OPINION: Building a more inclusive digital world – Our shared responsibility

Digital accessibility: a moral imperative

Around 1.3 billion people – roughly 16% of the world’s population – live with significant disabilities. This isn’t a small minority. It’s a vast, diverse community that interacts with the digital world daily – and often faces avoidable barriers.

At Ingka, we believe that digital accessibility is not just a legal requirement; it’s a moral imperative. Whether you’re navigating our website, using our mobile apps, or interacting with any of our digital services, you should be able to do so easily, intuitively, and with dignity. As Chief Digital Officer, I (Parag) can say with confidence: our goal is to ensure no one is left behind in our digital transformation.

Designing for everyone, from the ground up

We’ve taken significant steps to embed accessibility into the very fabric of how we build digital experiences. Accessibility and inclusion principles are now part of our engineering baseline, digital design system, and digital product development processes.

We’ve recently introduced a comprehensive Ingka Group Rule on Digital Inclusive Design & Accessibility, which sets a strong foundation for all digital work across the company. Alongside this, we’ve rolled out self-assessment tools, training sessions, and an inclusive operating model that guides teams in practical ways. We also conduct user research with customers with disabilities, helping us understand real-world needs directly from those who face the biggest barriers.

Everyone has a role to play

Accessibility is not a niche concern; it’s a collective responsibility. Whether you’re a developer, designer, communicator, or leader, your choices matter. Simple actions like using alt text for images, providing captions on videos, and ensuring content meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) make a profound difference.

As Global Head of Inclusive Design & Accessibility, I (Tie) believe that creating an accessible digital environment is not a solo effort. We need everyone. And the more we collaborate, learn, and commit to inclusive practices, the closer we get to a digital world that truly works for all.

Towards a more accessible future

Change doesn’t happen overnight. But every conversation, every product built with accessibility in mind, every effort to include rather than exclude, they all add up. GAAD is a valuable reminder, but our journey is ongoing.

Together, let’s keep moving forward. Let’s create digital experiences that empower, inspire, and include everyone.

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Know more about Ingka Group digital developments in Decoded Series previous episodes:

Decoded Series, Episode 1 – Leading with her voice (Int’l Women’s Day)

Decoded Series, Episode 2 – Driving innovation through knowledge sharing (Digital Sharing Days)