shift-Left Initiative: Identifying and addressing accessibility issues early in the development process (via a linter) is far less costly than fixing them post-launch.

• Pre-release cost: Fixing an accessibility bug in the development phase costs 5–10x less than post-launch.
• Post-launch cost: Resolving accessibility issues post-launch can incur additional costs such as customer support, legal fees, and customer churn.

5. Employee Productivity

Increased efficiency: Developers are less likely to miss accessibility issues when working with an integrated tool like the linter. This leads to a more efficient workflow and faster releases.

Estimated ROI for Different Company Sizes

1. Software Startups

• Average Revenue: $1M to $10M annually.
• Team Size: 10-50 employees.
• ROI Estimation Factors:

Legal Risk Reduction: A single lawsuit could be catastrophic for a small company. Early compliance with accessibility standards minimizes this risk.

Development Cost Savings: Startups are agile, so incorporating accessibility linting tools early in development saves time and resources. Estimated savings per bug fix: $200–$500 per issue.

Brand Recognition and Market Reach: Improving accessibility can lead to new business opportunities, especially in global markets (including Europe, where stricter laws are in place).

Example Calculation:

• Implementing a shift-left accessibility linter could save a startup $30,000–$50,000 in potential lawsuit settlements and $20,000–$40,000 in development cost savings annually.
• Total ROI Estimate for Startups: $50,000–$90,000 annually.

2. Mid-Sized Companies

• Average Revenue: $10M to $100M annually.
• Team Size: 50–500 employees.
• ROI Estimation Factors:

Legal Risk Reduction: Mid-sized companies are more likely to face legal scrutiny, especially from government contracts or international clients.

Development Cost Savings: Mid-sized teams often have more complex products, leading to more accessibility bugs. Addressing these early via a linter could save significant amounts.

Compliance with Multiple Laws: Mid-sized companies need to comply with both local and international laws (e.g., Section 508, EN 301 549, ADA). Non-compliance can lead to fines and reputational damage.

Example Calculation:

• Estimated savings from avoiding a single ADA lawsuit: $100,000–$250,000.
• Estimated development savings (fewer accessibility bugs post-launch): $50,000–$100,000 annually.
• Total ROI Estimate for Mid-Sized Companies: $150,000–$350,000 annually.

3. Large Organizations (e.g., Microsoft)

• Average Revenue: $1B+ annually.
• Team Size: 10,000+ employees.
• ROI Estimation Factors:

Legal Risk Reduction: For large companies, the cost of non-compliance can be much higher. Potential ADA or EU accessibility lawsuits could lead to multi-million-dollar settlements.

Brand Reputation: Accessibility is a key part of corporate responsibility for large organizations. Positive reputation for inclusivity can lead to significant business opportunities and customer loyalty.

Market Reach: Large organizations can significantly increase their customer base by ensuring their products are accessible to people with disabilities. The disability market is a massive untapped opportunity.

Global Compliance: Large companies must adhere to a variety of accessibility laws across regions (e.g., EU Accessibility Act, U.S. Section 508, and ADA), requiring ongoing investments in compliance.

Example Calculation:

• Legal Risk Reduction: A large company could face a fine or settlement of $1M–$5M for non-compliance with EU laws.
• Development Cost Savings: Avoiding late-stage accessibility fixes could save $500,000–$1M annually.
• Market Reach: Increased market share and customer loyalty could generate $5M–$10M in additional revenue annually.
• Total ROI Estimate for Large Organizations: $6M–$15M annually.

Conclusion:

Implementing an accessibility linter as a shift-left initiative offers significant ROI for all types of organizations. Startups and mid-sized companies benefit primarily from legal risk reduction and development cost savings, while large organizations enjoy even greater ROI through brand reputation, market reach, and the avoidance of large-scale legal risks. With stricter accessibility laws being enforced globally, particularly in Europe, early adoption of accessibility linting tools will position companies to comply with regulations, reduce operational costs, and foster inclusivity, which is both a legal and ethical imperative.