No VPAT, no business!
The importance of a VPAT ACR (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template / Accessibility Conformance Report) to any business or organization dealing with information and communication technology (ICT) products or services cannot be overstated. The VPAT ACR template is increasingly being used by businesses and organizations to explain how their ICT products and services — like software, electronic content, support documentation, and digital platforms — conform to the established standards for ICT accessibility (Section 508, WCAG 2.2 AA, EN 301 549, and the European Accessibility Act / EAA).
Properly filled-out VPAT ACRs help customers and buyers make informed preliminary assessments regarding the availability of commercial ICT products and services with features that support the accessibility they require for their services to be accessed by all people, including people with disabilities.
For ICT businesses focused on selling their products and services to the U.S. federal government, its departments, and its agencies — don't ever dream of getting their business without a duly completed VPAT ACR. That is because the VPAT ACR is their first check before proceeding with other prerequisites for awarding a business contract.
VPAT consultants develop 99.9% of successful VPAT ACRs
While the VPAT ACR's primary purpose is to make ICT accessible for all people, including people with disabilities, many businesses or organizations embrace it to help them grow their market penetration, revenues, and operational reach.
For businesses, the realization that the disability market controls over $13 trillion in disposable income is significantly inspiring their quest for accessibility. As a VPAT ACR consultancy committed to promoting viable pathways toward enhanced accessibility of ICT products and services for people with disabilities, ADACP encourages businesses to research the business case for accessibility compliance and take reasonable action.
Accessibility compliance is good for business. Companies that haven't seized up VPAT ACR accessibility don't realize that it can unlock a huge and often overlooked market, while reducing legal risk, lowering operational costs, and boosting brand value. Remember: automated tools alone catch roughly 30% of accessibility issues — self-reported VPATs based only on scanners are risky and frequently rejected.
Professional VPAT ACR testing not only helps businesses streamline product quality, but also ensures that the resulting report is credible, trustworthy, and able to help the business secure more contracts. A recent sampled survey of ICT businesses that have been successful in their bids using their VPAT ACR documents established that 99.9% had been developed by well-known VPAT ACR consultancy agencies.
What makes VPAT consultants' VPAT ACR reports successful?
The majority of the information asked for in a VPAT ACR is technical and complex enough that people without accessibility experience cannot effectively articulate it. Testing and filling out the VPAT ACR form requires specific knowledge of accessibility as well as a strong understanding of each provision in the laws and policies underpinning the accepted accessibility standards and guidelines (Section 508, WCAG 2.2 AA, EN 301 549, EAA).
Predictably, vendor staff are rarely sufficiently acquainted with the requisite background, nor with the changes that have been made to VPAT ACR conformance over time. An increasing number of purchasing departments — especially in the Federal Government — reject any VPAT ACR that has been filled out internally by the company applying for a contract.
Ways a VPAT consultant can help you win more business
Because many VPAT ACRs filled out in-house have been found to misrepresent the true accessibility of the product, buyers increasingly want to know which VPAT ACR consultant presided over the certification. When you hire an experienced VPAT ACR consultant like ADACP, you give yourself a real advantage:
Thorough understanding of accessibility laws and policies
A VPAT ACR consultant will not make assumptions. They ensure your Accessibility Conformance Reports do not contain the errors that cause many reports to be rejected by ICT buyers. If you don't have an in-house accessibility expert versed in Section 508, WCAG 2.2 AA, EN 301 549, and EAA, hiring a VPAT ACR consultant to conduct testing and complete the report for you is the safest path.
Comprehensive review of features and functionality
Experienced VPAT ACR consultants have worked on many reports that have helped businesses win contracts. They understand what works for different kinds of buyers, and they perform conscious testing for your product or service with the goal of producing accurate information that depicts the accessibility of the entire product — features, functionalities, and edge cases included.
Objective and unbiased information
A VPAT ACR consultant understands that the report isn't a sales tool or a marketing brochure. The information must be objective and unbiased. Consultants protect their reputation in the VPAT ACR vendor space by producing trustworthy reports — and those reports are exactly what secures increased business for their clients.
They research the procurement process
At ADACP, we take time to research the procurement processes of the organization where a company wants to submit a VPAT ACR. Helping you win the business becomes the goal of the engagement. Beyond a comprehensive product review, we help product teams make accessibility changes before release, and work with management to provide comprehensive, time-bound plans for inaccessible features that cannot be addressed in the short term.
Our VPAT Consultants are standing by to assist you
Get a dedicated VPAT ACR consultant to help you with your conformance reporting. Schedule a free consultation with ADACP to discuss your needs — our initial consultations are always free.