By Guy Anderson, The Journal
A web development company is looking to double sales over the next two years after developing an online shopping system which has been adopted by the Armenian government.
Dpivision – launched in 2003 on Newcastle’s Pink Lane – expects to double turnover by 2007 on the back of Tradingeye Shop.
The software product allows developers to produce online retail sites and internet “shopping trolleys.”
Armenia’s Ministry of Justice has adopted the product for its Prison Art Foundation, while other contracts have been secured from India to Italy.
Said Wladimir Baranoff-Rossine, project manager of Dpivision, “We are proud to be leading the way to make the internet a more accessible place.
“Tradingeye represents a new benchmark in web accessibility and judging by the feedback we have received, it looks certain to hit the mark with web designers throughout the world.
“The take-up to date has been very encouraging. The Armenian ministry contacted us after discovering the product through a Google search.”
Tradingeye meets UK Disability Discrimination Act legislation by being compatible with “screen reader” systems which translate visual images for blind and partially sighted users. It can also be adapted to a large text format.
Dpivision’s aim is to help online retailers tap into the 12% of the UK market who are disabled, and their £50bn per annum disposable income.
Jim Byrne, founder of the Guild of Accessible Web Designers, said: “Dpivision are to be applauded for demonstrating that an e-commerce website can look great and be accessible.
“They have clearly put a lot of work and effort into trying to ensure potential customers are not locked out from the online shopping experience – which is a lesson for other vendors in the market.
Dpivision is a member of Codeworks Connect, the trade association for the North-East’s digital industries.
