Can ecommerce stores rely on automated plugins for accessibility?
No, overlays are risky and people often get sued. Use automation only for additional testing, not as a full solution.
Automated accessibility plugins, such as Shopify apps that promise one-click compliance, are not a reliable solution. In fact, they can make you more vulnerable: in the U.S., more than 40% of accessibility lawsuits are filed against sites that use overlays. These tools don’t fix the underlying issues in code; they just apply a visual “layer.” That’s why relying solely on them is considered bad practice.
That said, automation does have a role. Automated testing tools can catch some basic accessibility errors. AI-driven tools are also emerging, suggesting accessibility fixes that developers can then implement directly in code. But ultimately, real accessibility requires manual testing and proper development practices.
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