Toss Boosts Accessibility with Automated Diagnostic Tool ‘Ally’

• Developed automated tool to check screen reader elements for visually impaired users
• Plans to enhance Ally in the second half of the year and share accessibility improvements via 'Toss Tech'

Viva Republica, the operator of the financial super app “Toss,” announced that it has developed its own automated accessibility diagnostic tool called ‘Ally.’ With Ally, Toss expects to significantly improve access to financial services for visually impaired users.

Ally automatically detects with a single click whether important elements like alt text for images or labels for icons and buttons are missing in the development code. This helps ensure that screen readers—assistive technology that converts on-screen content into audio—work seamlessly for users with visual impairments. In fact, since implementing Ally, developers have been able to proactively detect and fix around 100 accessibility issues per hour.

Previously, improvements on accessibility were made through manual inspections by consultants specializing in accessibility, who identified issues and provided feedback. Now, developers can identify and resolve basic accessibility problems before releasing a service, which streamlines the development process and allows Toss to apply accessibility standards consistently across all services.

The name "Ally" comes from the industry abbreviation for accessibility, "a11y." Through Ally, Toss aims to further realize its vision of providing "Simple and easy finance for everyone." The tool is also expected to foster a stronger internal culture where developers and experts collaborate closely on accessibility enhancements.

In the second half of the year, Toss plans to further refine Ally's diagnostic capabilities and transparently share the underlying technology and real-world improvements on its official tech blog, Toss Tech. “Ally was developed based on the discomforts and feedback we heard directly from visually impaired users,” a Toss representative said. “We will continue to make both technical and cultural efforts to ensure that everyone can use financial services without limitations.”

Meanwhile, Toss continues to strengthen inclusive design through its dedicated Universal Design Team, and it also operates an ‘Accessibility News’ section within the Toss app.