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What are the most effective strategies for localizing and translating software?

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Localizing and translating software is not just a matter of replacing words with their equivalents in another language. It also involves adapting the user interface, the functionality, and the cultural context of the software to meet the expectations and preferences of different markets. In this article, you will learn about some of the most effective strategies for localizing and translating software, and how they can help you reach more users and customers around the world.

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1 Choose the right tools

One of the first steps to localizing and translating software is to choose the right tools that can help you manage the process and ensure quality and consistency. There are many tools available for different aspects of localization, such as extracting and editing text strings, translating and reviewing content, testing and debugging software, and automating workflows. Some of the factors to consider when choosing the right tools are: the size and scope of your project, the languages and platforms you support, the level of automation and integration you need, and the budget and time constraints you have.

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2 Design for localization

Another important strategy for localizing and translating software is to design your software with localization in mind from the start. This means that you should avoid hard-coding text strings, use standard formats for dates, numbers, and currencies, leave enough space for text expansion or contraction, use icons and images that are culturally neutral or adaptable, and avoid using slang, idioms, or humor that may not translate well. Designing for localization can save you time and money in the long run, as well as improve the user experience and satisfaction of your software.

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Jér?me Cezac

AI Coordinator & Business Developer @ CBG | Bridging Business Development with AI Expertise
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One thing to consider is also a technical writer, a person responsible for reviewing and validating the source content. His role is to validate all the source text to ensure consistency with the brand terminology, and add more information that could help translators. This is a great support for software developers and helps reusing already translated source content, reducing cost and delivery time.

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3 Hire professional translators

While machine translation can be useful for some purposes, such as providing a rough draft or a quick overview of the content, it cannot replace the human touch and expertise of professional translators. Professional translators can ensure that your software is not only linguistically accurate, but also culturally appropriate and relevant for your target audience. They can also help you with localization testing, quality assurance, and feedback. To hire professional translators, you can use online platforms, agencies, or freelancers, depending on your needs and preferences. However, you should always check their credentials, references, and samples before hiring them.

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Jér?me Cezac

AI Coordinator & Business Developer @ CBG | Bridging Business Development with AI Expertise
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Translators are indeed the most important success factor for such projects. Depending of the allocated space in the text box, they will have to adjust to this variable, so it becomes more like transcreation than translation. You need to make you have professional translators and give them as much information as possible for this task. Like reference materials, screenshots, strings descriptions, word support, textbox size...

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4 Follow localization best practices

Localizing and translating software is not a one-time event, but a continuous process that requires regular updates, maintenance, and improvement. Therefore, you should follow some localization best practices that can help you keep your software up to date and consistent across languages and markets. Some of these best practices are: use a style guide and a glossary to define your tone, voice, and terminology, use translation memory and terminology databases to reuse and leverage previous translations, use localization testing tools and methods to check for errors and bugs, and collect and analyze user feedback and data to measure and optimize your localization performance.

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Jér?me Cezac

AI Coordinator & Business Developer @ CBG | Bridging Business Development with AI Expertise
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Be aware that translated text may take up more or less space than the original text. Design your software to accommodate this, and use variable placeholders where text might change in length or set a length limit and share that information with your LSP or translators. If you are translating for a lot of markets and have colleagues that are expert in that field or from a sales/marketing department, you should consider involving them to check the translated content. This way they can contribute with their expertise during the localization process.

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5 Learn from others

One of the best ways to learn about localizing and translating software is to look at how other successful software companies and developers have done it. You can find many examples, case studies, and resources online that can inspire you and teach you valuable lessons and tips. You can also join online communities, forums, and networks where you can exchange ideas, experiences, and advice with other software professionals who are interested in or working on localization and translation. You can also attend webinars, workshops, and conferences where you can learn from experts and peers in the field.

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6 Experiment and iterate

Finally, one of the most effective strategies for localizing and translating software is to experiment and iterate. You should not be afraid to try new things, test different approaches, and learn from your mistakes. You should also be open to feedback, suggestions, and changes from your users, customers, and stakeholders. You should always monitor and evaluate your localization results and impact, and use data and insights to make informed decisions and improvements. You should also be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs and expectations of your target markets and audiences.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the most effective strategies for localizing and translating software?

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1 Choose the right tools

2 Design for localization

3 Hire professional translators

4 Follow localization best practices

5 Learn from others

6 Experiment and iterate

7 Here’s what else to consider

Software Engineering

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