With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline approaching in June 2025, businesses operating in or selling into the European Union (EU) must ensure their digital products comply with EN 301 549 accessibility standards. Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about creating a digital experience that’s inclusive and accessible to all users.
For a detailed overview of EAA compliance and best practices, check out our guide to the European Accessibility Act
For those leading digital projects, managing accessibility, or overseeing compliance, understanding how to balance automated and manual testing is critical to meeting EAA requirements and providing truly accessible digital experiences.
Why Both Automated and Manual Testing Are Essential
The EN 301 549 standard closely aligns with WCAG 2.1 AA but goes further, covering both digital and non-digital products and services. Achieving compliance involves more than just running automated tests. While automated tools can identify many surface-level issues, they often miss the nuanced barriers that users with disabilities face, making manual testing equally important.
Let’s take a closer look at why balancing automated and manual testing is crucial for achieving comprehensive EAA compliance.
For a broader understanding of EAA compliance and what it means for your business, check out our EAA compliance practical guide.
Limitations of Automated Accessibility Testing
Automated testing tools are great for quickly flagging common accessibility issues, such as:
- Missing alt text for images
- Low color contrast
- Improperly structured headings
These tools can scan vast amounts of content in minutes and provide you with a list of potential problems. However, automated tools fall short when it comes to complex accessibility challenges. For instance, automated tests often can’t determine whether:
- Content is fully navigable using only a keyboard
- Screen readers interact with your site as expected
- Interactive elements (like forms or pop-ups) are easy to use
These challenges, especially critical for compliance with EN 301 549, require human judgment. Automated tools may also struggle to evaluate how well the overall user experience aligns with the core principles of the EAA, such as ensuring that content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Automated testing is essential, but so are manual processes. Learn more about compliance requirements and strategies in our blog on debunking common EAA compliance myths
The Role of Manual Testing for EAA Compliance
While automated tools are useful for a high-level overview of potential issues, manual testing goes deeper. Manual testing involves real people evaluating your digital products—particularly those who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice commands, or keyboard navigation.
Here’s why manual testing is essential:
- Keyboard Navigation: Manual testers can verify that users can navigate your website without a mouse, a requirement for people with motor disabilities.
- Screen Reader Testing: Manual testing helps ensure that your website’s content is accessible and logical for users relying on screen readers, especially when interacting with dynamic content, such as pop-ups or dropdown menus.
- Real User Experience: Testers can assess how intuitive your website is and identify accessibility barriers that automated tools often miss, like confusing navigation flows or hidden content.
Manual testing uncovers issues directly impacting users with disabilities, providing critical insights for full compliance with EN 301 549.
How to Balance Automated and Manual Testing for EAA Compliance
Striking the right balance between automated and manual testing is the key to meeting EAA requirements. Here’s a practical approach to integrating both into your accessibility strategy:
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Start with Automated Testing: Automated tools are a good first step. Use them to identify low-hanging fruit, such as missing alt text or insufficient color contrast. These are quick fixes that can enhance accessibility at a basic level.
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Follow Up with Manual Testing: After addressing issues flagged by automated tools, dive deeper with manual testing. This step will help uncover more complex problems, especially those related to how users with disabilities interact with your content.
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Incorporate User Testing: Go a step further by involving real users, including those with disabilities. Their feedback will help you understand how your site functions in real-world scenarios, ensuring your digital products meet the practical and user-centered requirements of EN 301 549.
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Conduct Regular Audits: Accessibility is an ongoing commitment. Schedule regular audits using both automated and manual testing to ensure compliance as your digital content and technology evolve.
The Path to Comprehensive EAA Compliance
Achieving full EAA compliance isn’t a one-time task. The EN 301 549 standard continues to evolve, and businesses must stay proactive to ensure they meet the latest requirements. Combining automated testing’s speed with manual testing’s depth ensures a thorough approach to compliance.
By balancing these two methods, your business can not only meet the EAA requirements but also provide an inclusive and accessible experience for all users. Additionally, this approach helps future-proof your digital products against upcoming updates to EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.2.
Preparing for the June 2025 Deadline
With the June 2025 deadline approaching, now is the time to take action. An effective accessibility strategy should include a mix of automated and manual testing, coupled with real user insights. Ensuring your digital products are accessible is critical—not just for compliance, but to create better experiences for everyone.
Contact our accessibility experts today to develop a comprehensive testing strategy that balances automated tools with manual testing. Let’s ensure your products and services comply with EN 301 549 and meet the needs of all your users.
Want to know more about how to effectively balance automated and manual testing for EAA compliance? Join our upcoming EAA webinar for expert insights on ensuring your business is prepared for the 2025 deadline. Register here today!
