When we talk about going global, it is not about globalization it is all about localization. For any company that wants to achieve immense success in the global and international markets, it is necessary to put your local customers first. For your platform to be accessible to everyone, it is essential to localize your software for customers who are from non-English speaking countries.
In this article, you will find the importance of software localization and an overview of the software localization process.
Why is software localization important?
Software localization is the process of translating the software user interface for the target market. Software localization is not just translating content from a source language to a target language. It is about making the software look more real and natural. For any company, the development process is the most essential aspect.
The software localization process allows you to take a global approach. Software localization is the need of the hour to reach potential customers in the era of digitalization. It adapts the content and user interface to the peculiarities of local culture.
The custom base gets increased with the software localization process. Software localization helps to mitigate the barriers for new customers. New localized software penetrates the local market and also restricts cultural barriers. Customers are more inclined towards the software when it is in their native language and enhances the customer base.
Software localization is a time taking process, but localized software will speed up the process of entering a new market. Customer engagement is increased once the software is localized and, the companies can grab the market share from a diverse customer base.
Software localization creates a positive impact on sales. It attracts clients who speak multiple languages other than English. The software localization process increases sales and boosts revenue.
A recent study by Common Sense Advisory stated that 76% of users spend their time on websites and apps that are in their native language. 50% of users believe that obtaining information in a customer’s native language from the website is more important than the price of the product.
Thus the importance of software localization is crisp and clear; it increases the customer base, mitigates the barriers for new entrants, and increases sales and revenues. All in all, the software localization process helps to take your business to the next level.
Overview of the software localization process
The software localization process comes out as a very tedious process that comprises software translation and software adaptation. Here is the overview of the software localization process.
1. Internationalization
It is an essential part of the software localization process. It is a process of stripping away as many elements as possible that tie up the software to one language and region. In simpler terms, it means separating content and communications from the actual code.
This helps in localizing the content without influencing the inner structure of the product. Localization Industry Standards Association(LISA), states that internationalization is an essential part of product design, product development, product testing, and quality assurance.
Internationalization is done by removing visual elements and hard-coded text and is put together in a separate database or in a language resource file which is one or several for each locale. Source code contains instructions that include text strings from resource files, which are allocated by ID or value name. The product or service of a good internationalized process is easy to localize to many locales.
2. Localization
Localization is a process that makes a product or software available for different markets in multiple languages for a better user experience. In simpler terms, it can be defined as the process of adapting a product or software for a different locale. For the localization process choosing the right localization platform is essential.
This helps the software localization process to run smoothly and efficiently. The localization platform comes with translation providers and it is a good approach as the linguists with experience will be available in the localization platform. It saves time and helps in the overall localization process.
The localization process is done once the product or software is world ready, then the project manager needs to put in a process that allows the professional translators or translation providers to take the content of the product and translate it into the target language, also adapting different aspects of the intended new target language.
After this process localization testing is required to make sure everything is working as it should be. Localization testing ensures that every localized version is good with no bugs and errors.
3. Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is an essential part of the software localization process. Both the translation and localization processes must be different but one thing is most common in both processes and that is quality assurance. It is a huge savior for resources that is time and cost.
It assures that the product’s cultural and linguistic standards are maintained due to the high-quality localization and also provides users with an authentic experience of the software. The quality assurance team includes people with skills and they are engineers, software developers, Professional translators, Editors, and QA Professionals.
The quality assurance process comprises different stages that span the development process. It includes pre-localization checks, functional testing, and linguistic testing. Pre-localization checks often involve source content verification in which the source content in the source language is checked by a skilled linguistic professional who can catch the mistake and eventually correct it.
Functional testing comes after actual localization. Inconsistencies like grammar, spell checking, presence of placeholders, formatting, repeated words, multiple spaces, and plurals are targeted through functional testing. It is often automated by CAT Tools and Machine engines.
Linguistic testing involves testing the meaning behind the content. It is the most demanding step of the process and requires a language professional in the team. Linguistic testing ensures that the intention and meaning behind the content is conveyed in their intended target language. These are the approaches to the localization quality assurance step.
Why should you choose Naarg for software localization?
The software localization process focuses on the details of the software. These little things such as time, date, and currency formats must be appropriate for the target region. It is crucial in a software localization process that the design elements, information structure, and backend code are adapted according to the local consumers. This could all be done with the help of localization services.
Software localization service takes a holistic approach and ensures that all the details and aspects of the product are tuned according to the target market and its user experience.
Companies require software localization services because it takes substantial audience research, software development knowledge, and linguistic prowess to perfect every detail. This is where a software localization service comes into use. Naarg’s experts assist you in introducing your software and app to prosperous countries, helping you gain better deals.
We at Naarg provide the best app localization services to help you rank higher in app stores. As a reliable app localization agency, we provide an improved customer experience so your app can get 5-star reviews. At Naarg, we bring to you customers from several geographical locations without creating separate platforms.
If you are looking for professional localization services that can help you attract consumers and level up your customer base, Naarg Data Media Services can help you achieve your goals. Reach us at info@naargmedia.com to know more about our services.
