The localization industry has been on the rise like never before. With the ease of taking one's company global, software localization has become a norm which almost guarantees better sales or more success. But make sure you do not cheapen out on the language translation service in Delhi or whichever you get.
With Software localization becoming prevalent and trendy, many companies trying to perform software localization end up realizing just how hard it is, which ends up in them expediting the procedure, further leading to many blunder errors and mistakes. That is why here are 10 very prevalent mistakes that you must avoid while performing Software Localization.
1. Thinking that Translation and Localization are the same things
There is a massive difference in translation and localization. The translation of content constitutes one step of the process: localisation. Many companies ignore this and do not get into the nitty-gritty of regions they are localising their software based on. That is why it is crucial to hire a good Hindi to English Translation Agency or whichever languages you’re going for.
2. Hiring cheap translators
A lot of software suffers from bad localization, all because businesses hire cheap translators and freelancers instead of investing the money they should have in getting a professional. Software Localization is not a cheap transformation of your product; make sure you understand that before starting. You must invest in a good language translation service in Delhi or wherever you are situated.
3. Forgetting about dialects
This is one of the most common errors in software localization. The translators forget about the unique dialects and slang that the country uses and instead just input the available language. To illustrate, there is a massive difference between Australian English and its American counterpart.
4. Images and Videos are not a part of Localization
Although the most important, the written text is not the only thing that should be considered during localization. The chosen images and videos should also be localized to each region, as each culture has its sensitivities. Don't copy and paste content, and do research.
5. Not creating an actionable plan
Similar to what was discussed in the second point, one should work on the planning and research before starting the localization process. Discuss it with your team, figure out the finances, the total cost and whether you'll have to outsource some of the work.
6. Using the same writing styles
The writing styles differ substantially among the many languages in the world. To illustrate, Japanese is written vertically, and Arab is written from right to left. Using the same style will not only make your users unable to type but also garner you a bad reputation.
7. Forgetting about local holidays
This is a great way to differentiate an excellent software localization and subpar localized versions almost always forget about local holidays. Your localized software should congratulate the locale on their holidays and days of importance as it is a sign that you care and understand their customs.
8. Not understanding the difference in text spaces
When localisation, many developers forget that the language they're trying to localise their app will likely require more text space and contain more character strings than the norm English text. Make sure to have a conversion method which doesn't run out of character space, as it could lead to a poor user experience.
9. Using their traditional code
Due to the nature of localization, a common mistake that many companies make is that they code their app in something domestic to their region, which leads to incorrect translations and often error messages. A common solution is to utilize the UTF-8 while coding, as it is recognised internationally and has Unicode support.
10. Not testing enough
The last step in your software localization should always consist of in-depth testing and ensuring that the program maintains its quality. As well as ensuring there are no bugs and inconsistencies in the code.
Conclusion
Although an intricate process, software localisation can end up being the best thing for your software. You must treat that software version as its own thing with different projects and ideas. And make sure to work with a well-respected Hindi to English Translation Agency or whichever languages you require.
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