E-commerce para todos: uma análise da acessibilidade utilizando ferramentas automáticas

Abstract

Digital accessibility is essential to ensure equal use of technology. In e-commerce, navigationbarriers still limit access for people with disabilities (PwD). Addressing these issues is a commitment to inclusion and to the quality of the user experience. This study analyzes the accessibility of three leading e-commerce websites in Brazil, Mercado Livre, Shopee, and Amazon, selected for being among the most visited platforms between February 2024 and February 2025. The analysis was conducted using automated evaluation tools (WAVE and IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker). Within this context, the study aimed to identify barriers that hinder access for PwD and to propose improvements aligned with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2). The adopted methodology followed the WCAG-EM approach, in which key pages from the purchasing flow were selected, including the homepage, product details, shopping cart, and checkout. The results revealed recurring issues related to the Perceivable principle (insufficient contrast, missing alternative text for images) and the Robust principle (semantic HTML errors, improperly implemented ARIA attributes). Criteria such as 1.4.3 (Contrast) and 4.1.2 (Name, Role, and Value) were the most frequently violated, directly affecting users with low vision and those who rely on screen readers. Significant differences between the evaluation tools highlighted the need to combine automated assessments with manual testing to obtain more accurate diagnoses. Finally, technical corrections are recommended, such as contrast adjustments, the inclusion of accessible image descriptions, and the proper semantic structuring of forms. It is concluded that, although the analyzed platforms have made progress regarding accessibility, significant flaws persist that compromise digital inclusion. This reinforces the importance of continuously adopting best practices from the early stages of development, as well as conducting tests with real users to ensure equity in access to e-commerce.