Translation and localization are the two most important elements that make globalization possible. Getting access to new markets and making it big in these new markets is the dream of every organization in modern times. With this competitive landscape looming on the horizon, it comes as no surprise that businesses are striving to make their messages heard in the international market.
Software translation is one of the many tools by which a business communicates its unique offering to the global audience. Although most organizations hire a software localization company to make the localization task easier, others opt for machine and automatic translation.
However, one thing that these businesses do not expect in the process of software localization is a failure in translation. There are various reasons why software localization fails.
Here are the top five of these reasons.
Reasons why Software Localization Fails
The process of localization is a lengthy and arduous one and is especially difficult for companies that have little knowledge about their target markets. Taking your software global may be the solution to making your brand message noticed in the international market, but the localization of software comes with a price.
Here are some reasons why software localization fails:
Incorrect internationalization of Software
The process of internationalization of a product or service often fails because the process of internationalization is incomplete or incorrect. This is because companies fail to consider some important points before diving into the process of software localization. These are:
● First and foremost, it is imperative to adhere to established internationalization standards. These standards allow companies to use Unicode and externalize custom strings for a hassle-free globalization of the software.
● Performing pseudo-translations and quality control
Performing pseudo translations allow a company to understand the text and elements of the software that need to be localized. With quality control measures in the process, it becomes easier to understand the software localization process faster.
Lack of methodology
The lack of methodology is also one of the common reasons why software localization fails. A lack of localization methodology can have disastrous consequences for a software’s future updates. In other cases, software companies may also be using outdated, untested, or incomplete methodology that results in localization errors. Contrary to this, using a clear localization methodology allows a company to easily work with files and reuse translations when necessary.
To deal with this, software companies should:
● Develop a software localization plan
● Prepare files for localization
● Ensure reference material for localization is ready, such as style guides, translation databases, and glossaries for each language.
● Compile a database of translations
● Optimize translation tools
● Review and assess translation once the process is complete
Lack of Budget
A sufficient localization budget is necessary for a smooth and error-free localization. Most of the time, though, a lack of budget results in an incomplete or inappropriate localization. However, several inexpensive methods of localization exist, such as automatic and machine translation. Machine translation is an effective localization tool if a company wants to convey the main message of the software.
But such an incomplete localization is useless when a company wants to enter the international market with its software. On the other hand, hiring professional software localization services can cost quite a sum and may require significant financial investments–both initially and during the process. To deal with this, software companies should try to calculate how much a failed attempt will cost them.
Lack of time to complete the localization
Localization and translation processes are lengthy and difficult ones, often requiring long hours of work and effort. Even if a game translation agency can guarantee a fast turnaround of localization projects, the fact remains that ample time is still required for professional localization.
An insufficient time frame can result in an error in the software localization process. This is because localization professionals do not get enough time to properly assess the software elements, strings, and content that needs to be localized. This may result in errors and mistranslations that may cause a hassle to the software company.
To deal with this, it is important to assign as much time to the localization project as possible, even if it means a delay in software marketing. It is far better to delay the release of the software to make it high-quality than to meet the deadlines at the expense of quality.
Lack of experienced staff
Just like technical translation and localization, software localization requires extreme precision and accuracy. This quality localization can only be delivered by professional localization experts. A failure to hire an experienced localization team, project managers, and translators can result in inaccurate localization of software which can cause quite a hassle to a software company. This is why it is important to choose the right localization partner before setting foot in the international market.
Key Takeaway
Software localization is a lengthy and complex endeavor that often fails due to some reasons. It is imperative that software companies plan ahead of the localization so such errors do not occur. Most importantly, it is vital to hire the services of expert software localization companies for hassle-free and professional software localization for acclaim in the global market.
