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The Benefits of Inclusive Design to Improve the ROI of Businesses
Gokulnath B
April 12, 2024

The Benefits of Inclusive Design to Improve the ROI of Businesses

When it comes to boosting the ROI of businesses, it becomes essential to incorporate inclusive design principles. Inclusive design goes beyond simply meeting accessibility standards; it aims to create products, services, and environments that are usable by as many people as possible, regardless of their age, ability, or background.

By making your products, services, and websites accessible through inclusive designs, you can maximize the return on investment (ROI) of your business while contributing to a more accessible space.

In this post, we’ll explore how inclusive design can benefit your business and make it more accessible and profitable in the long run. Let’s get exploring!

Table of Contents:

What Does Design Inclusivity Mean for Businesses?

Design inclusivity for businesses refers to creating products, services, and experiences that consider the needs and preferences of everyone, regardless of their ability or background. It’s all about making sure that your stuff works for everyone, not just a select few.

Let’s say you’re designing a new app for your food business. Instead of assuming that everyone uses a smartphone the same way, you might consider making the text larger for people with poor eyesight or adding voice commands for those who have difficulty using their hands. By doing this, you’re making sure that your app is accessible and usable for a wider range of people.

And here’s the best part: Being inclusive isn’t just about being nice; it’s also good for your business. When more people can use your stuff, you can attract more customers and build stronger relationships with them. Plus, by embracing inclusivity, you’re helping to make the world a fairer place for everyone.

Also Read: Navigating the Fusion of Web Accessibility and Internationalization

Top Factors Contributing to Inclusive Designs in Businesses

As new technologies evolve and the digital world expands, businesses face the challenge of being as inclusive as possible.

Some of the major factors that contribute to the growing importance of inclusive design for businesses are the following:

1.  Regulatory Requirements

In 2020, around 2500 lawsuits were filed against companies with websites that weren’t accessible to everyone under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. This shows how important it is for businesses to use inclusive design because lawsuits like these can cost a fortune!

Inclusive design is crucial because it helps businesses meet accessibility compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG guidelines are published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure that products and services are accessible to all.

These guidelines establish that your business is meeting the regulatory requirements of the ADA, thus helping you avoid any potential legal issues.

2.  Growing Demand for Equitable Access

In the early days, businesses often ignored to incorporate accessibility and inclusivity into their services. But, in today’s world, people expect fair treatment and equal access. By integrating inclusive design, businesses cater to this demand.

As a result, everyone, regardless of background or ability, can use their products and services. This helps expand the customer base and demonstrates a commitment to diversity and fairness.

3.  Technological Advancements

With advancements in technology, businesses have more tools and resources available to implement inclusive design practices. From AI-driven accessibility features to adaptive technologies, businesses can leverage innovative solutions to make their products and services more inclusive.

These technological advancements not only enhance accessibility but also streamline the process of incorporating inclusive design into business practices.

5 Business Benefits of Inclusive Designs 

Inclusive design isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a strategic advantage for businesses to maximize their ROI.

Here’s how inclusive designs and accessibility benefit businesses of all sizes in different ways:

1. More People, More Business!

The Click Away Pound Report revealed that 69% of individuals are likely to navigate away from inaccessible websites. Such a loss in potential revenue could significantly impact your business.

That’s why, by making your websites and apps inclusive, more people can use them. When you design with inclusivity in mind, you’re opening the door to a larger customer base. It’s like saying, “Hey, everyone’s welcome here!”

As a result, more people can enjoy what you offer, which can mean more sales and growth for your business.

2. Better Solutions for Everyone

According to McKinsey’s Senior Design Researcher Madison Berger, “It’s really common to end up just designing for yourself.” However, by pushing yourself to think about how a different set of people would use your product or service, you can create a better and more accessible design.

Sometimes, thinking about how to include everyone leads to ideas that make things easier for everyone. For example, by adding subtitles to videos on your app or website, you’re helping a person who has a hearing disability and also benefiting someone who might be watching it in a noisy place.  

3. Improves the Financial Performance of the Business

Inclusive designs offer a significant advantage to businesses in terms of financial performance. A study conducted by Accenture revealed that companies prioritizing inclusive design practices make 1.6X more revenue, 2.6X more net revenue, and overall twice as much profit as their competitors.

The reason behind this significant improvement in financial performance is that, with inclusive practices, businesses can tap into previously underserved markets and drive higher revenues.

4. Increases Employee Productivity

Inclusive designs for businesses are equally beneficial for their customers as well as their employees. Research from Deloitte reveals that companies with more diversity and inclusion experience great benefits. They are six times more likely to innovate and twice as likely to achieve or surpass financial objectives. 

With inclusive designs, your business is empowering your employees to innovate, be more productive, and maximize your ROI. 

5. Builds Trust and Connection Among Users

Finally, inclusive design is all about empathy. When you, as a business, take the time to understand different people’s accessibility needs and preferences, you’re building connections with them. As a result, there is an increase in customer loyalty, positive word-of-mouth referrals, and a strong reputation for your business.

Also Read: Digital Inclusivity Matters: A Guide to Accessible Website Development

Final Words

As we stand in 2024, the need for inclusive design has never been more than ever. Today, businesses must recognize the value of designing products and services that cater to the needs of all individuals. It would help them open up to a very underserved market of people with accessibility needs. It would ultimately improve their ROI because, as mentioned above, more people means more money!

If you also want to gain access to this market by making your business app more accessible, Hurix Digital can help. We provide the most comprehensive range of accessibility solutions that help you transform your content and capture the attention of a wider audience. 

Get in touch with our experts today to learn more.