Atlantic Business Technologies, Inc.

Category: Higher Ed

  • Why Your Website Needs Accessibility

    Why Your Website Needs Accessibility

    We’ve all heard the saying that “content is king” when it comes to the web. But what if you’re a sight-impaired person trying to access your favorite website? In a perfect world, your screen would read out all of the text on the page and give you the option to click on links. That’s where website accessibility works: to ensure that everyone has access to the same information and tools, regardless of disability or other factors.

    Most of us already know that there are rules for physical premises when it comes to accessibility for people with disabilities, either physical or socio-economic. Fewer know that accessibility can apply to online content, as well. 

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates something called WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliance, which is a means of designing websites, tools, and technologies so that people with disabilities can use them as easily as possible. WCAG compliance covers several types of disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, limited movement, speech disabilities, neurological limitations such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s, and cognitive limitations such as learning disabilities. 

    The goal of ADA compliance is the creation of a website that uses a variety of different design and web development practices to assist people with disabilities in successfully navigating the site.

    Who Needs to Have an Accessible Website?

    The ADA requires state and local governments to be accessible under Title I and any business that is open to the public under Title III. 

    State and local government websites, as well as any private business that receives federal funding receive the most scrutiny for accessibility. An inaccessible website can bar users with disabilities from the government entity’s services, events, and activities.

    Websites are increasingly becoming accepted as public spaces and public spaces are required to be accessible in order to be ADA compliant. The Department of Justice has historically interpreted that ADA compliance applies to all “goods, services, privileges, or activities offered by public accommodations, including those offered on the web.” Public websites may include those for:

    • Retail
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels, Inns, and Motels
    • Hospitals and Medical Offices
    • Banks
    • Theaters and Sports Arenas

    What are the Benefits of Accessibility?

    There are numerous benefits to making your website ADA compliant. In terms of customer retention, it’s a good idea to design web content to be as accessible to as many people as possible. Users with disabilities are a highly under-served segment, so ADA compliance can help your organization differentiate itself from competitors. Accessible sites and apps allow more people to engage with your organization, buy your products, or access your services. 

    Some other ways that Accessibility benefits your organization include:

    • Reduced risk of legal complications
    • Improved user experience for everyone
    • Improved website Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

    Simply put, managing your accessibility is part of building a modern, robust digital platform.

    How Do We Know We’re Compliant?

    Companies seeking ADA compliance often undergo a website accessibility audit that includes both automated and manual testing to ensure compliance. The audits help companies identify problems and put them on the path to improving their practices, reaching a broader audience, and avoiding discrimination or legal complications.

    What is the Process for ADA-Accessibility Audits?

    The process is quite straightforward. Once you identify a company that performs accessibility testing, you provide your contact information with the website you’d like the company to review. In particular, you will want your homepage, service/product pages, contact page, and other key landing pages reviewed. Once the report is completed, the company will follow up with a call to discuss their initial findings and share their detailed accessibility audit report with recommendations.

    If problems are suspected, the audit company will set up automated testing to catch code issues that make your site inaccessible. The experts may recommend that you update old, inaccessible document repositories to be compliant with modern standards, and can help you develop your accessibility remediation strategy and work with a trusted partner to ensure your site stays up to date.

    Consult a Professional Web Design and Development Company

    Atlantic BT is an award-winning technology firm located in Raleigh, NC. We offer enterprise web design, website accessibility testing, IT consulting, software development, cybersecurity, and cloud technology to help clients easily manage, secure, and scale their core technologies. We combine full-service digital marketing with custom software development and technology solutions. Our awards stem from outstanding results in all aspects of digital, from UX design to modernizing applications. For more information, contact us or call us at 919-518-0670.

  • Failed RFPs are expensive. Here’s how to find better vendors.

    Failed RFPs are expensive. Here’s how to find better vendors.

    When you find yourself in a scenario where custom software is essential, you have three options:

    1. Develop the custom software in-house.
    2. Find a partner to handle the entire project.
    3. Partner with a vendor who integrates with your team.

    This middle ground of working closely with a vendor leads to writing an RFP and evaluating responses.

    Why do RFPs fail?

    Many RFP partnerships fail due to poor vendor selection or unclear project requirements and deliverables outlined. You may have even lost faith in the process of trusting partners altogether.

    Consider that it might not be the RFP process that’s failing, but rather using outdated methods for evaluating your partners. After all, they’ve probably responded to enough RFPs that they’ve learned what you want to hear at the surface level.

    Try these evaluation tactics to dig deeper and choose better partners.

    1. Stop using price as a measure of quality.

    We are trained to believe that price and quality is a linear relationship: the more you pay, the higher the quality and the less you pay, the lower the quality.

    However, price is not exclusively tied to a company’s output. It’s also closely tied to internal efficiency and how streamlined internal processes may be.

    A vendor who has found a highly efficient way to produce a quality product may have the same price as a company who cuts corners to produce a low quality product.

    According to CIO.com, “The highest priced technology partners often spent longer amounts of time on the project, with too many unnecessary staff members and account managers. On the other hand, the lower end of the market often lacked the skill and technical ability to produce consistent quality.

    Picking a technology partner is a completely different experience than shopping on Amazon. You cannot go to a vendor and simply pick the lowest price for the exact service you need. It can be a nuance-filled and complex process.”

    For this reason, your perfect partner is likely in the middle ground of high and low price.

    2. Rely on references over examples.

    Most organizations like to see vendors’ examples of past work and testimonials to help them evaluate expertise. This may come in the form of case studies or quick client quotes.

    The problem is, these are surface-level validators that can skim over some of the important nitty gritty. You’ll want to take a step further. Always ask for references to discover:

    • How the vendor handled issues that arose during the process
    • How the vendor performed in terms of budget and timeline
    • If the final product was satisfactory and truly provided business value

    3. Look for a warranty.

    Vendors who truly believe that their services will be satisfactory will offer some sort of guarantee. This may be in the form of month-to-month contracts, commitment to fixing bugs for free, or free work when a project exceeds budget.

    4. Seek vendors with flexible processes.

    Is your vendor the same? What happens when two rigid organizations work together? Look for a partner who can mold their development, deployment, project management, and billing processes to fit your organization’s standards.

    Need help with custom software development?

    Whether you need help defining business requirements, writing an RFP, or are in the stage of looking for vendors; we’d love to learn more and see how we can help! Get in touch for a free consultation.

  • 5 ways to write valuable anonymous case studies.

    5 ways to write valuable anonymous case studies.

    When working towards winning enterprise, government, and higher ed projects; smart organizations will only consider your services after reviewing past results. It’s in their best interest to make sure you have a proven process that serves the requirements of an organization their size.

    But sometimes, the most relevant examples of your work will be with an anonymous partner.

    You could simply stick to writing about businesses that allow you to use their name. Or, you could learn how to impactfully write anonymous case studies. Your portfolio will ideally have a healthy mix of both.

    Our 5 tips for writing anonymous case studies are:

    1. Lead with results.
    2. Come up with a name for reference.
    3. Use this name as little as possible.
    4. Take advantage of anonymity.
    5. Give very specific, tangible details.

    When writing anonymous case studies, you have three goals.

    Case studies are ultimately about building trust. But it can be challenging to build trust when you are hiding details. Your goals are to:

    1. Reduce suspicion that you are making this case study up.
    2. Prove that you have a game plan by showcasing your processes.
    3. Demonstrate that your processes get results for large brands.

    Achieve these goals by following our 5 writing tips.

    1) Lead with results. In order to distract from the fact you are not giving a name, focus on the results at the very beginning of the case study. You can do this in a summary format early on. Then, go into careful detail of the results at the end of the case study, where they naturally belong.

    2) Come up with a name for reference. You will have to refer to the business as something. You may choose to call it “this city,” “this South Carolina university,” or “this vehicle brand.” Whatever you choose, you want it to be as specific as possible without giving away the brand (or over-hinting in a way that could annoy your client).

    3) Use the reference name as little as possible. You do want to use a descriptive name to give readers a frame of reference in the beginning. However, overusing these pronouns can be awkward and remind the reader that you are hiding an identity. To reduce use of these names, structure sentences to refer to the project and work itself rather than the business:

    • The goal of this redesign project was to cater to predefined personas.
    • A new website would grow the brand and unlock new B2B opportunities.
    • A new system would allow for more administrative efficiency.

    4) Take advantage of anonymity. A common reason for clients to disprove case studies is they paint the company in a bad light.

    Since there’s no name tied to this content, you can get into all the nitty gritty details without embarrassing anyone. Was the project a total mess when you first came in? You can unveil all the business issues the company was facing, which can provide context that will enhance end results.

    5) Give very specific, tangible details. Detail your process as much as possible. Talk carefully about each step you took to solve the problem, what methods or technologies were involved, and what specific client challenges you tackled.

    Images are another way to tangibly show credibility. Best case scenario, use any visuals or pictures of your team working on the project that you can. Be careful to remove identifying logos, names, images, and data.

    An example of showing a project deliverable without revealing the company’s identity.

    Instead of rounding when presenting final results, use exact numbers for percentages increased, ROI, and any other metrics.

    An example of one of Atlantic BT’s anonymous case studies.

    In Atlantic BT’s case study about a redesign project (no longer available), we direct readers’ focus away from anonymity by highlighting the results right after the intro. We refer to the project as “a pharmacy school” early on, later using language that speaks directly to the project itself rather than calling out a name. For example:

    The new website included enhanced features and a scalable content system that supported growth.

    We then clearly define the work implemented, getting into details like card sorts, 3 methods for testing, and direct quotes from survey takers. These specific quotes act as metrics of success:

    • “It’s pretty clean. I like that there is a lot of space. It’s breathable.”
    • “It looks cleaner and a lot less chaotic.”

    We go into further detail by mentioning the original technologies used by this school and how we transformed the website with Advanced Custom Fields in WordPress.

    Anonymous case studies don’t always work.

    Many readers are here to skim, or just review a logo and images. In these cases, your hard work will do little to build authority with these readers. While you should never rely on anonymous case studies to build full confidence in a reader, they can enhance your existing portfolio of success stories.

    You may also consider using them as a sales tool to send to prospects you are already conversing with. In that situation, you already have some buy-in.

    Ready to grow your business strategy?

    Writing compelling case studies is a small piece of your content strategy. If you need support with market research, business process analysis, or digital strategy; our team is happy to help you get started. Contact us for a free consultation.

  • Atlantic BT Selected to Speak at WPCampus 2019

    We are proud to announce that one of our very own, Randy Earl, will be speaking at WPCampus 2019 at the end of July.

    For those that aren’t familiar, WPCampus 2019 is the fourth annual in-person conference for the WPCampus community, “gathering of web professionals, educators and people dedicated to the confluence of WordPress in higher education.”

    Randy Earl is Atlantic BT’s UX Research Manager and Senior Business Analyst. His presentation, “Fail Early or Fail Large: Embrace Negative Results”, focuses on ways you can minimize risk and ensure success in your next project or endeavor. Randy reviews two real-world example projects produced by Atlantic BT to illustrate the value of how user research testing methods and tools can identify gaps and prevent significant issues early and help avoid costly rework.

    [pull_quote] The key is to experience ‘failures’ as early test observations rather than project disasters. Test key value propositions and user interactions as early as possible to allow for change while it is still cost effective to do so. [/pull_quote]

    Don’t miss out! Registration for WPCampus 2019 has been extended to Sunday, July 7. 

    Join Randy and Atlantic BT in Portland, Oregon from July 25-27 for an enriching conference experience focused on accessibility and WordPress in Higher Ed. 

  • Atlantic BT Becomes SOC 2 Type I Certified. What’s Next?

    Services Organization Control 2 (SOC 2ÂŽ) is a thorough technical audit that requires companies to follow strict security procedures. Attaining a SOC 2ÂŽ report ensures that Atlantic BT is providing safe cloud environments for our clients, both protecting their private data and having a plan of action for detected threats.

    While Atlantic BT completed a SOC 2Ž Type I Audit examination on April 1st 2019, we are currently pursuing SOC 2Ž Type II. Our goal is to give clients peace of mind with our cloud solutions, educate on security measures, and continue to stay up-to-date with industry standards to prevent future threats.

    Type I vs. Type II: What’s the Difference?

    SOC 2® engagements are performed in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) AT-C 205, Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization and based on the trust service principles outlined in the AICPA Guide. The SOC 2® Type I report is performed by an independent auditing firm and is intended to provide an understanding of the service organization’s suitability of the design of its internal controls.

    Type I and Type II both involve reporting controls and processes related to five principles: Privacy, Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, and Confidentiality. Atlantic BT is focusing on Security, Availability, and Confidentiality.

    The primary difference is that Type I confirms our security controls at a single point of time, assuring that all of the proper policies and procedures are in place. On the other hand, Type II spans over six months, assuring that these processes are effectively working.

    How Atlantic BT Became SOC 2ÂŽ Type I Certified

    SOC 2ÂŽ Type I is a starting point that paves the way for Type II. Some examples of the measures we took to achieve our Type I certification include:

    • Use of encryption protocols to protect customer data
    • Designing with tiered access for client accounts
    • Ongoing management of capacity demand
    • Required internal training courses to help employees spot suspicious activity

    Skoda Minotti, an international business advisory firm, was selected to conduct the final audit. Atlantic BT received its SOC 2ÂŽ Type I certification after thorough testing and review.

    [pull_quote]We were excited to work with Atlantic Business Technologies from the very start. They are an intriguing organization delivering high quality services and their business adds to our growing SOC reporting practice.[/pull_quote]

    – Ben Osbrach, CISSP, CISA, QSA, CICP, CCSFP, partner-in-charge of Skoda Minotti’s risk advisory group

    What This Means For Partners

    It is a requirement for many companies to work with SOC 2ÂŽ compliant software partners. Businesses handling sensitive data or working in highly regulated industries, for example being subjected to HIPAA compliance regulations, are required to work with SOC 2ÂŽ compliant providers.

    In general, any security-conscious business can count on the rigorous auditing process to hold companies to a high standard.

    What’s Next for ABT?

    Atlantic BT will undergo audits on an annual basis to maintain their SOC 2ÂŽ report and continue to apply best practices by maintaining logs of their application of these SOC 2ÂŽ controls, policies, and procedures to ultimately achieve SOC 2ÂŽ Type II. Committed to quality, we will continue this voluntary process to provide top-notch service and expand our capabilities.

    [pull_quote]The successful completion of our SOC 2ÂŽ Type I examination audit provides Atlantic BT’s clients with the assurance that the controls and safeguards we employ to protect and secure their data are in line industry standards and best practices.[/pull_quote]    – Matt Lemke, President of Atlantic BT

    We are happy to further discuss our SOC 2ÂŽ certification or help you plan for any of your security needs. If you are interested in learning more about our cloud and cybersecurity solutions, reach out to schedule a free consultation.

  • Accessibility and Section 508 Compliance: Planning, Testing, and Design

    There are many different pieces to obtaining digital accessibility, and it can be an issue that needs clarification. Atlantic BT can help you feel confident that your site is in compliance with the latest accessibility regulations to reach a larger, more inclusive audience for your company.

    But let’s take a step back and think about why it matters. Digital spaces are essential to the way we live our lives. “We” is a collective, inclusive word. So digital solutions wind up affecting the lives of every person who has access to the Internet. It is clear that designing web experiences for all users, regardless of ability or potential needs, is a crucial component of modern web design. Not to mention, it is also the law. Web accessibility is an element of your website that can not be ignored.

    Why Should You Care About Website Accessibility?

    Americans With Disabilities Act

    While the ADA does not explicitly mention websites in its language, it does prohibit discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation. As many organizations have discovered, the ADA has been applied to lawsuits over inaccessible websites. Perhaps one of the most famous was the National Federation of the Blind’s lawsuit against Target in the mid-2000’s, which led to Target settling the case for $6 million.

    Section 508

    Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, is another law that many of our clients have their eyes on. Organizations that are subject to Section 508 have a clear requirement to meet accessibility standards. As of January 2018, these organizations are now required to make sure their websites meet the guidelines laid out in Level A and Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0).

    Appeal to a Wider Audience

    Aside from the law, there are benefits to making your website more inclusive.

    • Provides key services to people with disabilities
    • Increases the audience or customer base an organization can reach through its website
    • Often makes sites easier for all users

    And the need for accessibility continues to grow. According to the CDC, more than 20% of adults in the United States have a disability. That number is only likely to go up as the population ages.

    How We Create Accessible Websites

    Making accessible websites requires careful planning for success. Of course, not all of our clients have the same accessibility needs, so each is handled on a case by case basis. A typical project looks something like this:

    Make an Accessibility Plan

    During our discovery phase, we identify what accessibility requirements a client has. We will additionally scan for issues that we will need to mitigate later on. For example, a lot of old sites have videos and PDFs that no longer meet accessibility guidelines. Whatever the specifics may be, sticking to the initial audit ensures we know what goals we need to meet.

    [pull_quote]Technology’s value lies in what it allows people to do. By designing inclusively and making digital products accessible to all users, we make our technology more valuable. We bring this perspective to every project which makes our products that much stronger.[/pull_quote]    – Gordon Chadwick, User Researcher, CPACC

    Design a Site Everyone Can Use

    With requirements in hand, our designers apply styles that both function and delight. We’re long past the days when people thought designing an accessible website meant designing an ugly website.

    [pull_quote]Accessibility isn’t just about blind users and screen readers, it is about everyone. Designing for all people encourages exploration of new ideas and solutions that lead to a better product overall.[/pull_quote]  – Maris Hall, User Experience Designer, CPACC

    Develop Using Best Practices

    Building accessible sites doesn’t mean bolting on tons of features, it means following best practices for front end development. Clean, well-structured code is the foundation that allows screen readers and other assistive technology to function.

    [pull_quote]When you start paying attention to the needs of all of your users, you begin to see how wonderfully diverse your audience is and you start looking for ways to give everyone a seat at the table. Since I’m usually working on implementation, I make sure the sites I build provide a good experience for users of assistive technologies like screen readers or magnifiers. [/pull_quote]   – Mark Andrews, JavaScript Developer

    Test and Verify

    Testing is how we ensure that the work we did meets the goals we set during the planning stage of a project. Since meeting success criteria is of critical importance, our testers have several different ways to verify that we hit the mark. Testing methods include:

    • Automated Testing – We use automated checkers to identify accessibility issues in your code.
    • Expert Reviews – Certified accessibility professionals review behavior on your site.
    • User Testing – Go straight to the source and test with users who have disabilities.

    [pull_quote]There is a wealth of information on the web and everyone should have equal access to it. I make sure that we’re making that a reality by accounting for accessibility as we build things instead of after they get released.[/pull_quote]    – Yolanda Hyman, Quality Assurance Manager

    Start Feeling Good About Accessibility

    It’s easy to understand why accessibility is important. However, uncovering potential issues and implementing changes can be a complicated process. Atlantic BT is happy to guide you through requirements and implement the necessary changes to make your website not only compliant, but accessible and inviting to all users. Reach out today for a free consultation or to get in touch with one of our accessibility experts.