Localization is the heart of the marketing world. Without it, it is next to impossible to expand your business empire. Many organizations understand this and that is why they are investing huge sums of money to localize their content, product, website, or mobile app. But mere investing is not enough. You need to check the output.
In this article, we will explore how to test localization in browser because the purpose of investment should be fulfilled. And if it is not, then it can cost you the reputation of your company and the trust of your customers. Quite enough to put a full stop to a business career.
You might be wondering if this is an exaggeration but honestly, it is not. People like using that product/service which makes them feel like it is designed for them. Imagine an American fruit-selling company that plans to expand in India. For this, they launched their app which is just a translated version of their original app. But the prices in the translated app are in United States Dollars. Do you think that Indians would care to use their services?
If you ask me this question then my answer would be no. Who would bear the struggle of converting USD into INR? On top of this, it would make Indians feel like the app is designed for Americans and not for them. And this would leave a bad impression on the company. Needless to mention that the business won’t work in India.
But worry not, we would never let that happen to you.
First of all, let us take a brief look at what localization is. For those of you who don’t know, it means altering cultural, technical, and non-textual elements along with the language when commercializing a product/service for target markets. This would mean adding local idioms and cultural references.
In addition to this, date and time formats, measurement units, data formats, currency formats, and page formats are converted. The layout is also adjusted according to the text length.
Hence in it, wider aspects of a product/service are modified which makes the product/service local-friendly.
Now, talking about how to test localization, its importance, steps to carry it out, and its benefits.
What is Localization Testing?
Localization testing is a process that involves testing content, a website, or a mobile application, whose user interface (UI), default language, currency, date format, and documentation are tailored to the targeted nation or region. It is a type of software testing which confirms that the application is suitable for your target users. That is if the product/service is accurately localized.
In localization testing, the following parameters are checked.
- Regional and Cultural elements
- Language
- UI or appearance
Why is localization testing important?
1. To ensure good bang for the buck:
Localizing a product/service is expensive. Testing helps you to find out whether the output is as good as the money spent. And if it is not good, you should always reach out to the localization agency/professionals who were given the job to generate desired output. After all, you are paying them your hard-earned money.
2. Saves you from irreversible damage:
Localization testing will highlight the issues, if any, in the app/website/content. This will help you to fix errors before the launch of the product/service. Nobody wants to lose the trust of their target customers and get low ROI, only to realize that there are errors in the localized product/service. Furthermore, if the first impression is bad, you ain’t getting a second chance.
3. Guarantees success:
Localization testing helps to ensure your sure win in the target market. If all the issues with the localized product/service are resolved, you can expect a good ROI and happy customers.
When should localization testing be done?
Localization testing must be carried out as soon as you receive the final localized output from your localization agency or professionals who were hired to perform localization. Early detection of quality issues will give your team more time to address them before launch, which will result in cheaper costs and quicker entry into the market.
Test early but not in a hurry. Make sure to review every component of the localized versions of your product/service.
Ensuring the seamless integration of localized content into a website is imperative for reaching and engaging diverse audiences across the globe. Website localization services play a pivotal role in this process by adapting the language, cultural nuances, and even design elements to resonate with specific target markets. However, testing the effectiveness of these localized versions within the browser is crucial to guaranteeing a smooth user experience.
How to test localization in the browser in 10 easy steps?
How to test localization? This question must be in your mind ever since we have started this topic. Here we have mentioned the steps on how to test localization in the browser.
1. To test localization of websites, follow the procedure given below.
Step 1: Sign up for free on any localization website present on your web browser.
Step 2: Log in to the account. You will find a dashboard showing all available browsers and browsers devices.
Step 3: Choose the browser (like Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc.), device (like PC, tablet, smartphone, etc.), and operating system version on which you want to perform the test.
Step 4: On the chosen device and browser, a new session will appear. Select ‘Change Location’ from the menu bar.
Step 5: On performing the fourth step, a list of countries will appear. Choose the one required for the test. For example, if we want to launch a website for the Chinese population, then we will select China.
Step 6: Next, you will be asked to confirm your IP location. Click on ‘Yes’. The IP Location of the session will now change to China.
Step 7: Navigate to the website which you want to test. All user actions will be carried out on this website as soon as it opens.
Step 8: Test all the parameters of the website by selecting the provided options. You will see the page respond as it would for Chinese users because the website is loading from a Chinese IP.
Step 9: For thorough testing, repeat the same procedures on various browser-device-OS combinations.
Step 10: Make a list of all the issues and work on fixing them.
2. To test localization of apps, follow the procedure given below.
Step 1: Sign up for free on any localization website present on your web browser. Log in to the account. You will find a dashboard showing all available browsers and browsers devices.
Step 2: Either upload the app which needs to be tested or access it via a URL.
Step 3: Select the appropriate device-OS combination.
Step 4: Click on the device name. On the chosen device and browser, a new session will begin. Select ‘Change Location’ from the menu bar.
Step 5: IP Location or Device GPS allows users to change their current location (by country). Either choose a country or move the location pin to the desired location. Let’s say we select ‘China’.
Step 6: Next, you will be asked to confirm your IP location. Click on ‘Yes’. The IP Location of the session will now change to China.
Step 7: Navigate to the app which you want to test. All user actions will be carried out on this app as soon as it opens.
Step 8: Test all the parameters of the app by selecting the provided options. You will see the page respond as it would for Chinese users because the website is loading from a Chinese IP.
Step 9: For thorough testing, repeat the same procedures on various browser-device-OS combinations.
Step 10: Make a list of all the issues and work on fixing them.
Top 5 benefits of localization testing
1. Boosts your chances of success:
Localization tests double up your chances of winning in the target markets.
2. Better customer engagement:
As it has been indicated earlier, people are more likely to use that product/service which is available in their mother tongue. By using localization testing, developers provide target users with the best user experience, enhancing both customer engagement and the development process.
3. Saves reputation:
If there are issues in the localized product/service, end users will immediately notice it. This will harm the company’s image in the eyes of its customers. By performing localization testing, one can prevent this from happening.
4. More profit and conversions:
Localization testing will ensure that the targeted users get the best experience. Due to this reason, your product/service will become popular among the people which will give a boost to your profits.
5. Trust and Credibility in Global Markets:
Customers are unlikely to use your products/services if they don’t know you or trust your brand. Designing for a global audience is beneficial. Localization testing will also highlight the fact that you care about your customers.
We hope that you got a clear idea of how to test localization in browser. But if you are still confused about the steps, then we are only one call away.
We at Naarg Data Media Services believe in serving society with our unparalleled excellence in the localization industry. We will help you out.
