Localization, the process of adapting a product, service or content to meet the language and cultural requirements of a specific region, is critical for companies looking to expand their reach globally. However, traditional localization processes can be time-consuming and costly, often requiring significant manual effort to adapt content for different languages and cultures.
That’s where automation comes in. By leveraging the best translation tools online, such as a translation management system, companies can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and accelerate the localization process. In this article, you can read about some effective ways automation can facilitate localization.
Translation workflows
One of the most time-consuming aspects of localization is the translation of content. Automating the workflow with computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, such as translation memory and term base, can optimize the process, significantly reducing the time and effort required to translate content.
- Translation memory is a database that stores instances of previously translated content, allowing for the reuse of content across multiple projects.
- A term base, also known as a terminology database or glossary, is a structured collection of terms, their definitions, and their corresponding translations in different languages.
Content management
Manually tracking changes, managing multiple versions of files, and uploading content can be time-consuming and an error-prone process, but automation can save the day here.
More specifically, automation can help with the creation of a centralized content repository, provide version control capabilities, streamline content management workflows by eliminating manual and repetitive tasks, as well as intelligently segment content into translatable units, such as paragraphs or sentences.
Website translation
Automating website translation is a cost-effective way to quickly scale up localization efforts. A localization tool can automatically extract content from a website and translate it using machine translation, allowing companies to quickly translate and publish their website in multiple languages. This also reduces the need for manual intervention and oversight, further streamlining the localization process.
Quality assurance
Ensuring the quality and accuracy of localized content is essential for maintaining a company’s reputation and ensuring customer satisfaction, but manually checking for errors and inconsistencies can be time-consuming and difficult.
Automated quality assurance tools can help by identifying issues like missing translations, inconsistent terminology, and formatting errors. It can significantly reduce the time and effort required for this process, while also improving accuracy and consistency. This approach can help companies ensure that their localized content meets the same high standard as their original content.
API integration
API integration with other tools, like project management software and content management systems, can help automate and streamline localization workflows further. For instance, it can automate the transfer of content from one system to another, reducing the need for manual uploads and downloads. This approach can help companies achieve faster turnaround times for localized content and reduce costs by improving efficiency.
What is the role of automation in localization?
Localization projects involve many repetitive and manual tasks that consume time and energy, such as sending and receiving files for translation or writing email updates. These tasks can lead to missed deadlines and higher costs if there is any error or delay.
Here’s how automation saves the day:
- Automation tools help eliminate time-consuming and repetitive manual tasks in the localization process, such as manual file transfers, copying and pasting content, and tracking changes, freeing up valuable time for localization teams.
- Automation tools streamline project management by enabling real-time updates, task assignments, and progress tracking. This eliminates the manual spreadsheet management traditionally used in localization processes, resulting in increased accuracy and efficiency.
- Automation enables the seamless exchange of data between different systems involved in the localization process. This includes integration with content management systems (CMS), translation management systems (TMS), version control systems, and other relevant tools.
- Automation tools significantly increase productivity by reducing manual effort, eliminating redundant tasks, and streamlining workflows. For example, translation memory (TM) and term bases accelerate the translation process by leveraging existing translated content and using approved terminology
Final thoughts
By automating the translation and localization processes, companies can significantly reduce the time and effort required for adapting their products or services for different target markets. As a result, they can expand their reach and appeal to a global audience more quickly and efficiently.