Start Software Localization Sooner Not Later

The reason companies are thinking about software localization while creating the original product is because most of them creating software products are not interested in limiting themselves to sell strictly in America for American consumers, but want to reach out to the world and sell their product internationally. Companies will save truckloads of money thinking about tomorrow today.

It’s an Internet age and anyone anywhere can sell anything to anyone. Just look at Ebay. Of course, entering into the global market comes with a few road bumps along the way in the language department and not just spoken language- written and software language needs to be localized to be applicable to a wider and more diverse audience.

Even if document and software localization seem a little spendy now- think of the alternatives? For one, not localizing your product takes your product out of the running of all the other international products whose company’s took the time and money to reach out to other markets. Not localizing and trying to market your product internationally means that your company doesn’t realize a majority of the world population doesn’t speak English and perhaps the graphics and your software doesn’t apply to the rest of the world’s systems or maybe it is offensive or not culturally sensitive to a market that would conceivably be interested in your product had you taken the time and money to have it properly localized so that your product smoothly translated into other cultures without a roadblock.

Start software localization sooner rather than later once you decide to jump into the game. Start from the beginning- when the initial product is being created- otherwise the cost for software and other forms of localization to your product skyrocket!

Software must be written in a way that is flexible for a translator to rewrite the product that is culturally aware with appropriate languages, as well as culturally sensitive.

Remember Besides Correct Spelling

• Entry fields need to be formatted in a manner that is common to their respective country, addresses, name etc
• Different countries have different keyboards
• The company you hire should have employees working all over the world in order to accurately translate as well as localize cultural laws, politics and graphics- besides being able to flawlessly translate the technicalities of the documents and software that is to be translated.

This is your company’s one shot to introduce yourself to the world. Imagine the devastation of one misspelled word or one graphic that is offensive in other countries? It pays to cover your bases. If not for respect for your company, then respect for your global audience.

About the author:Melissa Peterman is a web content specialist for Innuity . For more information regarding software localization go to www.multiling.com.