Tips to Master The Software Localization Process


Planning to adopt software localization can be exciting but overwhelming. So, what's the process of localizing your software? If you are looking forward to reaching a greater audience for business growth, you must support various languages and locals. You have to be careful with the process, as a single mistake can cost you. To be competitive in the market even without a localized interface software localization process is essential for product launch. Therefore, what tips can help you master this process?

Create a dedicated software localization team

Don't focus much on creating a team of one or two developers. You will find them trying to take care of bigger projects which will lead to them losing the momentum of the product launch. Alternatively, build a dedicated software localization team with several developers or contractors. Doing this will improve the learning and socialization of internalization methods and keep projects on track.

Work with quality resources.

Reduce the hassle of your development team by utilizing standard file formats like Java properties, traditional windows resources, and XML. Also, they should work in a custom development environment using a unified file structure like XLIFF, that's standard. The availability of localized texts in these formats makes it easier for translation tools to process them. In addition, it will ensure that the localized software will work similarly in the original language. The process also reduces engineering and QA hours for your software localization provider, which lowers costs.

Develop an internalization analysis

In the process of software localization, the following will make it successful:

       Pre localization preparation

       Building and testing

       Feedback.

Expanding your software internationally needs more than Unicode and externalized strings. You have to consider sorting orders, data entry, and concatenations. Before internalization, look at the software requirements and architecture. For example, have details of how you will support locale selection within your application programming languages and the selection, and is there a fallback? Another question is, what changes do you need within your database, and should you consider third-party libraries? If you answer all these questions, the process will be easier, saving many hours.

Automate

If you do continuous localization, it helps fasten new feature development. However, when it comes to software localization, you will have to make small changes that are done more often. The old manual process of getting new strings from resource files is tedious, shuttling files every time to translation is tiring, and errors can occur. The solution to this is automation. It will continuously integrate the tasks with an automated link to your localization firm or translation management system.

Understand localization tools

Learn the available localization tools from the beginning to maximize the benefits. Utilizing technology such as translation memory, terminology management, CMS connectors, and RESTful APIs will reduce manual work. Additionally, it will add quality and save time and reduce costs. Your localization provider should help you use these tools during the localization process. 

The tips will help you be a master in software localization. It will ensure your translation goes well and you reach a wider audience.