Ecommpay adds Recite Me toolbar to boost accessibility

Ecommpay has added the Recite Me accessibility toolbar to its website, extending its accessibility work across its online presence and broadening support for users with different access requirements.

The cloud-based tool provides a range of functions intended to improve how visitors interact with website content. Features include text-to-speech functionality, language translation options, adjustable fonts and colour settings, screen masking, reading aids and styling controls designed to help users navigate information in ways that better suit their individual needs and preferences.

The addition forms part of Ecommpay's wider accessibility and inclusivity strategy, which has expanded over the past year as organisations across the digital commerce and financial services sectors face growing expectations around accessible online services and user experience standards.

The update follows a broader redesign of Ecommpay's website in 2024 aimed at improving usability for people with visual, cognitive and language-related accessibility needs. The redesign focused on navigation structure, readability, page clarity and compatibility with assistive technologies used by people accessing digital services in different ways

Ecommpay also introduced Ecommpay for Good, an ongoing accessibility and inclusivity programme designed to support broader improvements across the organisation's customer-facing platforms and digital operations.

The initiative reflects wider industry efforts to make online financial and payment services more accessible as digital transactions become increasingly central to everyday consumer and business activity.

According to Ecommpay, its website now aligns with standards established by the Digital Accessibility Centre and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These standards are designed to support assistive technologies, improve visual clarity, reduce cognitive load and create more consistent online experiences for users with diverse accessibility requirements.

Accessibility standards have become an increasing focus for organisations operating across digital commerce, banking and software services, particularly as regulators and advocacy groups place greater scrutiny on how online platforms accommodate users with disabilities or varying communication needs.

The Recite Me toolbar can also support multilingual access by allowing users to translate website content into different languages, a feature that may help organisations communicate more effectively with broader international audiences and users who may not be fluent in English.

The rollout reflects a wider trend among technology and financial services companies investing in accessibility-focused tools and interface improvements as part of broader digital transformation and customer experience strategies.

Accessibility push

The latest change reflects a broader trend among financial technology groups and online service providers, which face growing pressure to make digital services easier to use for people with disabilities, language barriers, and different reading needs. For payments companies, website accessibility can also influence how merchants assess service providers and the customer experience linked to payment journeys.

Ecommpay said merchants using its services can benefit from a more inclusive payment experience that reduces friction, drop-off, and exclusion. The company positions itself as a global payments platform serving businesses that need both local and international payment options.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in London, Ecommpay offers acquiring services, payment processing, and orchestration, alongside a range of payment methods. It is authorised in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide payment services.

Miranda McLean, Chief Marketing Officer at Ecommpay, said the addition was intended to improve practical usability beyond baseline compliance requirements.

"While we are already DAC approved and WCAG compliant, the addition of the Recite Me toolbar to our website demonstrates our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity," McLean said.

"Compliance with DAC and WCAG guidelines ensures our website meets required standards from a technical perspective. But it doesn't always address how easily users can read, understand or engage with the content itself. The Recite Me toolbar adds a user-controlled layer that improves real-world usability, particularly for those with visual impairments, cognitive differences or language barriers. Most people won't notice the little pop-up in the corner of the page, but for those who need it, they can now access our website in whatever format they need," she added.