Localization Tools: The Value of Integrated Translation Services

Many business leaders decide to forgo localizing their products or content, not because of the expense of the translation services themselves, but because of the massive challenge that is project management. This is an undertaking with a lot of moving parts and few available solutions to control workflow and expenses. However, the right localization tools can help firms enjoy near-automatic integrated translation services.In an ideal situation, a simple change to source code triggers a project that moves seamlessly from task to task until new content goes live. Unfortunately, many translation agencies depend on less sophisticated workflows and can’t offer this type of experience. Knowing which localization tools to look for allows you to work with a firm that provides a total end-to-end translation solution.

How Integrated Translation Services Improve the ROI of a Project

The traditional translation process for any project is extremely unsophisticated. It involves a lot of different steps and incorporates involvement for many departments. Here’s a breakdown:

1. The developer commits a new code.
2. They then reach out to another department to start a localization project.
3. The localization team downloads all various code files from GitHub.
4. They forward the files to a translation agency for a quote.
5. The translation agency reviews the project and sends the quote.
6. On approval, they manually assign projects to linguists.
7. The linguists receive the files—typically via email—and start translating.
8. The translated content is reviewed.
9. The content goes back to the company’s localization team.
10. It’s sent back to engineers for reuploading.

Every time a software or product changes, those ten steps are triggered, if not more. This is a highly inefficient process that wastes time. We’ve developed an integrated strategy that streamlines code uploading to eliminate that.

Simplifying Localization With Integrated Translation Services

Integrated translation services build projects based on objective rules and actions rather than reactive decision making. All this starts when a crawler notes a change to code in GitHub. This triggers a translation request and an automated quote. The localization manager then simply accepts the quote or sets up blanket approval for jobs below a certain threshold.Linguists are assigned and begin working on the job right away in a single, centralized location. Strings move seamlessly through the translation process, and uploading of new code is also automated. This integrated strategy provides massive overhead savings, accelerates project turnaround, and ensures content is always up-to-date. Best of all, it’s a process that can work with just about any content management system, online program, code repository, or document sharing site.Of course, to take advantage of the process, managers have to change the way they think about translation. They must stop looking at it as a human-based program and instead consider it a technology-driven one. They’ll also need to adopt processes and tools to support this continuous localization approach.

The Localization Tools You Need to Drive Integrated Translation

The streamlined approach to translation may seem challenging, but it’s actually quite turnkey once you establish the right processes and programs. To enjoy the benefits of integrated translation services, work with a firm that offers:

• Code onboarding: Localizing online content isn’t just about text; it’s about preserving the code that supports the user experience. A complete code audit at the beginning of the process helps the agency establish the right variables, regular expressions, comments, and strategies to ensure translated text appears and works as expected.
• Connector opportunities: Connectors allow you to attach your system to the translation agency and facilitate project creation, translation, reviews, and posting. Common connectors to popular platforms like Drupal, Marketo, WordPress, or any CMS allow developers to pull strings using REST API or a similar framework.
• Command-line interface: Even if you don’t have a connector, you can still integrate with access to a good command-line interface. This may be a bit more manual, but it helps developers create projects and establish rules with single-line commands.
• Project templating: Project templates are necessary for all the languages you target. This allows you to add projects by default when triggering a change. Otherwise, you have to submit each project manually. While it’s not the most time-consuming part of a localization strategy, automation is still the ideal solution.
• Centralized, customizable workflow: The flow of tasks from beginning to end can vary from firm to firm. The ability to add or omit steps in a single space streamlines project management while ensuring it’s customized enough for your business. Using an end-to-end localization management platform enhances efficiency by eliminating the need to send files, actively manage projects, or check statuses.

These localization tools support integrated translation services by building flow into project management. An agency that provides both this technology and a pool of talented translators can help you save time and money on localization projects, thereby enhancing your ROI. Plus, it allows your developers to focus on perfecting your product rather than targeting languages. If you regularly require translation on any platform, the integrated approach could be a major benefit for your enterprise.