More than 70% of all consumers will make a purchase decision if an item is advertised in their native language. While the increasingly global world may soon speak a common technological language, effective localization for software has become a matter of clear and growing importance.
Software has infiltrated every nook and corner of daily life: from driving the best mobile apps to fulfilling enterprise needs, it shares the same universal language with everyone. Yet, while so very universal, though, software all too often fails to speak the languages-or even cultural nuances-of its end users.
This is where Software Globalization comes in, that gives companies a strategic edge in tailoring their products for other languages and cultures. The rub, however, is that all that localization work can come undone like a house of cards unless great attention is paid to quality.
The process of software localization is complex and multi-layered, and thus it becomes all too easy for translation mistakes and technical glitches to slip through even the shallow cracks of incompetent planning and execution.
If you are contemplating software localization, then this guidebook alone will suffice to take you along the way. Learn about the process of Software Translation and its complex process, from laying down the groundwork to executing those crucial finishing touches.
What is Software Localization?
Software localization is more than just translating the content of your app from one language to another. In a nutshell, it means changing the user interface of your application or software to look exactly the same way as it would for your target market so that it would feel native and look native, and as if it were natively developed for that country’s users. This includes:
- Words were translated accurately, capturing meaning and context.
- Adjusting UI elements to deal with a change in the text length and language.
- Add graphics and images relevant to the culture and area.
- Compatibly conformed to local laws and legal regulations.
This guide to Localization of Software would enhance the user experience, meet the expectations of the local market, and therefore expand their market.
Software Localization vs. Internationalization
As people get confused about the two terms, it is very important to understand the difference between software localization and internationalization.
Internationalization is nothing but the process of getting your software ready for support of more than one language even before it gets localized.
This includes:
- Isolating UI elements from source code.
- Support for multiple languages, file formats, and cultural preferences.
- Support for different number formats, currency formats, and personal names.
On the other hand, localization of software is the direct adaptation of your software to other languages and cultures once the internationalization stage has set down a foundation. It is crucial for a business to understand this difference if they wish to expand their potential reach worldwide successfully.
The Benefits of Software Globalization
The advantages of Software Globalization are vast and sensational:
- Expand Your Reach: By localization of software, you could enter markets before the products of your competitors and leverage a much better SEO ranking, thus making your product more findable in international search results.
- Improve User Experience: More users are attracted as well as better user experiences tailored to cultural norms if you make your software available in your user’s native language, hence improvement in user retention and loyalty.
- Increase Conversions and Sales: Users are likely to engage with and purchase from brands whose language of communication is their most preferred one, especially when the users are not very fluent in the original language.
- Grab Market Share: Localizing your software quickly can give you a head start to exploit the first-mover advantages of emerging markets, leaving your competitors little time to react.
The Process of Multilingual Software Localization
To localize software is a complex process that demands collaboration from different teams. Traditionally, this process flows sequentially after design and development.
- Designers create the UI for new features or pages in an application.
- Copywriters write the original content in the source language.
- Developers code the English version, putting all elements together on a single platform.
- Localization engineers manage the quality assurance process.
- Translators get the content, translate it, and then forward it to the localization team, who integrates it.
However, this procedural approach is quite cumbersome and prone to errors. Thus, designing with localization in mind from the beginning can make this workflow smooth and minimize bottlenecks in efficiency.
Designing with Localization in Mind
In order to achieve effective software localization processes, it is pertinent that you integrate localization into your development cycle. This means that it will be able to cut out problems such as the following:
- Text expansion, where translations take up more space than the original text.
- Layout changes, especially right-to-left languages such as Arabic or Hebrew.
Companies like Linguidoor streamline the process of software localization operations. With agile localization, companies can thus keep rolling out new feature releases without worrying about localization bottlenecks.
Top 5 Software Localization Best Practices You Need to Know
For enhanced success, it is advisable to adopt effective best practices in software localization.
Here are five of the best:
- Refine messaging and UI/UX Copy First: Before localizing, ensure that your messaging is concise and clear. Well-formatted source text makes translation easier and keeps your software intact.
- Facilitate Effective Communication: Ensure that designers, developers, and translators are open to one another. This should keep everyone on the same page and aware of all the nuances surrounding each other that might affect localization.
- Use Localization Tools: Consider acquiring localization tools that will likely include translation memory and terminology management. This will save you time and keep your translations uniform.
- Test Early and Often: Test the localized version of your software as early as possible in your development cycle to detect potential layout, functionality, or language inaccuracies and problems and correct before reaching the end-user.
- Awareness of trends: Localization is not a one-time affair. It changes with the dynamic state of the language, culture, and market requirements. Continuous updation will ensure the relevance and engagement of audiences.
Further reading: 11 Ways to localize your mobile app to Boost Sales in 2024
Seamless Software Localization Services with Linguidoor
In the fast-moving context of software development, cooperation with localization professionals could be a difference-maker. Linguidoor is a German-based company which offers localization solutions of software without any glitches to ensure that your application can reach the hearts of varied audiences all around the world.
Why Choose Linguidoor?
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- Experience in Localization: More than ten years of experience and a whole team of native language experts guarantee 99.5% accuracy in translations.
- Custom Solution: We are aware that every business is unique and has localized needs. Our services are customized to cater for the needs of your specific business while ensuring the localization experience fosters harmoniously with your brand.
- Quick Turnaround: Sophisticated technologies combined with streamlined workflow will enable us to deliver localization of software speeds.
Endnote
A successful localization will only be possible if targeting behavior is captured and retained. Indeed, it is very achievable and successful, especially if partnered with a proper localization company like Linguidoor, to bring success to businesses operating in today’s competitive market.
Related Article:
The 7 Biggest Challenges of Software Localization
Software Localization Services: Skyrocket Your Growth in Global Markets
10 Insider Tips (the Do’s and the Don’ts) for Effective Software Localization
Contact our team today to discuss how we can assist you with Software Localization Services to enhance user engagement and increase market reach. You can follow us on Linkedin and X to get the latest insights.