The IBM Study: Why Fixing Accessibility Early Saves Time and Money
An IBM study found that fixing a bug in production can cost up to 100 times more than fixing it during development. This principle holds true for accessibility as well—early attention to accessibility can save you both time and money.
Here’s how the cost increases across different stages of development:
- Requirements & Design: $100
- Development: $1,500
- Testing: $6,500
- Production: $15,000
The cost multiplies significantly as you move through each stage, making it clear that addressing accessibility early is the most cost-effective approach.
Why Implementing Accessibility Early Saves Money:
- Lower Audit & Remediation Costs: Fixing accessibility issues during development can eliminate the need for an extensive audit and remediation process later. A proactive approach significantly reduces the number of issues discovered during an audit, saving both time and money.
- Reduced Outsourcing Needs: When accessibility is integrated into your process, you’ll rely less on third-party accessibility services. This means fewer audit, remediation, and consulting costs—keeping accessibility efforts in-house becomes a more efficient and cost-effective strategy.
Additionally, addressing accessibility proactively can reduce your legal risk. By implementing accessibility early, you minimize the chance of lawsuits and penalties, potentially saving thousands in legal costs. For instance, addressing accessibility issues before they become problems could reduce your risk from a $20,000 settlement to just $1,000.
Getting Started: Proficiency & Training
To achieve these savings, training your team is key.
- Proficiency vs. Expertise: Start by ensuring your team is aware of accessibility standards and progresses to expertise by applying these principles in real-world scenarios.
- Training Courses: Programs like WCAG and ADA compliance courses can guide your team toward full proficiency and help your company stay ahead of accessibility requirements.
By implementing accessibility from the start, you’ll not only be ahead of compliance deadlines but also improve the overall user experience for all.