Software is always developed for the country for which it is directed, and considerations must be made including translation when necessary. This means U.S. software is made for English-speaking users and French software is made for users who speak French. This is great for domestic sales, but when wanting to expand into the foreign market, businesses need to invest in software translation services and software localization services to cater to foreign language needs.
What Is Software Localization?
Many people may not know what is localization in software. Similar to website localization or game localization, software localization is the process of adopting and changing a software to cater to the linguistic and cultural needs of a user.
Software localization is not just translating the words. It includes changing the size of the buttons,time format, or text size. It’s all about making the program easy and comfortable to use for the consumer.
Top 5 Picks for Software Localization in Canada
The firms on this list are some of the best of the best. There are a lot of aspects to consider when finding a localization company to hire. We have used the following in our review:
- Quality of the delivered product
- Customer experience
- Customer reviews and feedback
- Product price
And while affordable prices are important, we have decided to only feature companies that meet the first three criteria. Sometimes affordable prices mean low quality and a bad customer experience, at which point the price is not worth it. Often small additional costs can result in a huge difference in the whole localization process.
1. The Word Point
This company is consistently on the top of review lists for localization of any kind, and it’s no different for software localization services and software translation services. This is mainly because of its almost exclusive use of human engineers and developers. The Word Point employs native speakers of every target language for projects guaranteeing expert localization services and high-quality products. This is all confirmed with the consistently positive customer reviews and the proven success of their software deliveries, marketability, and sales in foreign markets.
2. TranslateHub
TranslateHub catches the eye of many customers because of their verification process during the project translation and delivery. It is also this feature that continues to put this company on the top of review lists for software localization. After the product (software, apps, etc.) translation and localization has been completed, TranslateHub has their native experts and developers verify that all the cultural nuances and details have addressed. TranslateHub tests their own finalized products to validate the language and functions before delivering it to their customer, once again guaranteeing that high quality work will be delivered.
3. Genius Translation
Genius Translation is a lesser known software localization service, however that does not mean they should be overlooked. In the short time they’ve been in business they have accumulated quite the team of language experts, and are now able to offer translation and localization for over 100 languages. They use true native-speakers with many of their employees working remotely from their home countries. They make sure that every project has a customized personal team for software translation and localization of the product. Despite their shorter history, their client satisfaction rate remains highly positive.
4. Re:word
The best thing has going for them is their lengthy history and experience. They have been in the localization and translation industry for quite many years. Their continuous improvement of the localization and translation process means they understand all that is necessary to assure their delivered products be polished versions of the software, and not simple word-for-word translations. Their team is entirely in-house, meaning quality control is rigorous. That’s probably why many of their customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, revealing their high levels of satisfaction regarding their delivered products and overall experience with Re:word.
5. Worldwide Express
Worldwide Express has a solid experience in software localization and has used that time to perfect their translation process including all linguistic, non-linguistic, and cultural challenges of localization. They also have an in-house testing requirement of their finished products before being delivered to the customer. This helps to create a high level of quality and ensure customer satisfaction. Worldwideexpress.ca has an extreme attention to detail correcting any found bugs or kinks during the testing period.
What to Look for in Software Localization Processes
There are a few commonalities between software localization processes that could be good things to look for when searching for the right high-quality company.
- Clearly stated abilities: Not every company can localize every software. They should be clear about which platforms they can localize and which ones they cannot. This includes coding programs (C++, Java, HTML, etc.) platforms (android, iOS, Xbox, etc.), and language offerings. If companies are hiding their expertise and skills, it may be a red flag and cause problems.
- Guaranteed deadlines: Professional translation businesses regularly use systems to guarantee a deadline. Not having a deadline-driven system can cause late delivery and result in a large loss of business and money to the customer.
- DevOps: A continuous communication trail and cooperation between the software developers and the translators helps to reduce incorrect translations and subtle errors. If a company suddenly goes dark, that is another red flag in the localization process.
- Full translation (text, interface, and graphics): Companies should clearly lay out their entire localization and translation process. They should include graphics and user interface, not just the text of the software. Doing only one part does not benefit the whole project and should be something that translation companies offer.
- Final testing and verification: Most professional localization services have their own in-house testing to do for quality assurance. If the company does not assure this, you may find your final product has more errors than you would like. Certified services offer post-production support in case revisions are required.
The Importance of Human Translators
While machines and algorithms may be the fastest ways of doing software localization, they simply cannot replace human native-speakers. Instead of translating word-by-word like machines, humans can take the language within context and convey humor, cultural references, or play-on words that machines simply cannot understand. This only serves to heighten the user experience and make the localized final product more successful.