As emphasized by Dariusz Gosk, accessibility expert at the SENSE Group, the law itself is only the beginning. Its real strength lies elsewhere: it forces the creation of products and services that are simply better. More intuitive, easier to use, more user-friendly. Not for one narrow group, but for everyone - from seniors and busy parents to customers using devices on the go, on mobile phones, or in difficult conditions.
Eight Million Customers Companies Have So Far Overlooked
Around eight million people with specific needs live in Poland. This is a huge market that for years has been practically invisible, because many companies' offerings were inaccessible to them, not because the products were bad, but because they were unavailable: too complex, too chaotic, too unintuitive. When companies begin to change this under the influence of the EAA, these eight million customers will become one of the most dynamic sources of growth. Importantly, this is a group that is often willing to invest in better solutions, provided that the product or service is genuinely useful to them.
Implementing Accessibility Is Easier Than It Seems
What is surprising is how simple the first effects of implementing accessibility can be. The SENSE expert points out that many companies believe it is a complex, costly, and time-consuming process, yet after just an hour of training, participants often express amazement at how easy it is to absorb the principles. In many cases, the biggest problems are not technological at all, but basic: illegible documents, overly formal language in offers, missing descriptions for graphics, or overly complicated forms. Small improvements can deliver big results, especially in industries driven by conversion and speed of service.
EAA Goes Beyond the Digital World and Creates Real Advantage
What is particularly interesting for investors is that the impact of the EAA goes far beyond the digital realm. Accessibility applies to manufacturers of electronic equipment, telecommunications companies, e-book publishers, providers of terminals and ticket machines, manufacturers of household appliances, as well as creators of apps and e-commerce services. Most of these companies still assume that accessibility is not within their scope - much like GDPR years ago, until the first inspections began. Gosk has no doubt that the same will happen with the EAA, but with one key difference: this time, those who move first will not only avoid problems, but also build a lasting competitive advantage.
A good example is a company developing solutions for e-commerce that was convinced the regulations did not apply to them. In practice, as the SENSE expert notes, they directly influenced how customers used their tools. After introducing basic accessibility principles, abandoned shopping carts began to disappear and the number of returning users increased -without additional marketing campaigns and without increasing budgets. All it took was simplifying interfaces and improving a few key communication elements.
'Silent Gains' and Tangible Business Results
It is precisely this type of 'silent gains' that can translate into business results faster than many managers expect. Implementing accessibility improves conversion rates, shortens customer service time, reduces complaints, simplifies employee training, and streamlines sales and HR processes. And when customers notice real improvements, they begin to recommend the company to others, often within very close-knit communities where word of mouth spreads quickly and has enormous impact.
It is also worth noting another aspect: the true costs of inaccessibility are rarely visible at first glance. They are not inspections, paperwork, or potential penalties. Digital inaccessibility can simply cause customers to leave.
Today, when most companies are still ignoring the EAA, this loss is not yet felt. But once competitors begin implementing accessibility, customers will move to places where they can use products without barriers, and they will not return to what they previously chose.
How to Start and Why Now Is the Right Time
Companies that want to act wisely start with simple steps: consulting an expert, training their teams, and using available advisory services that guide them through formal requirements and help implement standards correctly. This is a small investment, especially when compared to the potential benefits: customer growth, better UX, a more competitive offering, and the image of an organization that sets the direction of change.
The Polish Accessibility Act will introduce a new system of complaints and inspections sooner than many expect. It is therefore better to treat it not as a burden, but as an impulse to accelerate the transformation of products, services, and communication.
Accessibility is not a cost. It is an investment. And, as early implementations show, often one with the fastest returns on the market.
More information about the project, training, and support can be found at dyrektywaeaa.pl, where the last one hundred free group places are available.
If businesses today share one common goal, it is seeking advantage where others have not yet noticed it. And the EAA creates exactly such an advantage. It is worth taking it before the competition does. The SENSE Group is ready to support companies in this change.
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