This portal is the first banking site to earn the AccessiWeb "label": the bronze award certifies its digital accessibility for handicapped people thanks to technical aids such as a Braille terminal, screen reader software and voice synthesis. The project is consistent with the Natixis Group's sustainable development policy, one aspect of which is to avoid discrimination in the access to information and content.

"The adoption of modern accessibility standards was an integral part of the Natixis Internet portal renovation," explains Anne-Laure Maupoux, e-Communication Manager at Natixis. "This revamping project managed by my Department was based on the Jalios JCMS tool and was carried out by Natixis IT staff and Micropole-Univers." In 2007 only 12 sites were certified in France, all levels included, and the Natixis portal is only the second – and the first banking site – in 2008. The AccessiWeb certifications being the most prestigious in France, these standards represent a real challenge for developers.

This certification was made possible by the involvement of the Micropole-Univers Accessibility Skill Center which was heavily involved in the project and drew on developments made for its own web site. The teams worked in collaboration with the Jalios Professional Services Department and Natixis personnel who provided proactive support.

"Website accessibility is becoming a major challenge for enterprises wishing to reconcile economic performance and social responsibility. To support the evolutions in progress and anticipate future business needs, our company, which has a proven track record in e-Business, can contribute its knowledge of accessibility issues and technologies," explains Renaud Finaz de Villaine, Marketing and Communication Manager at Micropole-Univers. Richard Lucas, Jalios Sales and Marketing Manager, adds: "The challenge of providing access for all users, regardless of their hardware and software and their physical and mental capacity, concerns all players on the information production chain, including contributors, webmasters, integrators and publishers. Jalios addressed the accessibility question at a very early stage to ensure that sites built using Jalios JCMS could conform to exacting standards, such as AccessiWeb Silver Level and WGAC Level AA. The very active contribution of Natixis has allowed us to create a site that is a veritable reference in terms of accessibility, as evidenced by its AccessiWeb certification."

In addition to its excellent accessibility, the Natixis portal is user-friendly and upgradeable. Providing Natixis clients with fast and easy access to constantly changing information and content, this single technical platform is an excellent and rational long-term investment for the bank.