Is Your Model Actually Inclusive? A lesson on accessibility from Mastercard

Today more than ever, the business world understands the importance of being inclusive and the positive effects this has on the world and on business. This means that companies try to make their products and services available to all so that all people have the opportunity to reach, approach, use and understand them.

CEOs and successful leaders worry about how to maximize their profits and create purpose-driven ones Brands. You may be wondering how to incorporate inclusion into the company’s DNA. Organizations of all types, regardless of size, can start taking responsibility, setting priorities, and working on them together.

This is reflected in The latest payment product from Mastercard. The Touch Card is part of a broader attempt to show that inclusion is not only good for society but also for business.

To be effective, it has to solve real-world challenges

Recently, Mastercard launched the Touch cards, a new design that helps visually impaired people orient their bank card and quickly see whether they are using a credit card, debit card or prepaid card, all thanks to a simple design element.

Photo credit: Mastercard

According to the Mastercard website, the design is based on a system of “notches” on the side of each card type to help consumers identify the correct one:

• Credit cards have a round notch
• Debit cards have a wide, square notch
• Prepaid cards have a triangular notch

The standard was developed for use in POS terminals and ATMs to ensure that it can be used on a large scale.

Mastercard works with The Royal National Institute of Blind People In the United Kingdom,. and VISIONS / Services for the blind and visually impaired in the US to make sure the solution is effective.

In addition, the team declined the use of braille as an option on the surface of the card, as only one in ten blind people can read braille.

Having the right partners and paying attention to the real needs of customers is an important step in the company’s pursuit of inclusivity.

So that companies are able to solve real challenges, the solutions have to be really effective. It can be simple, it doesn’t have to be complex, but it has to be effective.

It should be part of the company’s DNA

Mastercard was also introduced in June 2019 True namethat allows the transgender and non-binary community to choose the name that appears on their cards without the need for a legal name change.

According to Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard’s chief marketing and communications officer, “We have a responsibility to make the digital economy possible for everyone”.

For real impact, it has to be embedded in the company’s DNA and shared with many departments so that everyone is working in the same direction.

Efforts that global corporations can impact challenges around the world, from hunger and health to global warming and accessibility.

It’s good for business too

Accessibility can also be seen as a smart business decision.

Corresponding Braille work accessible practices can be good for everyone, and involving more people in your business can give you access to a larger pool of potential customers.

Accessibility offers many advantages that go beyond legal protection, such as:

In addition, 63% of consumers surveyed have in an Accenture study showed that they preferred to shop with purpose-built brands.

Companies that invest in the importance of their products and services and invest in the transparency of their commitments improve competitiveness

How did this action get the attention of many people, including myself?

I’m responsible for Rock.org, the Social Impact Arm of Rock Content, and because of that, I love tracking social impact, diversity, and inclusion trends that are happening in the marketplace.

At Rock Content, our goal is to get students into digital marketing and sales talent. We want to make learning opportunities accessible to everyone. So far we have positively influenced more than 50,000 people in socio-economically sensitive conditions through courses, mentoring and voluntary activities.

It is inspiring to see how many companies from different segments and sizes are working for a better and more inclusive world.

What can we learn from this?

• Start by making it a priority and creating a space for discussion between leadership such as product accessibility, social responsibility and inclusive practices in general
• Alignment with the company’s strategic vision. It should reflect your business
• Hold someone responsible for this goal. Having exclusive energy will make it faster;
• Remember that inclusive communication and action will not work if they are not authentic;
• Then get the guide on board.

After you’ve built a solid and real structure to enable change, communicate about it through a variety of channels.! The world needs to be inspired by these positive examples.

Let’s be a force for good! If you’d like to learn more about the social impact we’re making here at Rock Content, just visit ours Rock.org Website.