Experience has shown that when users interact with websites or apps tailored specifically to their culture, it provides them with a more natural and enjoyable user journey. That is why software localization is essential to expanding the reach of your products to new audiences.
This process goes beyond simple translation; it includes adapting dates, times, UI elements, images and other content to meet cultural expectations of various markets.
Adapting the User Interface
Software must not only be translated, but must also meet culturally specific user needs. Therefore, localization must take place both at an interface level as well as content level.
Failing to consider the cultural and localization requirements of its target audience can result in poor usability, confusion, and dissatisfaction with the product. Professional localization services can help businesses avoid these pitfalls while creating user experiences relevant to global markets.
Software localization goes beyond translating text from English to Chinese; it may involve adapting buttons or other user interface elements for different screen sizes and orientations, as well as adapting images so they display correctly in target languages and adapting symbols and icons to reflect local culture.
Developers can simplify their localization efforts by incorporating real or pseudo-translations early in design processes, so when it’s time to localize, the process is already underway and changes will be more manageable. Translation management software such as Smartcat makes this task straightforward by connecting directly with design tools like Figma so team members can incorporate real or pseudo-translations from day one.
Embracing Cultural Awareness
As your company expands into new markets, it’s crucial that it takes into account cultural differences that might impact how users interact with your website or apps. Software localization services offer one key solution, adapting linguistic and non-linguistic aspects of your app/site for each market such as images/symbols/date/time formats/UI elements etc.
An American fitness app may include workout routines that include treadmills; this would likely leave Chinese users puzzled as most don’t own such equipment in their homes. A localization team could quickly resolve this problem by altering the app to use icons reflecting local sports preferences instead.
Localization goes beyond simply avoiding cultural faux pas; instead it should embrace and honor the diverse experiences and perspectives of different audiences to create an inclusive digital experience for all. Doing this will increase user satisfaction, trust, conversions and loyalty for your company.
Start by investing in a translation and localization platform, providing a central repository for your content. A great platform will also automate many of the tasks required for localizing software for various languages and cultures – saving both you and your teams valuable time while expediting global release times of apps and sites, increasing revenues and business success.
Redesigning Images and Symbols
Software localization services not only ensure linguistic accuracy, but they can also tailor images and symbols to adapt for their target audiences. Finding imagery that resonates can make all the difference when it comes to whether someone accepts your software or rejects it; this requires understanding cultural nuances more than mere translation.
Date formats vary across nations, such as in China where Independence Day falls on December 7 while it does in America on July 4. Therefore, having localization tools which understand these different norms is vital to providing a seamless user experience.
Brand loyalty can often be built through cultural affinity; making sure your software relates to the target market will help you realize expansion goals more easily and build trusting relationships with prospective customers. Doing this can also make selling products simpler!
From the outset of global expansion, it is vital to engage your developers with localization across departments. That way, as your company expands and grows, localization becomes less of a daunting process and your software releases in multiple languages more rapidly to a wider audience. Lyst provides an excellent example of this approach with their localization tool automating many tasks that would otherwise take much of each team member’s time and energy to accomplish manually.
Aligning with Local Norms
Software localization services go beyond simple translation: they optimize a product’s user experience to suit its target audience’s needs and expectations, from design elements such as color or imagery to even cultural components that make an app seem natural and familiar to its users. Companies seeking global expansion should understand and comply with local market requirements before venturing abroad.
Software localisation services can help your audience form a deeper, more meaningful connection by reflecting their culture and values more closely, increasing user engagement while minimizing any chance of offending or confusing them inadvertently.
Even with all its advantages, software localization may not be implemented immediately. This is especially true for businesses still developing their online presence and do not yet have customers in other countries. Therefore, it would be wiser to plan ahead for software localization so you can benefit from its services when necessary.
