go green energy, known for its distinctive green bubbles, is an Austrian green electricity provider with a clear focus on sustainability. With the European Accessibility Act (Accessibility Act) approaching us, the company approached us to ensure that all digital touchpoints were accessible to all users.
The Challenge: Accessibility Without Losing Brand Identity
go green energy faced a typical challenge: making their customer portal, website, mobile app, PDFs and emails accessible without losing their distinctive visual appearance. They were looking for a partner who understood both the technical requirements of accessibility and the preservation of brand identity.
The Process
1. Definition of the Project Scope
We started with a clear definition of the scope within their digital ecosystem. Together with go green energy, we analyzed the most important customer journeys on their website, software platform, mobile app, service emails and PDF documents. In this way, we ensured that our audit covered all key touchpoints.
2. Testing and Reporting
The goal for this assessment was to verify against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. AA criteria across all platforms. In a step-by-step approach, we tested all 55 criteria through automated and manual testing on mobile and desktop devices. Manual testing included assistive technologies like screen readers, magnification software, and keyboards.
For each problem identified, we mapped the WCAG reference, the criticality of the problem, the affected user groups and the impact, and provided implementation recommendations. These reports were structured by website, software and app and prioritized according to importance – this gave go green energy a clear roadmap for implementation.
3. Accessibility in emails and documents
Beyond web interfaces, we examined service emails and PDFs, too. Emails were checked for proper contrast, semantic structure, and descriptive content.
PDF documents were evaluated against PDF/UA and WCAG standards. PDF/UA is the abbreviation for the DIN/ISO standard 14289, which defines all technical requirements for an accessible PDF. We shared the most common issues and provided practical guidance on creating accessible PDFs directly out of the source files. This ensured all customer communications would remain accessible, regardless of format.
4. Presentation of the results and planning
We presented our findings through an executive summary meeting where we walked through each platform’s key issues. This gave stakeholders a holistic view of their accessibility status and allowed for open discussion about implementation priorities.
5. Implementation support
Throughout implementation, we maintained open communication channels with the team. When technical questions arose about specifics of WCAG or implementation constraints, we provided timely clarification.
This collaborative approach allowed the team to make informed decisions about potential trade-offs and understand the impact on compliance and user experience. Instead of prescribing rigid solutions, we discussed alternative approaches – this allowed go green energy to align technical requirements with their brand identity.
The result: barrier-free energy for all
With our support, go green energy is creating an inclusive digital experience that works for all users – and with a view to the future. Implementation continues, including planned follow-up tests to check compliance and training on accessibility.
This project demonstrates how brands can embrace accessibility without compromising their visual identity—making energy services truly accessible to everyone.