Blog | Bureau Works

Localization Strategy

Can Multilingual Translation Software Automate and Optimize Your Process?

Multilingual translation software can be an excellent tool for automating your localization processes, but it's not something you can approach blindly—especially because automation isn't perfect. There are too many factors to consider when deciding which process is best for you.

Product Localization

Localization Strategy

Continuous Localization Best Practices Point to a Hybrid Solution for Enterprises

Continuous localization is a technical process that depends on human intervention. You have to rely on everyone involved in the workflow to complete tasks correctly and on time. Hence, the ultimate continuous localization best practices center not on any specific steps but, instead, on a hybrid system that builds in accountability and measurable standards.

Business Translation

12 Keys to Translating Marketing Materials for Diverse Audiences

The tricky part about translating marketing materials is that what works for gaining sales locally may not work internationally. Clever campaigns that use a lot of wordplay or local references may translate poorly and confuse a new market. So, it's wise to take some proactive measures before trying to market in a foreign language.

Product Localization

Top 9 iOS Localization Best Practices

Heading into your iOS localization process with the idea that it should be near-identical to the process for Android will set you up for failure. While the two platforms share a lot of common attributes, there are some critical considerations for iOS that you probably didn’t need to think about during the Android localization process.

Product Localization

Pro Tips for Multilingual Mobile App Development and Updates

The success of your multilingual app is going to depend on the elegance of your code. If it’s sloppily written or doesn’t follow best practices, you’ll spend a lot of time parsing and resolving inconsistencies. Garbage in, garbage out. Nowhere is this more evident than when you’re trying to translate your app into multiple languages.

Business Translation

10 Best Practices for Multilingual Website Design

More often than not, a company begins its design process strictly focused on English. However, because of that, they miss opportunities to internationalize their content early on and ensure they’ll be able to localize and translate it easily. That is the essence of multilingual website design: a proactive mindset.

Localization Strategy

Why Do You Need Localization Guidelines? What’s At Stake?

The norm for companies is that they don’t start with localization in mind. It’s often a reactive process that comes when you’ve reached a plateau in your domestic potential. The reality is actually behind the times—especially as localization is a genuine revenue driver.

Business Translation

What to Expect from Technical Document Translation Software

The critical thing to remember, when it comes to technical document translation software, is that no company’s materials are ever complete. They will forever be a work in progress that requires constant attention. By adopting this mindset, you’ll be in a better position to choose a translation software that’s right for you and your team—for now and as you scale and need to bridge new languages.

Product Localization

How Does Localization Work for Your Product?

As it is such an involved process, localization has become its own science. Many companies now offer localization as a service. For developers without previous experience, it can be difficult to recognize good localization options from those that are sub-par. Make sure you know what you're looking for.

Product Localization

Starting Software Internationalization and Localization—Are You Prepared?

Software internationalization and localization allow companies to reach new markets and spread their offerings across the world. However, it’s also a process that can quickly get out of hand as there are wide-ranging components to consider. Take a measured, logical approach in order to reach your users and improve your bottom line.

Platform Technology

Uncover the Best Software Localization Tools: 5 Questions to Ask LSPs

Congratulations on having the foresight to shop around for software localization tools early. The time you spend now will come back to you many times over in time saved—by avoiding big problems, delays, and needless steps. Find questions here to help identify the right tools and services you need.

Business Translation

Do You Need Legal Document Translation Software?

If you're asking whether you need legal document translation software, then you probably do. A bad translation, even a typo, could have ruinous consequences for your organization. Civil suits, unintended obligations, fines, and other governmental actions can result, and you may not even see them coming.

Platform Technology

What Can a Collaborative Translation Tool Realistically Do for Your Enterprise?

When your team has the resources it needs to work effectively, people tend to enjoy their jobs and to feel a greater sense of accomplishment. Take the example of a collaborative translation tool. It helps people work more closely together by centralizing workflows, and it can automate the busy work that distracts them from their real concerns. In the process, it can improve the quality of your translations.

Product Localization

Don't Reinvent the Wheel—The Software Localization Process Is Designed by Experts

It can be very intimidating trying to update software for a new market—in a way that makes you feel like you're reinventing the wheel.That's why an expert partnership and a localization management platform matters. This arrangement can help simplify a complex process for developers so they can adapt their framework for the new market.

Business Translation

5 Features of the Best Medical Translation Software

The consequences of a bad translation in the medical industry are dire. A life-saving drug may be delayed from market launch. Companies may spend millions in securing regulatory approval only to lose their investment on a technicality. It’s vital to use the best medical translation software to avoid errors.

Localization Strategy

What to Consider When Expanding a Business Internationally

Working with a partner that has seen it and done it all before can contribute to your success in a big way. Sage advice can help you avoid typical mistakes as you figure out what to consider when expanding a business internationally.

Global eLearning

The Professional eLearning Localization Process—What to Expect When It’s Done Right

For learning managers, developing the elearning localization process is a high-stakes endeavor. Too little attention to the process, and you won’t effectively reach learners around the world or get the critical messages across. Too much attention, without adequate technology and localization practices, and you’ll exceed your budget and your timeline by far.

Platform Technology

Tips & Trends

Code in the Time of COVID-19

We’ve been working from home for a while now, and some people from our team are doing so for years in a row. More than working from home, the ability to work from ANYWHERE is simply amazing.

Business Translation

Evaluate USCIS Certified Translation Providers to Maintain Your Firm’s High Standards

For the past few years, immigration laws have been in a state of constant flux that leaves many individuals confused and anxious over their residency, citizenship, or lack of status. As an immigration attorney or firm, your number one goal is likely to allay their fears by providing fast and accurate legal services, including reliable translations.

Global eLearning

Localization Strategy

How to Build Your eLearning Localization Strategy and Best Practices

Today’s learners need to be able to access content from anywhere at any time. By focusing on the three components of elearning—scheduling, stakeholders, and review—it’s possible to get newly localized content to market faster.

Business Translation

Proactive Public Health Translation for Reliable Knowledge Sharing

Today’s health leaders need to consider how quickly medical services are moving to digital environments. This is highlighted by the COVID-19 response in many communities where telehealth isn’t just a benefit; it’s vital to ensure the continued safety of the population. Consider a localization strategy that makes your content accessible, secure, and accurate to a diverse population.

Localization Strategy

Know the Limits of Machine Translation as You Build Your Localization Strategy

Machine translation (MT) and human translation aren’t mutually exclusive. MT is a productivity tool that can help translators work faster and gain higher-quality results. MT is rarely a standalone solution to localization, which is why it’s wise to understand its limitations.

Localization Strategy

4 Ways to Reduce Localization Costs

By overcoming geographic and linguist boundaries, you create immense opportunities for growth and reap the benefits of our modern global economy. But that doesn’t mean you or those in your C-suite aren’t eager to keep localization costs down. There are numerous ways to reduce localization costs.

Localization Strategy

Integrate Your Localized Marketing Strategy with Other Translation Projects to Save $

We don’t just want to translate the words in a localization strategy. We want to convey a central message—one that resonates among diverse consumers. That means integrating all of our communication channels to one lexicon that transcends language.

Localization Strategy

5 Ways to Improve Translation Quality

Sometimes, you may find that your translations are close to acceptable quality but not quite there. Maybe you’re getting complaints or you’re wondering why you’re not getting the response you were expecting in a certain market. In any case, it’s time to talk to your vendor if you’ve determined you need to improve translation quality.

Platform Technology

Global eLearning

Preparing Learning Management Systems for Translation

It may seem easy to translate your company-specific information into major languages, but it’s not as simple as your company becomes more globalized and you look to incorporate more diverse language options. By evaluating specific features of your LMS early on, you’ll ensure your system can manage international onboarding of all employees and not just those in major markets.

Localization Strategy

The Benefits of a Tight Localization Strategy

The importance of localization to the success of your organization should not be discounted, and its implementation should not be left to trial and error. Rather, create a localization strategy well in advance of your launch date, if possible—or, at least, well before you actually dive into your localization projects.

Platform Technology

Managing Translation Memory for Consistent Localization

Any effective localization effort starts with managing translation memory. That memory is the tool that all other translations are built on. Without taking advantage of the valuable translation work your organization has already accomplished, you’re going to deal with creeping costs and inconsistent messages across business segments.

Localization Strategy

Tips for Optimizing Your Agile Localization Workflow

Agile development is, by definition, fast and iterative. To keep it that way, you need optimized processes. Localization should be an integral process from early on in development or it will be cumbersome to introduce later.

Global eLearning

Efficient Onboarding of International Employees: Create Your Localization Plan

How easily a new employee can look up crucial information about their job and their company is going to make a big impact on their overall comfort with the organization. Comfortable, confident employees are productive employees. That’s why you need to see the system through their eyes to develop an employee onboarding program that’s intuitive, interactive, and effective.

Platform Technology

The Advantages of Translation Software for Enterprises

As essential as translation and localization may be for your global goals, it can still be hard to persuade the C-suite to spend big money on big solutions. True, there are relatively cheap options available, but you get what you pay for. And you don’t want to be standing behind a system that leaves your company flat on its ass while the competition is charging ahead.

Platform Technology

Localization Strategy

Reviewing Terminology Management Tools to Fortify Your Global Brand Potential

Some basic steps that you can take now will make a world of difference when it comes time to release your product around the world. One of those steps is to fortify your terminology management because your translation will be only as good as your company’s own grasp on the words. Terminology management tools can empower your localization team.

Localization Strategy

Customizing Your Translation Project Management and Workflow

Every company wants employees to do more with less money. The whole purpose of the project manager centers on that fact. When we eliminate our focus on job security and, instead, take a solution-focused approach, we can create a seamless, efficient workflow that makes projects easier and better for everyone involved.

Platform Technology

Your Ideal Enterprise Translation Management System

It may be hard to differentiate between enterprise translation management systems at first glance, especially if your needs are still relatively basic. Knowing what to look for in a TMS will help guide you as you continue to round out your localization strategy.

Product Localization

Top 4 Benefits of Software Localization

Start by developing a smart strategy and shopping for the right technology to reinforce your localization ecosystem. With all of your ducks in a row, you’ll be on your way to leveraging the benefits of software localization. It won’t be easy, but if you know how to do it right from the start, you’re already way ahead of the competition.

Platform Technology

Localization Strategy

Insider's Guide to Language Translation Software for Business

You know what the potential is for taking your business around the world, right? Are you as well aware of what it takes to do it well? Too many companies underestimate the investment they should be putting into translation and localization. They believe it’s easy enough to cut corners with content localization.

Product Localization

Framing Your Product Localization Process Before Translation Begins

A successful product localization process is built from the ground up. Everyone who handles your content at any level should be aware of localization and actively thinking about it from the beginning—starting with the coding. Now is the time to dig into the details so you’ll have the foresight to plan for effective localization.

Platform Technology

Don’t Buy Translation Technology Without the Translators

The tools matter, but the linguists are the ones who actually use the tech to bring color to your localization picture. Why not put your translation needs in the capable arms of a complete localization ecosystem—where translators are already integrated into a translation management system?

Localization Strategy

Anticipate Translation Problems and Solutions for a Tight Localization Strategy

When dealing with a complex process such as localization, a wide range of things can go wrong, so navigating around pitfalls can be a major factor in your success. An experienced localization partner can help you take a proactive approach to translation problems and solutions with careful planning, reliable systems, and a commitment to localization at its best.

Global eLearning

Platform Technology

Voice Over Translation: Software Solutions to Save You Exponential Hassle

Voice over is one of the most complex components of multimedia localization. The process can be slow, technically challenging, and involve a lot of people. If your company needs to make it happen, consider your options carefully. Voice over translation software can make it much easier to achieve high-quality voice overs in the shortest possible amount of time.

Product Localization

Localization Strategy

3 Strategies for Entering Foreign Software Markets

Localization isn’t just one of the key strategies for entering foreign software markets; it’s a necessity. Even established global companies struggle with making this happen cost-effectively because it is an ongoing, ever-evolving process. A lot of the time, what’s holding you back from a successful market entry isn’t a lack of ideas; it’s fear.

Global eLearning

How to Manage International Employee Training

Investing in solid international employee training now could mean a much, much stronger foundation for all of your operations and consumer relations for years to come. Your professionalism behind the scenes will translate to more effective and profitable engagements over the counter or in whatever scenario your employees provide your services.

Product Localization

Localization Strategy

Develop Your Product Globalization Strategy for Sustainable Success

Product globalization is much more about the people—the end users, translators, developers, reviewers, editors, and managers—than it is about the product. People make global growth possible; and they can also create the obstacles that prevent it. Commit to your product globalization strategy now.

Localization Strategy

Platform Technology

Do You Need a Localization Kit? Or Is There Something Better?

We've come too far in the industry to be fooling around with outdated processes. It's well worth the time to assess your future localization kit and decide whether you have the best resources at hand for the high-stakes challenges ahead.

Tips & Trends

Localization Strategy

How to Find Translators Online to Staff Your International Expansion

Searching for a readily available translator online can feel like swiping through dating profiles and shaky-ground matches. But the best translators are defined by the quality of translations that they adapt to very specific local audiences and by their commitment to your goals.

Localization Strategy

Tips & Trends

Why You Should Outsource Translation Services

If you are tasked with finding translators for your organization’s localization, your logical choices are to hire them yourself or outsource translation services. Of course, the latter option presents a much higher up-front cost. But you can’t ignore the long-term costs associated with such a complicated endeavor as localization.

Product Localization

Platform Technology

Can Localization Automation Tools Solve Your Workflow Problems?

A steady, controlled workflow makes life easier for all stakeholders and is an important factor in your success. Localization automation tools are an obvious option that can improve your workflow and give you scalability, the ability to expand smoothly into new markets.

Localization Strategy

Tips & Trends

The Benefits of Localization vs Translation for International Corporations

Translation and localization are quite similar in concept. It’s easy to understand how teams might miss the nuance, ending up with sub-par content that doesn’t capture the attention of their global audience. So, what does this comparison mean for your company as it aims to go global?

Tips & Trends

Localization Strategy

How to Translate into Multiple Languages for International Markets

In today’s economy, companies that expand internationally aren’t just targeting their neighbors—they’re targeting the world. You don’t just need translation for one language. You need multiple languages. And the more languages you target, the less likely it is that you’ll be able to handle that volume of content in-house with your primary team and tools.

Localization Strategy

Help Your Startup Go Global with Expert Localization Strategy

Startups are in a world of their own. They have their own pace and logic. Maintaining momentum can be challenging enough without adding international ambitions to the mix. But with the right kind of support, technology, and streamlined workflows, you can watch your startup go global with very little management required on your part.

Platform Technology

Automation: How Bureau Works Harnesses It For Better Translation Quality

Bureau Works’ robust localization management platform and the automated client-translator matchup feature push the expectations of what can and should be automated. Bureau Works is setting the example of just how well automation technology can do tasks that are typically relegated to and underexploited by human intervention.

Platform Technology

The Power of Superior Terminology Management

Together, Bureau Works’ micro-level and macro-level features give a superior feel to the terminology management experience. The cautious step-by-step process of approving terms and the macro-level management features make sure that quality, consistency, and traceability aren’t lost as you expand your business beyond language barriers.

Platform Technology

Why Your Enterprise Needs a Content Localization Management System

It’s better to anticipate the complications you might run into with localization ahead of time than to be surprised and set back or to get buried in unexpected costs down the road. There are tools to help you overcome common obstacles. But content localization management systems work best when you integrate them from the start.

Localization Strategy

Why You Need a Content Localization Strategy to Grow Your Startup Globally

A content localization strategy can help you avoid the pitfalls of going global. You need a strategy that takes into account the complete picture: your company’s real goals, your brand and product identity, your commitment to content quality, your prime markets, your timing, your workflow. There's a way to weave it all together for long-term success.

Tips & Trends

Why Localization Is Important: And the Terrible Job We Have Done over the Years at Cultivating Its Value

Localization is crucial to global corporations. There simply is no doing global business without it. But somehow over the years, our industry has not done a good job at showcasing this relevance and promoting its own value.

Global eLearning

Why Hire eLearning Localization Services for Multilingual Training Content

Now that your enterprise is going global, you realize quickly that elearning content is incredibly difficult to localize—and you don’t have the tools you need to do the job. If you’re not equipped for the challenge, it can be nearly impossible to localize your training content successfully. By hiring experienced elearning localization services, you can stay well within budget and address all of the challenges.

Tips & Trends

Why Digital Content Localization Is Your Future

As businesses are becoming more global, content is becoming more digital. The compounding of these two unstoppable trends means that global content is in your company’s future. We’re entering the Wild West of global content expansion. Digital content localization is the keystone process that makes this entire endeavor possible.

Localization Strategy

Who Do You Need on Your Localization Team?

The best way to identify your localization team is to take a step back and follow the entire life cycle of your content—from before its conception until, and even after, it is in the hands of the consumer. Even those people who barely come in contact with the content may still bear some weight on the localization process in the long run.

Tips & Trends

Localization Strategy

What Is Transcreation? And Is It Better Than Translation?

Transcreation is a specialty service, and most experienced companies treat it as such. We recommend using transcreation sparingly. High-quality translation is the standard for most content, from marketing copy to software interfaces, and should form the backbone of your localization strategy.

Platform Technology

What Is Localization Project Management At Its Best?

Localization project management is undergoing a revolution in light of recent advancements in technology. Today’s managers are used to being eternally indispensable middlemen⁠—but localization platforms and continuous localization tools are freeing these professionals to develop new skills and responsibilities.

Tips & Trends

What Is Glocalization? Understanding the Terminology of Global Content

Due to its surprisingly deep history, “glocalization” may be the sole grandfather of all the other fabricated labels floating about in the localization industry today. This circa-1980s term defines a new way of thinking about global business. Companies of all sizes are still working to adopt a more “glocal” (global+local) mindset today.

Tips & Trends

Warning Signs and Consequences of Bad Translation

It’s hard to judge the quality of a translation in a language you don’t understand. You’ll figure it out eventually, but there are always consequences of bad translation. If it’s no more than a delay in your production schedule or a string of complaints, you’re lucky. Bad translation could be the reason you're not breaking into a market.

Platform Technology

Tips & Trends

Valuing Our Scarcest Resource: Human Talent

Scarcity demands focus. Our rarest resource is human talent; that's why we are so invested in automation. We believe that by allowing mundane, repetitive and boring tasks to be taken on by computers, we will free our people to develop their skills and learn new ones, to bring new ideas and to challenge conventions.

Localization Strategy

Unlock the Best Way to Translate a Website for Global Immersion

Making your localized website as fantastic as the original version involves more than just excellent translation. There are technical issues to solve and ROI considerations to keep in focus. It takes know-how to move forward efficiently. Here are some of the things that go into great localization.

Tips & Trends

Product Localization

Top Software Translation Services—What to Expect from Cutting-Edge Tools

There’s actually quite a range of capabilities presented by software translation services across all pricing bands. Most are using tech like computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, translation memories (TMs), and style guides. But those basic tools are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the technology you need to build a truly continuous localization engine.

Platform Technology

The Works of Bureau #1 (CTO Updates)

Hello everyone! This is the first of a series of posts that aim to keep you updated with the development and new features in Bureau Works, as well as relevant industry facts and also some randomness from the Internet—I get way too bored writing serious emails so I hope you take these with a light heart!

Localization Strategy

The Painless Path to Social Media Localization

Localizing social media content is fairly straightforward. Each blurb, image, and video could easily be fed through a localization platform and translated into any number of languages. The challenge is to allocate resources efficiently so that social media localization doesn’t absorb all of your time and money.

Localization Strategy

The Localization Vendors Soap Opera: A Manager’s Guide to Avoiding Drama

One of the biggest challenges of the localization industry is finding the right vendors—right for your content, at the right time, at a good price. The perfect localization partnership is something of a unicorn in today’s market, which is flooded with localization vendors claiming to be the best in the industry.

Localization Strategy

Tips & Trends

The Localization Mistakes You Can Avoid

Localization mistakes are easy to make, but they are not inevitable. Keep an eye out for some of the common stumbling blocks startups encounter. With the right localization tools and best practices, you can launch without making these costly mistakes. And a smooth start will help you achieve faster and greater success.

Platform Technology

The Latest Translation Technology—6 Features You Should Expect

Most language service providers market themselves as having the best and latest technology. The truth is, after using these big-box LSPs for a year, product managers realize their translation technology isn’t actually cutting edge. They’ve missed out on major functionality and crucial tools that would make the localization process better.

Platform Technology

The Hidden Costs of Website Translation Services vs a Localization Platform

A sophisticated localization platform may not actually exceed the cost of website translation services, especially once you’re continuously delivering to diverse markets. In fact, international corporations that operate with an experienced localization partner are typically saving thousands in hidden human costs, which makes a positive return far more likely.

Product Localization

The Death of Localization and the Birth of Internationalization

Even if we were to Localize our product, website, and offer world-class customer service in Brazilian Portuguese, we would fail miserably in growing our customer base. We would be left staring at each other, wondering what went wrong. The language can be flawless, and the branding can be spot on, but it's still not nearly enough. That is why you must ensure product compatibility before beginning localization initiatives.

Product Localization

The Best Product Translation Services Are Market-Focused and Scalable

Think about how long it took to develop your brand and perfect your product in the first place—including the language that makes it accessible to users. Translation and preparation for other markets take the same kind of vulnerability, communication, care, and interest. Don't undercut localization; it's the foundation of your international success.

Localization Strategy

Start Planning Marketing Strategies for International Markets—The Sooner, the Better

International marketing can be a genuinely transformative experience as you face new demands and take new approaches to problem solving. Planning marketing strategies early in your campaign can save you immeasurable time, money, and effort by setting you on a sure course to be deliberate with localization, to be infinitely scalable, and to solidify expert support.

Product Localization

Localization Strategy

Software Localization Best Practices: 6 Steps to Becoming a Global Business

In a high-pressure environment, localization is at risk of being swept under the rug as developers concentrate intensively on the tasks immediately in front of them. This kind of procrastination can set you far behind the competition. There are software localization best practices that will help you build a firm foundation for manageable growth into global markets.

Translators

Secure Localization Translation Jobs for Savvy Translators

The best localization translation jobs give you all the flexibility of freelancing with many of the benefits of a corporate gig while maintaining your agency as a qualified language professional.

Product Localization

Product Globalization Solutions: A Planning Guide for Startups

You don’t have time to babysit an extensive in-house process between 48-hour development sprints. But with the right product globalization solutions, you won’t have to. Combined with big-picture planning, a powerful platform could turn your continuous localization ambitions into a living, breathing reality.

Localization Strategy

Outsourcing Your Web and App Localization: ROI Considerations

There’s no need to go out of your way to reinvent the wheel. By outsourcing your web and app localization to an expert partner, you have the opportunity to reduce administrative overhead, increase localization ROI, and scale your localization process effortlessly into broader international markets.

Platform Technology

News From the Robots - Orson Welles Edition

We are developing more connectors to ease your content faster and more efficiently in and out of Bureau Works. And we have started migrating our infrastructure to Kubernetes, and we've got a few workspaces on it already—and you didn't even noticed it. This change will allow our team to manage and deploy solutions quicker.

Platform Technology

News From the Robots (CTO Updates #6)

Our Updates: 1. More Dashboards 2. Security Audit 3. Performance Optimizations 4. Improved Projects Layout 5. More Search Filters

Platform Technology

News From The Robots (CTO Updates #5)

Find the BWX forbidden glossary (!) and news about our multi-tiered DB architecture, stability and performance updates, and more.

Platform Technology

News From the Robots (CTO Updates #4)

We've killed the nginx web servers that servantly served our content to you. In Bureau Works, everything is API-based so the front-end is very thin, yet rich client. So now we deploy the Web Client in a distributed network provided by the AWS CloudFront service, so your experience loading all the CSS and JS goodness is WAY, WAY faster.

Platform Technology

News From the Robots (CTO Updates #3)

Keep up with BWX updates: 1. Google Drive Integration 2. Term Base Management Improvements 3. Performance Optimization

Platform Technology

News From the Robots (CTO Update #2)

Updates to look out for: 1. Tableau Software Dashboards 2. Survey Gizmo Connector 3. Global Search Improvements 4. More Zendesk Options

Localization Strategy

Master Translation and Localization Project Management in 7 Steps

Localization management can be streamlined, optimized, and transparent. Ideally, you would be able to watch the progress of individual projects while working on higher-level challenges, making the best possible contribution to your organization. The difference is in how you approach the planning from this point forward.

Platform Technology

Localization Strategy

Managing Software Localization for Global Business

Even if you and your organization are gluttons for punishment, there are compelling reasons to outsource your localization. To be blunt, it would be foolhardy to think that you are going to build the whole engine of localization internally and be able to manage scalability, QA, and hiring. Adopt a process that has already been perfected.

Product Localization

Localization vs Internationalization: Why the Comparison Matters to Your Startup

When you’re considering localization vs internationalization for your business, it’s a mistake to think of them as destinations along your global marketing trajectory. They are dynamic and integral elements of your ongoing round-the-world journey. Both localization and internationalization are indispensable for your product’s success in international markets, and they work together closely in your company’s strategy, now and into the future.

Localization Strategy

Localization Strategy Examples: DOs and DON’Ts For Eager Startups

Localization is a goldilocks kind of business when done right. You need to localize just enough content but not too much—work quickly but not rush the process. When companies find those perfect sweet spots, they’re able to see real results and reap a much higher ROI. But it might be difficult to visualize how a great localization strategy might look.

Translators

Linguist Profile: A Personal Path to Translation

Meet Olga Montes, a translator and reviewer for Bureau Works. As most translators do, she works remotely for translation companies. Olga, who speaks, French, German, English, and Spanish, was born and raised in Spain and didn’t become a language-lover until the time to transition from grade school to university drew closer and closer.

Tips & Trends

Já Tá Lá

Language is beautiful, right? I speak Portuguese, I egotistically and egocentrically say it's a beautiful language, it sounds nice and musical. Like every other language, some sentences can be extremely complex, and sometimes they can be extremely simple.

Tips & Trends

Is My Translation Quality Good Enough to Launch My Product?

Prior to launch, everyone gets cold feet, and perspective is the first thing that gets thrown out the window. Be the lucid one to see through turmoil. It's always important to pick your battles wisely but never more important than prior to product launch. Build a strong, robust process, and trust it.

Tips & Trends

Localization Strategy

In-house translators vs freelance: 5 reasons to never ever go with in-house

Time and time again I see people trying to solve their localization management problems by bringing people in-house. The translation quality is bad. Bring in in-house reviewers. The translation quality is still bad. Bring in in-house translators. Project Management is awful. Bring in in-house project managers. And so it goes.

Tips & Trends

How to Top the Best Online Translation Services

When you have ongoing updates and translations in multiple languages, every second counts. That’s why you want the most efficient strategy and resources in play. Speed will never really make up for quality, especially when your brand and your product are on the line.

Localization Strategy

How to Simplify Management of Multilingual Content Localization

The best way to simplify your multilingual content localization process is to give the job to someone else. Give it to someone you can trust to deliver on your far-reaching goals—someone you can trust to actually care about your content. We recommend building a strong relationship with an experienced localization partner who can get in the weeds with you and map a clear path forward.

Tips & Trends

How to Recognize the Best Professional Translation Services

It’s important to second-guess what professional translation services are selling. And a good way to do that is to review what your big goals and objectives really are on the global stage. Because it’s not just about having some words translated by end of day.

Localization Strategy

How to Localize Content for Foreign Markets

Localization can seem like a juggling act. With so many jugglers and so many balls in the air, it can be intimidating. But let’s take it one step at a time. With organization and the right resources, it becomes quite manageable. Here are five important steps to start localizing content for foreign markets.

Product Localization

How to Localize an App: A Turnkey Solution

When considering how to localize an app with short release cycles, your best bet may be a turnkey solution. Here, experienced partners working in an integrated, automated, and collaborative space can help you ensure every release speaks to your audience—whatever language they speak.

Localization Strategy

Product Localization

How to Integrate Localization Testing: A Checklist for Product Managers

Sometimes, the biggest problem with localization is not a technical glitch but an outlook. Far too often, localization is an afterthought, taken up only at the end of product development. And then localization testing comes as an after-afterthought. This attitude can have serious consequences that are difficult to reverse.

Product Localization

How to Implement Localization in Android to Keep Up with Your Markets

Localization is an ongoing relationship that works best when it starts early. Often, app developers or product managers who are considering how to implement localization in Android expect to engage with a localization partner only once they’ve got everything ready on their end. This is a mistake in the long run.

Tips & Trends

Localization Strategy

How to go from Neanderthal to Cutting Edge Terminology Management in 4 Easy Steps

Translation Memories and Term Bases were amazing breakthroughs...back in the 1970s. That's nearly 50 years ago, and we are still working with the same archaic technology. Sure we have refined the matching algorithms, introduced adaptive machine translation, but the basic paradigm remains unaltered. Compared to the technology that is out there, disrupting other industries, we are translating in hunter-gatherer neanderthal style.

Localization Strategy

How to Find a Translation Vendor Worth Your Investment

With an industry full of LSPs marketing themselves as the best in the business, it’s difficult to identify which are trustworthy. However, it’s pretty simple to catch those that aren’t operating with your best interests in mind. These three steps will help you find transparent localization services that provide high-quality results and a positive ROI.

Localization Strategy

How to Choose a Trustworthy Language Service Provider

Let’s examine how to choose a language service provider. You can learn almost everything you need to know about an LSP by examining their pricing structure—which you should absolutely do before signing a contract. By following these four steps, you’ll be able to sidestep the standard LSP’s pricing tricks and home in on partners who are actually worth your time.

Localization Strategy

Tips & Trends

How to Automate Your Global Content Marketing

For effective global content marketing, you want to address all of your markets with minimal lag time, and to do that, you need an integrated localization system. There are several elements that go into an effective overall strategy. Automation is a tremendous benefit, but it works within a larger system. That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced localization partner that can lead you in the direction of comprehensive globalization.

Localization Strategy

How L10n Services Can Help Your Startup Go Global

When localization can keep up with you, you can maintain the kind of growth that localization makes possible. It’s a delicate cycle full of infinite opportunities. Finding a top-notch language services provider (LSP) will make it possible to lay a robust framework for localization strategy, technology, and long-term partnership.

Platform Technology

How Continuous Localization Tools Can Help Grow Your SaaS Enterprise

When high-powered continuous localization tools exist, it only makes sense to free up your developers to work on more crucial tasks. Leading platforms make automated end-to-end localization possible while improving content quality across your markets. By investing in the right localization tools, you set your company up for success in scalability and efficiency.

Localization Strategy

Globalization vs Localization: What the Difference Means in Action

As a broad generalization, it can be said that globalization feeds localization. That is to say, there’s a globalization process that has to occur before you can get down to localizing. But that doesn’t mean that globalization cuts off where localization picks up. Globalization is characterized by on-going big-picture attention and troubleshooting.

Translators

Get Paid to Translate in the Cloud Era

All players in the localization ecosystem are rapidly evolving. If you’re looking to get paid to translate in the era of cloud computing and continuous localization, it might be helpful to gain some perspective on how the industry has evolved and what really matters today when you’re considering positions that will grow your career as a translator.

Localization Strategy

Tips & Trends

Frequently Asked Questions About Marketing Translation

Every successful global marketing strategy depends on translation. So, you seek out language vendors to take your existing content and transform it for use abroad. The problem is that many companies jump into localization way too quickly and end up paying more than they intended for translations that don’t meet their expectations.

Platform Technology

Finding Translation Workflow Management Software That Works

Workflow is one of the biggest challenges of localization. Getting tasks in front of the right people without overmanaging and wasting time is harder than you might expect, especially as your localization projects grow. Various time zones, competing demands on your translators, and basic human error get in the way of efficiency.

Translators

Find the Perfect Translation Work from Home

The trick is to find those language service providers that share your values. When you do translation work from home, it’s okay to expect respect, transparency, cutting-edge tools, generous support, real choice, and a positive and homey work environment. Those are all things capable of bringing us together as an industry community.

Localization Strategy

Evaluating Content Localization Services and Choosing the Tools You Really Need

Most content localization services aren’t being transparent with their offerings or their operations. Language service providers (LSPs) across the board market themselves as full-scale solutions. But the localization tools they offer range from woefully basic to impressively high-tech. You need to weed the services that don’t meet the needs of your enterprise. The best way to proceed is to ask really good questions.

Platform Technology

Tips & Trends

Demystifying the Automatic Translation Tool and Its Value for Your Business

There is a lot of confusion around what an automatic translation tool is and what we can reasonably expect it to accomplish. The most interesting question is not about machine translation engines but about what the latest localization tools can automate for the peak return on your investment and streamlining of time and resources.

Localization Strategy

Define Localization

Localization is the simple process of getting content from one language into one or multiple languages and all the shit-show that happens in between. And yes, it can get ridiculously complex. But for the most part localization is very routine and standard. Standard file types, standard filters, a translation memory, a glossary, a translator, a reviewer, QA and testing. And voilà! Now you have localized your content.

Tips & Trends

Localization Strategy

Data-Driven Global Marketing Strategy: 5 Sure-Fire Tips for Startups

The truth is, from the moment you put out a website, app, or software, your company already has a global presence. Online users all over the world are already examining your product and comparing it with alternatives in their own markets. The real question is where, how, and when to localize content for those markets. And localization has everything to do with language.

Localization Strategy

Tips & Trends

Content Localization Best Practices: 5 Tips for Global Enterprises

Connecting with audiences takes more than getting literal translations right. Finessing a translation into messaging that resonates with native speakers and promotes your brand or product is both an art and a logistical process. Your localization best practices need to embrace both the art and the science of this global leap.

Localization Strategy

Platform Technology

Choose the Best Translation Project Management System for Your Startup

Yes, there are still aspects of professional translation and localization that call for dedicated human attention—and probably always will. All the more reason why you want to take advantage of automation and AI where you can so you can concentrate the human time and effort where it really matters.

Platform Technology

Choose a Global Content Management System (GCMS) for Smart Localization

When most people think of content management systems (CMS), they think about content generation and content deployment, not necessarily content transformations. When it comes time to take your company global, will you be prepared? It’s better to plan ahead with a global content management system (GCMS) than to retroactively prepare your content and your workflows once you’re already in full swing.

Translators

Can Translation Jobs from Home Pay Your Bills?

Yes, translation jobs from home can absolutely pay your bills. Assuming you’ve learned to manage your freelance business appropriately, you can find online translation work with reputable companies that pay well and provide enough work to fill your schedule. The challenge lies in finding those unicorn positions in the first place.

Product Localization

App Game Localization Tools—Do You Need an Automation Platform?

Are you prepared for every necessary step to getting your game into international markets? Are you rushing into translations without doing your research? Neglecting to carefully prioritize your target markets and to educate yourself about app localization best practices could mean that you’re doubling or tripling your budget in no time. It could mean that you push through translation projects and see little to no return in these unfamiliar markets.

Tips & Trends

Product Localization

8 Top App Localization Best Practices to Connect with Global Markets

App localization has become so widespread that product managers consider it an integral part of development. Localization is a complex and continuous process that, ideally, begins at the design stage. The caliber of its implementation can have a radical effect on the success and profitability of an app, so it should be given its due priority. To achieve a genuine advantage, companies need top-rate localization that is up and running from the very start.

Localization Strategy

Global eLearning

7 Things to Know About Multimedia Localization

Marketing materials. eLearning modules. Technical support videos. Product tutorials. When your company goes global, these types of content will require multimedia localization to succeed in your target markets. After all, video is king. Unfortunately, multimedia content is also incredibly complicated to localize.

Tips & Trends

6 Tricks Quality Translation Services Won’t Pull

Buyer beware! When you are ready to engage with a translation partner, you want the best service you can get without any unnecessary risks. While your translation needs are certainly unique, there are some practices that will suit no one. Here are seven red flags that should put you on alert.

Localization Strategy

Tips & Trends

6 Localization Tips for Multilingual Customer Support

Support content tends to be fairly disaster-prone. Companies can usually manage to get a product fully localized into a target language, but then they forget about translating the online support pages to go with it. Panic ensues when you finally localize all of your support content, but you don’t have your chatbot working in other languages. Or when you have only English speakers on the phone lines. These are all disasters you can avoid.

Tips & Trends

5 Steps to Move Towards Culture Based on Partnerships Rather Than Hierarchy

The way I enjoy being a boss starts by agreeing on a vision. If we cannot agree to aspire towards the same overarching vision, then there is not much sense in engaging in something together. The vision requires a true emotional buy-in from the team. That is why the "why's" around the vision are just as important as the vision itself.

Platform Technology

5 Reasons You Need Business Translation Services to Localize Your Content

Companies on the brink of globalization may still misunderstand translation and localization. Get clear on the critical steps forward to avoid common mistakes and to reap the full advantages that lie ahead. The best business translation services go beyond translation to help you prepare and plan for comprehensive localization.

Tips & Trends

5 Reasons Why the Localization Industry is Built Backwards

Doctors, lawyers, accountants and other specialized professionals enjoy the privilege of charging hundreds of dollars an hour for their expertise. Translators do not. Why is that? This is our vision: we can re-engineer this broken landscape. But we cannot do it alone. That is why we believe Bureau Works is a movement to defy the structures that have held this industry lousily in place over the past few decades.

Tips & Trends

4 Reasons why the Glorified Localization Maturity Model is Flawed

Localization is fueled by international growth and growth is inherently messy, If you are growing that means you are pushing the boundaries. If you are pushing the boundaries that means you need new processes and new roles in order to fulfill those requirements. The ultimate dream for anyone involved in localization is to get rid of the mess. While things can and should get more organized and more predictable, it is unreasonable to have a romanticized ideal of what maturity looks like.

Localization Strategy

4 Planning Tips for eCommerce Localization

Two of our biggest points of emphasis are advance preparation and simplification wherever possible. Nowhere are these strategies more applicable than for ecommerce localization. This is not a challenge you want to just get started with and learn as you go. Too many details hang in the balance. And they will trip you up.

Tips & Trends

Localization Strategy

4 Classic Mistakes to Avoid When Running a Localization Program

Running a localization program at any company is no small feat. Executives rarely give a damn. It's not a revenue generator, but it could be a revenue blocker. It doesn't solve problems, but it can introduce a myriad of them. Life is not easy for a localization manager.

Localization Strategy

4 Classic Localization Caricatures and How to Rise Above These

Localization teams land in so many different parts of an organization, both big and small. Regardless of where it lands, localization can be managed with very different flavors and personalities. Here are 4 localization archetypes and the impact their management styles have in the end results they are able to achieve.

Change is like looking at the contours of a shadow at night. As we cannot understand its details and more delicate shapes, we project onto that shadow our worst fears or our most wishful thinking. The dual nature of change raises our alert systems and puts us in fight/flight response.

Platform Technology

3 Benefits of a Collaborative Translation Platform

When your translation activities encompass multiple languages and a broad range of users, things can easily get chaotic. Translations are inconsistent, no one knows who is doing what, and graceful troubleshooting is next to impossible. However, you can bring people, technology, and expert strategy together in a single collaborative translation platform to benefit all users and avert problems.

Localization Strategy

Product Localization

12 Things to Consider When Entering a Foreign Software Market

When you are preparing for global expansion, the pressure is on. Every new market brings its own challenges that call for their own solutions. The number of things to consider when entering a foreign market may seem overwhelming at first, but experience—especially coming from an expert localization partner—can help you develop a careful and efficient localization strategy.

Product Localization

10 UI Localization Best Practices for a Successful Global Launch

For mobile developers, UI localization could be the most crucial step in getting your app to succeed in the global marketplace. From design to translation to implementation, these are the tactics that will keep your localization process efficient, cost-effective, and on pace with the deadlines of your global launch.

Product Localization

Rethinking Your Top Languages for App Localization

Choosing languages is essential to begin the localization process. Often, there's pressure to take action and grow, even while languages and markets are still taking shape in your strategy. To determine your top languages for app localization, know your product and target markets deeply. This is just one of the early steps in your global expansion.

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