It takes at least two people to have a conversation, and one key to a successful conversation is listening. If you listen closely enough, amazing things can happen.
Microsoft has made significant strides in inclusion, demonstrating that prioritizing accessibility can lead to higher profitability and value creation. By engaging with customers and listening to their specific needs, Microsoft has shown the importance of digital accessibility in various business areas, including user engagement, employee experience, digital skilling, culture, procurement, regulations, product testing, and innovation.
Through these learnings, a global team of Microsoft advocates developed an Accessibility Horizon Methodology that Microsoft Azure partners can use to develop a more holistic and shared approach to better understanding and supporting their customers’ priorities.
Horizon 1: Adopt Strategies and Tools for Accessibility
The journey begins with raising awareness of inclusion and gaining leadership commitment to implementing an accessibility strategy. Microsoft 365 offers a range of features, such as magnification, keyboard shortcuts, captions, speech recognition, AI-generated image descriptions, and reading views. These tools help organizations more fully embrace digital transformation by creating a new work approach that meets a wider swath of needs for their workforce.
Horizon 2: Build and Scale Accessible Digital Infrastructure
As organizations progress, they prioritize empowering employees and customers with accessible digital apps and infrastructure. Incorporating accessibility testing in business apps, training materials, product roadmaps, communications, and marketing plans that support inclusive hiring commitments, boost employee engagement, and enhance customer experiences.
Horizon 3: Innovate and Deliver New Accessibility Solutions
Accessibility is becoming a core customer expectation and business differentiator across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, banking, media, transport, and travel. Inclusive design, AI, cognitive services, Azure and Windows 11 advancements, and delivery across multi-device platforms and operating systems enable partners to scale innovative and accessible technologies, unlocking new opportunities, greater collaboration, and efficiencies.
Partnering to Deliver Accessibility at Scale
Collaborating with experts and organizations in the community focused on people with specific needs allows Microsoft to better understand and develop relevant technological solutions.
Microsoft invites all Azure partners to bring their skills, passion, and innovation to accessibility within their organizations and to customers across every industry. The shared goal is to move everyone forward to create value through inclusive digital experiences, delivered through the reach and scale of Microsoft Azure partners. The journey towards accessibility is not just about compliance; it's about creating a more inclusive digital world for everyone.
If you are interested in learning more about Microsoft’s Accessibility Horizon Methodology and exploring partner use cases and available resources, visit the corporate blog.