In France, the e-commerce podiums have become a media ritual: sales figures are exploding, interfaces are being refined and shopping journeys are speeding up. Every year, Decathlon, Veepee, Fnac Darty, La Redoute, Leclerc Drive and ManoMano vie for the top spots. The rankings come and go, and the winners all look the same. The criteria, however, change at the margins: sales volume, technical performance, design, ease of use. But behind these trophies for modernity and conversion records, one essential question almost always remains unanswered: “Are these platforms really accessible to everyone?”
What the rankings don't show
Traditional indicators measure speed, visual comfort and technological power. But they do not measure a site's ability to be used by someone who is visually impaired, dyslexic, colour-blind or simply not very comfortable with digital technology. Nor do they reflect the clarity of the language, the consistency of the forms or the compatibility with screen readers. In other words, they ignore an essential part of the experience: that which enables everyone, whatever their situation, to access information and act independently. And this is precisely where digital maturity comes into play: in a brand's ability to think beyond the ideal user, to include in its thinking those who are still too often forgotten by digital.
Accessibility, a new indicator of quality
An accessible site is not a site “for people with disabilities”. It's a site that's better organised, clearer and more coherent. It's a logical architecture, predictable navigation, legible contrasts and understandable text. In other words: a well-designed site, quite simply.
Retailers who embark on this path quickly discover that accessibility benefits more than just a minority. By making a site easier to understand, quicker to read and more fluid to explore, they also improve overall satisfaction, SEO performance, customer loyalty and even conversion rates. Accessibility thus becomes a lever for product quality, marketing performance and strategic coherence.
From podium to responsibility
The major digital rankings value what is visible: speed, beauty, ergonomics. However, true digital maturity is measured by what is not always visible: the structure of content, the visual hierarchy, the logic of interactions, the precision of alternative texts, the relevance of language.
Integrating these criteria means recognising that the quality of a site lies not only in its appearance or technical performance, but also in its fairness of use. The day that e-commerce rankings include accessibility as a major criterion, we will know that the French digital sector has reached a real milestone: that of inclusion as a requirement, no longer just a symbolic gesture.
3 reasons to include accessibility in e-commerce rankings :
- It reflects the real quality of the experience, not just its speed. An accessible site demonstrates a deep understanding of user needs, not just a concern for immediate efficiency. It shows the value of teams who design methodically, not in a hurry.
- Accessibility requires rigour, documentation and collaboration. It distinguishes brands that build for the long term from those that pile on features.
- It encourages a more sustainable, coherent and human digital environment. Thinking about accessibility means thinking about legibility, sobriety, maintenance and meaning. It means creating experiences that last, rather than just fads.
Rankings change behaviour: what we measure, we value. As long as accessibility is not included, we will continue to celebrate surface rather than depth. Perhaps one day, the real e-commerce podium will be that of the most inclusive experiences, not just the most profitable. And on that day, digital innovation will rediscover its true vocation: making progress accessible to everyone.