Ask an expert: What’s the best way to begin software localization?

The resulting translations were far from great. It wasn’t because our translators weren’t skilled or trying hard enough: They had no context on the bits of text they were translating. They also had no idea how the text would appear in the final product, where it was used, or how it connected to our software’s user interface. Because spreadsheets we... See more

We considered what could yield better results. Could we give our translators direct access to our product so that they could edit copy within the application? We could, so we did: building a prototype that allowed in-context editing. At the core, we wanted localization to happen as close to our product development process as possible. We also wante... See more

However, brilliant localization has to comprise more than just content that’s contextually and technically correct. It’s about understanding your product’s markets across the globe and the cultural differences within your audience. It never stops. Every new language and local market you approach adds new facets to your product design requirements.