- There are new AI and automation tools coming out that reduce auditing time
- AI tools are being integrated into accessibility tracking platforms to increase efficiency
- Documentation and record-keeping are quickly becoming for EAA and ADA compliance
- More clients are asking about WCAG 2.2 AA and selecting it over WCAG 2.1 AA
- Clients are seeking out alternatives to expensive legacy accessibility company packages
Table of Contents
AI Auditing Tools
New tools are lowering the cost of auditing by reducing the amount of time needed to audit. This is not what you think — we’re not automating the manual evaluation, we’re making it quicker to manually evaluate by automatically extracting code, screenshots, success criterion, and context. We’ve seen multiple tools start to emerge. This will be a headline in 2026 and we’ll use these automation and AI to make our process more efficient.
Make no mistake, our audits will still be 100% fully manual, we’re just taking a few minutes less with each issue and saving time during our manual evaluation process.
Key AI auditing tool capabilities:
- Automatic extraction of relevant code snippets for audit review
- Screenshot generation and context documentation for accessibility issues
- Success criteria mapping and reference material preparation
- Time reduction in manual evaluation setup and documentation processes
AI Platform Integration
Accessibility platforms are integrating artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and improve existing tracking features. The Tracker platform is releasing Project Insights AI, which provides teams with AI-assisted guidance for issue remediation on top of existing audit-based workflow management.
Every accessibility platform will likely include AI features by 2026, whether they use audit-based or scan-based approaches. These AI integrations focus on enhancing human decision-making rather than replacing manual evaluation, providing intelligence and efficiency improvements within established tracking workflows.
Platform AI integration trends:
- AI-assisted remediation guidance integrated into project dashboards
- Intelligence features layered on top of existing audit tracking capabilities
- Workflow efficiency improvements through automated documentation support
- Enhanced team collaboration through AI-powered issue resolution assistance
Documentation Becoming Critical
Documentation and record-keeping are quickly becoming essential requirements for both European Accessibility Act and ADA compliance monitoring. Organizations need platforms that can maintain comprehensive audit trails, track remediation progress, and provide detailed compliance reporting for legal protection.
Proper documentation through accessibility tracking platforms helps organizations demonstrate good faith compliance efforts and maintain detailed records of accessibility improvements. The Tracker platform provides the audit-based documentation that legal teams require for compliance defense and regulatory reporting.
Essential documentation requirements:
- Comprehensive audit trails showing evaluation methodology and findings
- Detailed remediation tracking with timestamps and responsible parties
- Compliance scoring history and progress monitoring over time
- Expert evaluation records that demonstrate thorough accessibility review
WCAG 2.2 AA Preference Momentum
More clients are asking about the WCAG 2.2 AA standard and selecting 2.2 AA over WCAG 2.1 AA for their accessibility projects. This shift reflects a market trend to select the highest technical standard and an aversion to risk.
Organizations are proactively adopting the higher standard to stay ahead of potential regulatory changes and legal requirements. Platform software must accommodate both WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 standards while providing clear scoring and tracking for the additional success criteria in version 2.2.
WCAG 2.2 AA selection drivers:
- Anticipation of regulatory adoption in European and US markets
- Improved accessibility for users with disabilities
- Future-proofing accessibility compliance
Clients Dropping Legacy Companies
Clients are actively seeking alternatives to expensive legacy accessibility company packages that bundle services at premium prices. Organizations want flexibility to select specific audit, tracking, and monitoring services that align with their actual needs rather than paying for comprehensive packages with unused components.
The availability of audit-based platforms like the Tracker platform provides cost-effective alternatives to traditional enterprise accessibility solutions. New market options offer comparable or superior tracking capabilities, AI integration, and workflow management at significantly lower costs than legacy provider minimums.
Reasons for seeking package alternatives:
- High minimum engagement fees that exceed organizational budgets
- Bundled services that include unnecessary components for specific projects
- Lack of flexibility in service selection and project scope
- Availability of advanced platform tools at competitive pricing
Summary
The digital accessibility industry is undergoing major transformation as organizations are shifting their behavior and AI technology is being realized. Legacy accessibility providers face significant pressure as clients seek alternatives to expensive enterprise packages with high minimum fees.
Meanwhile, the emergence of audit-based platforms offering superior tracking capabilities at competitive prices, combined with enhanced documentation requirements for EAA and ADA compliance, is creating a more accessible and cost-effective market for organizations seeking comprehensive accessibility management platforms and tools.
