A multinational forwarder was at risk of getting fined for its carbon footprint calculator failing to meet the accessibility standards. To address this, VirtusLab conducted an audit and fixed the identified issues. They also created a custom application to improve the readability of the result pages and generated data.
The challenge
Our client needed to update one of their digital tools. It’s an application for the logistics industry that allows for precise estimation of CO2 emissions. It helps to analyze the carbon footprint made by the user’s selected route and types of transportation. The forwarder’s operations in the US require compliance with WCAG standards to avoid potential penalties.
Unfortunately, the tool was incompatible with WCAG 2.0 standards. It failed to meet the Consistent Navigation criteria – a practice of keeping the main navigation elements in a website consistent across different pages. Furthermore, some buttons could be improved, and increasing the contrast ratio would make the text easier to read. The client’s carbon footprint calculator needed a clearer presentation of transportation options.
The solution
VirtusLab conducted a comprehensive audit of the client’s application. To meet the Navigation Criteria of the carbon footprint calculator, our developers devised a fresh visual system utilizing the client’s component library. This way, if the client decides to update their brand logos and design system, they can do that by updating the library instead of replacing every single component on their website and digital tools one by one.
VirtusLab also created a custom Responsive Web Application to enhance the map display of the final route. The designs were made in Sketch and shared via Zeplin, as per the client’s request. The updated version allows users to select different modes of transportation for each route and display these options on the map in a user-friendly manner.
The results
VirtusLab resolved every issue identified in the WCAG audit. By ensuring their carbon footprint calculator meets accessibility standards, the client was able to avoid paying penalties. Users noticed significant improvements in the application’s interface:
- Adding new scenarios or routes is now possible from the initial screen
- The interface remains consistent throughout the entire application
- The results page is clear and easy to understand
- Scenarios can be accessed and edited from any device
