In June 2025, the European Union will enforce new regulations regarding document accessibility, designed to ensure that people with disabilities can access digital documents with ease. These regulations are part of the EU’s commitment to inclusivity and equal access to information, in line with the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The legislation covers a wide range of sectors and requires organizations—public and private alike—to ensure that all digital content, including PDFs, forms, and reports, meet accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Failure to comply with these standards can lead to significant legal and financial consequences for businesses.
Furthermore, in Germany, the BFSG (“Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz”), the German Accessibility Strengthening Act, aligns with the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) and requires that products and services, including websites and online shops, meet accessibility standards to ensure usability by individuals with disabilities. This law will come into effect in Germany on June 28, 2025 and outlines obligations for manufacturers, service providers, and market surveillance to ensure accessibility in products and services.
With the clock ticking towards these legislative deadline, organizations across Europe are seeking efficient, cost-effective solutions to update their document repositories and workflows. Consist’s NAGIX accessible document system is uniquely positioned to help companies achieve compliance while maintaining high standards of user experience and operational efficiency.
The NAGIX Advantage
Consist, a leader in digital document management, developed the NAGIX system to assist organizations in the seamless creation, conversion, and distribution of accessible digital documents. NAGIX ensures that documents adhere to the WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines, making them fully compliant with the upcoming EU regulations.
Here’s how NAGIX can help businesses prepare for 2025:
- Automated Document Accessibility: NAGIX enables organizations to easily convert existing documents into accessible formats. It ensures that all necessary elements within the PDF are precisely tagged, so that assistive devices can read the content of the document correctly. By automating these processes, businesses can quickly achieve compliance without overhauling their entire document production systems.
- Efficient Workflow Integration: NAGIX integrates seamlessly into existing content management systems (CMS) and document workflows. It offers flexibility, allowing companies to apply accessibility standards during document creation and throughout the document lifecycle. This proactive approach ensures that new documents are compliant from the outset, reducing the risk of non-compliance down the road.
- Tailored Solutions for Various Sectors: Whether it’s a bank, healthcare provider, government agency, or retail company, NAGIX is designed to meet the specific needs of different industries. The system provides tailored solutions to handle high-volume document generation, ensuring that every document—whether internal or customer-facing—meets accessibility requirements.
Proven Success in Israel
The success of Consist’s NAGIX system is already evident in Israel, where accessibility laws came into effect in January 2022. These regulations are similar to the upcoming EU legislation, and many Israeli companies struggled to meet the new standards. Consist, through its NAGIX system, played a crucial role in helping numerous Israeli organizations—major banks, telco companies, investment companies and others—achieve full compliance in a timely and cost-effective manner.
By leveraging Consist’s deep expertise in document technology and accessibility, Israeli companies not only met their legal obligations but also enhanced their customer experience, particularly for those with visual impairement. This track record demonstrates NAGIX’s ability to deliver results in line with strict regulatory requirements, making it an ideal solution for organizations in the EU preparing for the 2025 deadline.
Conclusion
As the EU’s document accessibility regulations approach, businesses must act now to ensure they are compliant by June 2025. Consist’s NAGIX system offers a robust, proven solution to make digital documents accessible, efficient, and compliant with the latest standards. Just as it helped Israeli organizations navigate similar regulations, NAGIX is poised to support European businesses in this transition, enabling them to provide a more inclusive and accessible experience for all.
