Why software localization is important for the global market: Complete guide 

In this era of digitalization, to reach potential audience is not easy. Due to technological advancement, there is huge competition in the global market.  

Take a look at this report from statista: 

The IOS app store contains 2.2 million apps, and the Google Play Store has over 2.8 million and More than one billion people around the world use software or application every day. Everyone has a lot of choices. Today, English is a commonly used language. but 76% of the audience prefer to buy products in their language, and 65% of the low-quality content is only available in native language. To unlock limitless opportunities, your business needs software localization 

What is Software localization: 

Translating your application or software user interface for a global audience is known as software localization. Your software will look more authentic and provide a more seamless user experience when it has been properly localized. 

How does the software localization process work-  

Adaptation of your software to meet the requirements of a target language and culture is not easy. it’s a very long process that comprises software translation which includes the alteration of the graphical user interfaces. This process usually requires a significant amount of time and effort from the development teams.  

• Project analysis: Detail information of the product history; Reference glossaries, vocabularies, and page code. 
• Estimation of the source project: Translation effort, client budget, Estimates project time & deadline, etc.  
• Regional specification: Color schemes, Currency formats, Phone number and address formats, product names, Units of measurement, date and time formats corresponding to your target regions and locales  

• Linguistic quality assurance: Spelling mistakes, punctuation, grammatical errors, translation accuracy, presence of text for translation, cultural use of names, places, and titles   
• User Interface testing: Images, content translation, appearances, pop-ups, and notifications, button-translated text alignment, usage of hyphenation, and line breaks on the pages.   
• Functionality testing and verification: Basic functionality tests, hyperlinks, sorting of lists, hot fields, validation of fields, input features, format separation, font, and special character support.  
• Project delivery of localized software  
• Launching localized software 

Global audiences don’t always speak only one language, which is a limitation for a software company. Moreover, it differs in currency and time zones. These crucial aspects will have a significant impact on a product’s success story. So, the Translation of software into multiple languages will help to reach a wider audience globally. 

Benefits of software localization 

• Brand visibility: Software localization boost user experience which converts software browsers to software users. 

• Brand awareness: Localization increases brand awareness, and strong brand awareness will lower advertising costs. 

• Attract a global audience: Well localized software, makes your product attractive to potential customers and clients and enhances global users 

• Beat the competition: If you are a startup and entering a market with a new product is difficult to beat the competition to reach potential users. With the help of software, localization can get success in the global market rapidly. With the Agile  localization, method help your products to even faster 

• Wider market :  Providing content in only one language neglects millions of potential users. A localization strategy can help your brand scale into multi-language in the international market 

• Sales growth: Localizing your product will help clients make the right decision that increases the chance of buying your product resulting in more sales and a Loyal client base 

• Increase revenue: A wider global market reach can boost sales. simultaneously increase revenue If you localized your software properly. 

If you have already localized your apps, let us have a look at why software localization testing is important and check whether your software is properly localized or not. 

Before starting first understand what software localization testing is. 

Software Localization testing is a key part of the software localization process. localization testing is the only method of ensuring that software has been developed for the target audience in terms of language, cultural, and region. Localization testing helps identify bugs and translation errors in the localized product version before the final product release. The fundamental goal of localization testing is to make the product look and feel more natural for the global users 

Localization testing needs to consider a lot of parameters. Some of the popular test cases process are listed below: 

1. Pre-localization testing: 

Retrieves localization testing reference data like glossaries, vocabularies, previous translations and source code. 

2. Regional specification: 

To ensure content implementation for the target audience. Which is Currency formats, address formats, product names, Units of measurement, date and time formats. 

3. Linguistic testing: 

To check the language translation such as spelling mistakes, punctuation, grammatical errors, translation accuracy, locale-based use of names, places, and titles 

4. Layout testing: 

To ensure UI appearance. Those are images, content translation, notifications, translated button text, etc.  

5. Functionality testing: 

Ensure that it works appropriately after localization 

Software localization mistakes to avoid– 

• inexpensive Translators: If you’re localizing software, you may hire low-budget translators who work quickly and inexpensively. But have you ever considered that localizing this work would be worth it?  Many Companies hire inexperienced translators which results, their brand image sank. Because localization demands cultural adoption 

• Translation vs localization: Developers may confuse translation with localization. Localization isn’t a translation. It’s culturally adapted content. To expand globally, localization is required. The most common error in software localization is failing to consider localizing the website or mobile application. They just consider translation. They do not care about regional differences in cultures and traditions. But your software needs localization to reach globally 

• Ignoring Text Separating from Image: People say that an image is worth more than a thousand words. If we took this literally, pictures could save thousands of words, which would cut the cost of translations by a huge amount. Images with text add clarity to your product and make it visually appealing. But this could take extra budget and time. So in these cases extracting text is. easier to manage. 

• Only targeting country: Localization means not only translating UI, but it also adapting your message to user culture. Knowing their language is insufficient. Multiple countries speak the same language, but each has different slang and culture that cause misunderstandings. 

• Machine Translation: Context matters when translating and localizing the software. It differs from human and machine translation. Keep this in mind while sending your content to translations. Check their method of translation either human translation or machine translation. If your content will be used in machine translation will affect on the audience which leads to miscommunication. 

• Translations lengths: Imagine if translated texts overlapped and stretched outside the interface, causing extra work for the developing team which demands expensive solutions. So before translating your content, consider this. 

• Considering RTL languages: Neglecting text directions While encoding string lengths will affect the audience if you are targeting Hebrew, Arabic, and Urdu languages. 

What to consider when translating software– 

• Choose your target location not country: Because as we know English is the first language in most countries, but each will use it a different way. 
• Decide the language is required to translate 
• Know the purpose of translating into the target language 
• Check who is your target audience for this software project 

Once you are clear with your project requirements, you will have a better idea to find best translation agency. 

How to choose the best localization agency– 

• Accreditations: ISO certificates should be your top priority when choosing a translation partner. ISO 9001 ensures proper project management. But considering only these Certificates don’t always prove “quality.” 

• Business reputation: Check reviews before evaluating a translation agency. It indicates how happy their clients are with the results. Find an agency that offers feedback, case studies, and referrals. Before deciding, check an analyze online reviews, references, and current posts. 

• Professional translators: Analyze your translation partner’s specialty, recent projects, and Translators. Human-powered translations assure accuracy and fluency. But being a native speaker doesn’t mean they are language experts who know all the linguistics techniques and complexities. Successful language translation requires industry experts with local language proficiency. so that your content sounds as natural as it did in the original language, especially in fields like finance, medical, marketing, or technical translation. 

• Quality: Checking the qualifications of translators and the reputation of an agency, who considers cultural, and linguistic issues in translation is a good way to go. Find a translation provider who is capable of translate your project accurately. 

• Delivery Schedule Adherence: When choosing a translation company, you will need to know that your translator to complete your project accurately, and within your deadline. Only a competent translation agency can reach the deadline without losing quality. 

• Finance stability of the agency: If you planning to work with an agency for the long term, you should examine whether the agency is financially safe and profitable. 

• Customer Support: This is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting the best translation agency. You should also check their consistency. Their services, and fast response, either by phone or by email which provides added value for clients. Which is added value for clients. 

Thousands of translation services exist worldwide. Each is unique. Reviewing, discussing, and onboarding a language partner takes time. The internet makes it easier to access data worldwide. Remember these tips when choosing a translation agency. 

Wrapping up: 

The investment in localization will pay off in the short and long-term goals. Don’t push that you can start a process once the software is released. It would be a big loss if you have ignored or spent money and time on only machine translation caused by the lack of proper localization. Localization requires more time and experience in understanding the app and software development. That is why localization cannot be denied. We at ActiveLoc will assist you in your market penetration and global success with our linguistic translation and localization with professional teams. what are you waiting for? Give Activeloc a try and build a flawless localization workflow. Contact us now to hit the global market!