This client delivers digital content solutions to enterprises, government agencies, and research institutions worldwide. Their portfolio spans structured databases, regulatory compliance materials, industry reports, and professional resources that support critical decision-making across diverse sectors. By delivering high-value content at scale, they enable organizations to access, interpret, and apply information effectively in a digital-first environment.
The client needed to transform a vast and diverse digital content portfolio into Web-Accessible PDFs that comply with WCAG 2.1 standards, with forward compatibility to WCAG 2.2 (Level AA) where required, and PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) standards, without compromising on quality or design fidelity. This included both structured documents such as research reports, technical manuals, and training materials, as well as complex, design-heavy content, like marketing brochures, data visualizations, and executive presentations.
The scope involved processing 3,000–5,000 pages per month (PDF conversion with typesetting and cover design alignment), with each converted file expected to deliver full compatibility with assistive technologies—including screen readers, magnification tools, and keyboard-only navigation systems—to guarantee inclusivity for all end-users.
Processing 3,000–5,000 pages every month is not unusual in itself, but ensuring every page across varied document types (reports, manuals, brochures, presentations) meets WCAG 2.1 & 2.2 and PDF/UA standards with uniform precision is where the risk lies. Even a slight drop in accuracy at this scale could mean thousands of inaccessible pages.
Many deliverables were not plain text but design-rich documents, including catalogues, marketing brochures, and executive presentations. The challenge was to embed accessibility features (alt text, logical structure, and navigation flow) without disrupting the visual integrity that carries the client’s brand value.
The portfolio was constantly refreshed with updated reports, compliance documents, and new materials, requiring an ongoing process that could adapt to continuous content inflow and version changes.
Since the client serves enterprises, governments, and research institutions, the margin for error was nearly zero. Any non-compliant document could expose them to legal risks, reputational damage, or loss of contracts in regulated sectors.
Beyond simply “meeting standards,” every file had to work seamlessly across different screen readers, magnifiers, and navigation systems. Variability in how AT tools interpret tags and structures made real-world validation a constant challenge.
Each document was handled according to its specific content type—regulatory reports were structured for precision and compliance, while marketing brochures were optimized for design fidelity and readability. This tailored approach ensured that every file met accessibility requirements without compromising the standards that the client expected.
Each content batch underwent a comprehensive structural analysis to identify complexity levels, embedded elements, and accessibility barriers. We customize PDF conversion workflows for different content categories (regulatory reports, technical manuals, marketing materials, executive presentations) to maximize efficiency while maintaining consistency.
We added proper tags to all document elements—including headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and hyperlinks—to ensure that screen readers could interpret them correctly. The reading order and tab navigation were structured to allow users relying on assistive technologies to move smoothly through the content. Accessibility landmarks were also added to help readers jump between sections without losing the logical flow of the original document.
By adding clear, meaningful descriptions for images, charts, and data visualizations, we ensured that users relying on assistive technologies could understand the content. Captions and transcripts were provided for multimedia, making sure all visual and audio elements were accessible without altering the professional design and layout.
Form fields, buttons, and other interactive elements were properly labeled and made fully usable with a keyboard. Error messages and navigation support were added to ensure users could complete tasks smoothly while keeping the design and functionality intact.
Each document was checked using industry-standard tools like Adobe Acrobat’s accessibility checker and PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker). These tools verified that the files were aligned with the PDF/UA and WCAG 2.1, 2.2 (AA) standards, ensuring accuracy and consistency across thousands of pages every month.
Beyond automated checks, accessibility experts tested documents using screen readers like NVDA and JAWS to mimic real user experiences. They also reviewed details like language settings, color contrast, and text resizing to confirm accessibility in different scenarios.
Into fully accessible, standards-compliant PDFs
Validated against global accessibility benchmarks
without disrupting the content aesthetic.
Ensuring sustained delivery month after month.
What impressed us most was the consistency. Month after month, thousands of pages were converted without delays, and every file worked flawlessly with screen readers. They gave us the confidence that accessibility could be scaled without sacrificing quality.
- Director of Digital Content & Compliance
Meet global accessibility standards without compromising design or quality. With our proven workflows, expert teams, and scalable delivery models, we help enterprises transform complex content into inclusive, standards-compliant assets month after month with consistent outcomes.