{"id":5406,"date":"2022-06-22T08:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T08:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/?p=5406"},"modified":"2023-03-21T09:45:25","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T08:45:25","slug":"localization-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose the Right Localization Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_64196c90ba63e\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Companies on track for global growth often face language as a major barrier to market entry. While English is technically the number one language on the internet, it represents <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetworldstats.com\/stats7.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">only 25% of the world\u2019s internet users<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. What is more interesting is that unlike English, user numbers for languages such as Chinese, Spanish, or Arabic are growing at unprecedented rates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a product or service to earn trust and attract buyers across markets, it doesn\u2019t only need to \u201cspeak\u201d their language but also have a local look and feel. The adaptation process required to go beyond mere translation, known as localization, involves designing a whole new user experience that takes into account local expectations, currencies, legal requirements, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every company pursuing a serious global expansion strategy needs professional localization services that are powered by modern localization technology. To help you better evaluate which localization services may make sense for your business needs, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about localization services as a lever for growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Overview<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#what-are-localization-services\" title=\"What are localization services?\">What are localization services?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#when-should-i-use-localization-services\" title=\"When should I use localization services?\">When should I use localization services?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#what-localization-services-do-i-need\" title=\"What localization services do I need?\">What localization services do I need?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#software-localization-services\" title=\"Software localization services\">Software localization services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#app-localization-services\" title=\"App localization services\">App localization services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#website-localization-services\" title=\"Website localization services\">Website localization services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#video-game-localization-services\" title=\"Video game localization services\">Video game localization services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#marketing-localization-services\" title=\"Marketing localization services\">Marketing localization services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#technical-localization-services\" title=\"Technical localization services\">Technical localization services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#localization-testing-services\" title=\"Localization testing services\">Localization testing services<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#what-makes-professional-localization-services\" title=\"What makes professional localization services?\">What makes professional localization services?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#what-are-some-key-features-of-localization-software\" title=\"What are some key features of localization software?\">What are some key features of localization software?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#what-are-the-benefits-of-a-localization-platform\" title=\"What are the benefits of a localization platform?\">What are the benefits of a localization platform?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#how-to-evaluate-and-choose-the-best-localization-services\" title=\"How to evaluate and choose the best localization services\">How to evaluate and choose the best localization services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-services\/#localization-services-can-help-you-take-your-business-global\" title=\"Localization services can help you take your business global\">Localization services can help you take your business global<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-are-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are localization services?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization is the process of adapting a product to suit the language and culture of a target market. When implemented properly, it enables the product to connect with customers in a language and format that feels native to them. Besides translating written content from one language into another, localization has a great deal to do with:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adapting written content to local preferences and tastes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modifying layout and design to fit the translated text\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing the right images for the target market<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Displaying the correct currency and units of measure\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using local formats for addresses, phone numbers, or dates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complying with legal requirements and local regulations, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization services are used to adapt products to the culture and language of customers in different target markets. Aiming to make a product look and feel local, localization services providers include teams of translators, developers, designers, local marketing experts, linguists, localization or translation project managers, etc. In an ideal scenario, they all work together on a cloud-based localization platform, regardless of time zones, locations, and backgrounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization services are the result of a team effort in which different experts contribute their knowledge and expertise to help you achieve your localization goals. These experts include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Linguists (translators, editors, proofreaders, etc.)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> translate and revise your content into the target language, making sure that it reads naturally, conforms to localization best practices, and appeals to cultural preferences. They also perform linguistic testing to check that the localized content works as intended.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Developers and software localization engineers <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prepare your product or website at the code level to ensure that it&#8217;s compatible with localization. This includes making sure that there are no hard-coded strings, that text can expand or contract without breaking the layout, etc. Once localization is complete, they also integrate the translated content into the product or website to ensure that it fits into the functionality as intended.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>UX and UI designers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> create localization-friendly designs that can accommodate longer or shorter text strings, left-to-right or right-to-left writing, etc. Moreover, they adapt layouts, designs, and user interface elements to the specificities of the target market and culture. Designers also adapt your visuals (images, videos, graphs, etc.) to better resonate with the target audience and ensure a consistent look and feel across cultures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Localization or translation project managers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lead the localization process from start to finish for each iteration, coordinating the work of all localization experts, setting localization objectives, adapting to feedback and changes, managing deadlines and budget, etc. They centralize all project-related information in a localization platform and report on progress, ensuring that the localization process is as smooth and efficient as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Local marketing experts <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">help you understand your target market, research localization trends and cultural preferences, and develop a <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/how-important-is-localization-for-your-business\/\">localization strategy<\/a> that will enable you to achieve your business goals. For example, local SEO experts help you adapt your website and content to rank higher in local search results.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_078d5d7db3f3cf45137e364cc7a63471\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--green image--orientation-portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image image--align-middle\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1700\" height=\"2200\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"Localization best practice ebook cover | Phrase\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover.png 1700w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-1187x1536.png 1187w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-1583x2048.png 1583w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"subhead\">Free download<\/p>\n<p class=\"h6\">Best practices for developing effective localization strategies<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\">Explore how to tackle localization management efficiently and engage customers across the globe in their native languages and local experiences.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/resources\/localization-best-practices\/\">Download ebook<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_630c5f444b559\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"when-should-i-use-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When should I use localization services?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re just starting to explore new markets or you have already built up a customer base in multiple countries, localization services can take your business further. More specifically, localization services can be used for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Entering new markets:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Focusing on localization from the get-go will help you step into new markets with a product or service that\u2019s relevant to local users, establishing trust with potential customers from day one.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expanding your business in existing markets:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Even after you\u2019ve entered new markets and started building up a customer base, localization should still be on your mind. By continuously adapting your product to the ever-changing needs of local users, you can stay ahead of the competition and keep your business growing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Boosting engagement and loyalty:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Localization is not only about expanding your reach to new markets but also about keeping your existing customers happy to prevent them from churning. A fully local experience will make users feel valued and encourage them to keep coming back for more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reinforcing a brand identity that stays consistent across markets:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While the needs of each market are unique, localization should not sacrifice the consistency of your brand identity and messaging. Good localization services will help you preserve your brand\u2019s unique voice while still making sure that it comes across as natural to local users.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The use cases for localization services are endless, with new opportunities emerging all the time as the world becomes increasingly globalized. If done right, localization can help you tap into new revenue streams, better engage your customers, and build a strong foundation for long-term success in any market, whether you want to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Release a local version of your software in a target market.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offer a mobile app to users in a specific country or region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Publish a multilingual website.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring out a video game for a global user base.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launch promotional campaigns across channels and markets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide assistance in different languages for customers worldwide to make better use of your product or service.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verify the accuracy, consistency, and overall quality of a localized product before launching it in a new market, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-localization-services-do-i-need\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What localization services do I need?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the product or service you offer, as well as your localization goals and budget, you may need different localization services. From software localization to video game localization, the options are very diverse. Here are some of the most common localization services:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"software-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software localization services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/software-localization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the process of customizing the look and feel of a software application\u2014for example, an app or a web-based tool\u2014to match the preferences of users in a specific target market. The aim is to meet the linguistic, cultural, and legal expectations and requirements of the local market while still preserving the software\u2019s core functionality and features.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This includes adapting the user interface (UI) of your software product, user experience (UX) elements\u2014such as menus, labels, buttons, and error messages\u2014written content, and all accompanying assets into the target language. It also entails making sure that the software functions properly in the target market in terms of locally preferred hardware, currency, payment methods and delivery options, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"app-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">App localization services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of localization is very similar to software localization but with a focus on mobile apps. In addition to translating and adapting the app\u2019s UI and UX, it also includes optimizing the app for different devices, local standards, and user expectations in the target market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/mobile-app-localization-why-and-how\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">App localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aims to amplify the app&#8217;s coverage and discoverability, download and adoption rates, as well as ROI by making it as relevant and user-friendly as possible for a local audience. During the localization process, app developers and localization experts will work together to ensure that every asset in the app\u2014including in-app copy, app store descriptions, metadata, visual elements, and more\u2014conforms to the cultural norms, preferences, and expectations of the target market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"website-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Website localization services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/9-steps-to-get-your-website-localization-started\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Website localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the process of adapting a website\u2014including the written content, visual elements, user experience, and functionality\u2014to meet the expectations of users in a specific location. People around the world are far more likely to buy from a website that\u2019s available in their own language and relevant to their local context.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of localization also normally involves SEO\u00a0 localization, which is the process of optimizing a website for better discoverability in different regions and markets. This includes researching and incorporating relevant local keywords, as well as adapting the website\u2019s meta data, hosting, and other technical aspects. Prior internationalization (i18n) is what often makes website localization much easier and more effective, and post-deployment testing should also come as part of the process to make sure that the localized website is up to par.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"video-game-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video game localization services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazing graphics, sound, and gameplay aren&#8217;t enough to make a video game successful in today\u2019s global market. In order to reach and engage players with the widest possible audience, <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/\">video game localization<\/a> has become essential. The aim is to make users feel like the game was developed specifically for them, in their language and cultural context.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During localization, you can adapt all the content in the game\u2014from the storyline and character development to the UI and in-game copy\u2014to better resonate with players in different markets. It&#8217;s essential to find linguists who are also gamers, as they&#8217;ll be able to adapt the game in a way that captures the spirit and feel of the original while still making it relevant to a local audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"marketing-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing localization services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter how good your product or service might be, it won\u2019t sell itself\u2014especially if you\u2019re targeting international markets where language barriers might be an issue. This is where<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/optimize-marketing-localization-process\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> marketing localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comes in, as it\u2019s all about adapting your marketing strategy, assets\u2014including your website, social media presence, product descriptions, and advertising campaigns\u2014, and processes to better suit the needs of a specific target market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing localization can help you boost your brand\u2019s discoverability, reputation, and bottom line by making sure that you develop the right messaging and tone for each market you\u2019re targeting. When you consider that emotional connection\u2014something that speaking your customers&#8217; language can help you create\u2014is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2016\/08\/an-emotional-connection-matters-more-than-customer-satisfaction\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">twice as valuable as customer satisfaction<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in terms of competitive advantage, marketing localization starts to look like a very attractive proposition.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"technical-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical localization services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowledge bases, user manuals, help files, software documentation, FAQs, how-to videos, and other types of technical content need to be localization-friendly in order to serve a global audience. This means that they need to be easy to understand\u2014the technical aspects as well as the language\u2014and relevant to the needs of users in different markets, while still being accurate in terms of the product or service they\u2019re describing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical localization is usually part of wider multilingual customer support efforts. When you provide your users with accurate <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/technical-translation-definition-importance-and-challenges\/\">technical translation<\/a> of key documentation or how-to videos, self-service becomes an option and support requests start to go down. Moreover, by localizing this type of content, you can make sure that everyone understands how to use your product or service, which can help you avoid customer churn.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"localization-testing-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization testing services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/why-you-should-give-localization-testing-top-priority\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization testing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is about making sure that a localized product or service works as intended and meets the needs of users in a specific market. This type of testing goes beyond checking for typos and grammar mistakes, as it also includes functional testing and usability testing to detect and fix any localization-related issues prior to release.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization testing is essential for ensuring a positive user experience in the target market. Just like testing the original product or service is essential for finding and fixing any bugs before release, localization testing should also come as part of the process to verify that the localized version is equally polished. It should work as expected, meet the cultural and technical expectations of local users, and check out from a linguistic standpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-makes-professional-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes professional localization services?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The human element is key for localization, but it\u2019s not the only thing that you need to consider when looking for localization services. Professional localization providers also need to have the right tools and processes in place to ensure quality, consistency, and efficiency throughout the localization process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A combination of technology and localization expertise is what gives localization providers the ability to scale their operations and handle large localization projects without compromising on quality. The best and most professional localization services providers use a mix of localization tools and processes to streamline their workflows and manage their localization projects more effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The least resource-intensive localization solution is to use localization software\u2014e.g., a <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/platform\/tms\/\">translation management system<\/a> or localization platform\u2014that integrates with your existing tech stack and that supports the localization processes from start to finish. This way, you don\u2019t have to worry about integrating multiple tools or dealing with silos of content in different formats. Application programming interfaces (APIs) are what make this possible, as they enable localization tools to communicate with each other and exchange data in a structured way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No localization service can be called professional if it doesn\u2019t rely on modern technology to some extent. For example, localization providers that use localization platforms can take advantage of localization automation to automatically extract content from source files, speed up the process with the aid of AI-driven machine translation, programmatically insert translated content back into the file, and much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Human expertise and modern localization tools working together are what enable localization providers to offer high-quality, scalable localization services\u2014and it&#8217;s precisely what you should look for when choosing a localization provider for your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-are-some-key-features-of-localization-software\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are some key features of localization software?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When looking for <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/platform\/\">localization software<\/a>, there are certain key features that you should consider to ensure that the tool can support, automate, and potentially scale\u2014if needed\u2014your localization processes. Here are some of the most important localization software features to keep in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cloud-based access:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Cloud-based localization tools are more flexible than on-premise tools, as you can access your files and information from anywhere and on any device. Moreover, they don&#8217;t require any installation or set up.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Flexibility:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Look for a tool that lets you easily add or remove users and features as your localization needs change. Changing from one localization project to another should be a seamless experience where you can quickly adapt the tool to your new localization needs\u2014in terms of number of users, file formats, and more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>API support and integrations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> APIs are what enable localization tools to talk to your existing tech stack and infrastructure, and exchange data in a structured way. This allows you to automate tasks such as content extraction, translation, and delivery back into your content management system (CMS) or other tools.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Translation memory:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Translation memory is a feature that stores all your translated content in a database. This way, you can reuse previously translated content\u2014especially in the case of identical or near-identical content\u2014and save time and money on your localization projects. A translation memory also allows translators to perform a &#8220;concordance search&#8221; to find previously translated terms or phrases, even if they don&#8217;t exactly match the content they&#8217;re working on.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Simple search:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A localization tool should offer a simple search feature that allows you to quickly find the files or content you&#8217;re looking for\u2014even if you don&#8217;t know the exact file name. This can be a lifesaver when working on large localization projects with hundreds or thousands of files or words\u2014both for translators and localization managers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>User-friendly user interface:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Look for a tool with an intuitive interface that&#8217;s easy to navigate and use and doesn&#8217;t require much training to get started. Your whole team, regardless of technical ability, should be able to use the tool without having to spend hours learning how it works.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Good documentation and support:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If software issues do ever arise, it&#8217;s important that the localization tool you&#8217;re using offers good documentation to help you troubleshoot problems. In addition, a localization software provider should offer reliable customer support in case you need help with anything\u2014this can be the difference between missing a deadline and successfully completing a localization project.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A centralized working environment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Everyone involved in a localization project\u2014translators, localization managers, developers, testers, and more\u2014should be able to access the localization tool and all the relevant project files in one place. This way, everyone is always on the same page and working with the most up-to-date versions of files.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Possibility to customize:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Localization software should be customizable and offer a certain degree of flexibility to meet the specific needs of your localization projects. Whether you need to add support for files in a certain format or want to create a custom workflow, your localization tool should be able to accommodate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scalability:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Tiered, subscription-based pricing models that consider usage, volume of translated text, or number of language combinations to determine monthly costs aren&#8217;t ideal, because they don&#8217;t offer the flexibility or scalability you need for localization projects. Instead, look for localization software with a pricing model that allows you to use the tool as flexibly as you want without having to worry about overage fees.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-are-the-benefits-of-a-localization-platform\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the benefits of a localization platform?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When comparing the benefits of using a localization platform to doing all the work manually side by side, the differences couldn\u2019t be more striking.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Why working without a localization platform is painful<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>How you can excel thanks to a localization solution<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have to carry out lengthy and tiring manual work<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can be more efficient through automating recurring tasks<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no useful resources to rely on, such as a translation memory<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can retrieve past work to speed through your projects<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll have to shift through and fix a ton of human errors and mistakes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can avert most errors immediately through built-in quality control<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to start each new localization project from scratch<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can exploit your translation memory to accelerate new projects<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It takes longer to build a product without the use of technology<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can finalize a product more quickly, sometimes, with just a few clicks<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to employ additional tools for delivering different tasks<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use the same simple platform for various tasks across projects<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reporting and monitoring will have to be done manually at every step<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can create reports and check your project status with one click<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-to-evaluate-and-choose-the-best-localization-services\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to evaluate and choose the best localization services<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The criteria for choosing the best localization services provider should depend on various factors. Your needs might be different from another company&#8217;s, so it&#8217;s important to think about what&#8217;s most important for your localization projects before making a decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some questions you might want to ask yourself include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>What markets will you be targeting?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Some language services providers (LSPs) specialize in certain geographic regions, while others have a more global reach.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Will your workflow be agile, lean, or traditional?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Depending on your localization process, you might need an LSP that&#8217;s able to work quickly and adapt to the communication flow of your company.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How much content do you produce daily, weekly, monthly?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It&#8217;s not uncommon for an LSP to distribute large volumes of content among several translators to get the job done quickly\u2014which might not be ideal in terms of quality or consistency. Choose an LSP that will be able to strike the right balance between quality and speed for your needs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Will you roll-out to all markets at once or take an in-region, phased approach?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When more content needs to be ready simultaneously, your LSP will need to manage localization processes and workflows for multiple markets. Look for an LSP that has the appropriate localization technology and processes in place to handle this type of volume.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Will you need to outsource QA?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You might want to consider an LSP that offers built-in quality assurance (QA) from start to finish, which can be especially helpful if you don&#8217;t have the internal resources to do it yourself. However, if you already have a QA process in place\u2014e.g., non-domestic speakers checking the localization before it goes live\u2014you might not need this service.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>What file formats do you need localization services for?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you are working with state-of-the-art software and tools, but your localization services provider only accepts older file formats, this will obviously create a disconnect.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Is your content mostly self-explanatory or highly technical?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The in-context translation through automated UI screenshots offered by the best translation management systems (TMS) can help with localization if your content is dense or technical in nature. If this is the case, look for an LSP that has a localization platform with this type of functionality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How quickly do you need your provider to turn around localization projects?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> With smaller providers, you might need to extend your deadline to accommodate their schedules, as they might be resource-strapped. Bigger players can often turn projects around more quickly, but they might not check all your localization boxes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>What are your plans for scaling?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you plan on frequent updates and new content production, but don\u2019t need high volumes or many language combinations, a medium-sized LSP might suffice. On the other hand, if you constantly produce big localization projects that need to be completed quickly and flawlessly, you&#8217;ll need a larger LSP with the technology, platform, and team to get the job done.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How do you define service level?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You need to consider what will happen if any potential localization problems arise. Make sure the LSP you&#8217;re working with has a clear understanding of your requirements and can provide support if necessary. A legal agreement that outlines both parties&#8217; responsibilities is often a good idea.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"localization-services-can-help-you-take-your-business-global\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization services can help you take your business global<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When done right, localization services can help you go from a domestic market player to a global one. But with the vast array of localization providers and technology solutions available, it can be tough to figure out where to start\u2014or even what localization services you need.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get the most bang for your buck, make sure that you choose the type of service that works best for your specific content and context, the technology that will save you time and money in the long run, and the provider that offers the right mix of quality, speed, and service level for your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_fc9f4d43b04066877e9671d075c53820\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--green image--orientation-square\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"h4\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Speak with an expert<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Want to learn how our solutions can help you unlock global opportunity? We\u2019d be happy to show you around the Phrase Localization Platform and answer any questions you may have.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/demo\/\">Book a call<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Localization services are used to adapt products to the culture and language of different target markets. Learn how to choose the best provider for your needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":1238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"class_list":["post-5406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-localization-strategy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5406"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5406"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86267,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5406\/revisions\/86267"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}