Software Localization Explained: Challenges, Best Practices and Benefits.

Going global is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. According to FactSet, the IT sector generates up to 58% of its revenue from markets outside the US:

Source: FactSet S&P 500 Earnings.

Knowing this, you might want to translate your software and gain more profits. In this context, you’ll find software localization to be a vital strategy.

In this article, we’re exploring what software localization is, its importance, best practices, and where to start. Whether you’re a developer, localization manager, program manager, or business owner, here you’ll find tips and tricks tailored to your specific needs.

What is Software Localization?

Software localization is the process of adapting software applications for various languages, legal regulations, and cultures. This goes beyond simple translation. The goal is to make the user experience feel as native as possible and ensure the software is compliant in every target market.

For instance, if you use Uber in China, you will notice that the color of cars differs from those in the European app. In China, Uber has opted for red cars instead of white. This choice is significant because red is a color associated with good fortune, happiness, and celebration in Chinese culture. By adopting this color, Uber not only aligns itself with positive cultural connotations but also enhances its appeal to Chinese consumers, fostering a sense of familiarity and trust.

Airbnb has not only localized its product for different languages but also adapted locale-specific formats, such as currency, to local preferences. For example, German users typically put the currency symbol after the amount, like 100€, while for users from the USA it is common to use it before, as in $100. This attention to detail enhances the user experience by making the interface intuitive and familiar, reducing confusion and fostering trust, which encourages more bookings.

McDonald’s has also demonstrated effective localization by modifying its branding and user interface in different countries. In Germany and Hong Kong, the company not only uses distinct color schemes but also adapts its menu layout to fit local user patterns. For instance, while a horizontal menu may be preferred in one market, a vertical menu might be more intuitive in another. These adjustments help create a more seamless and enjoyable dining experience for customers.

These examples illustrate that software localization involves much more than just translation. It requires a comprehensive understanding of cultural nuances, user preferences, and legal requirements. Successful localization begins with code that is designed for flexibility and adaptability, which is where internationalization (i18n) comes into play.

Software Localization vs. Internationalization

Software localization (L10n) and internationalization (i18n)  are closely related but distinct. You should understand the differences between them to determine what exactly needs to be done with your product.

• Localization is the subsequent process of customizing the internationalized software for a specific locale or market. It includes translating text, adjusting user interfaces, and modifying content to align with local cultural and linguistic preferences.
• Internationalization, or i18n, is the process of designing and developing a software application in a way that prepares the code for easy adaptation to different languages and regions. By creating a flexible framework that supports various languages, cultural norms, and regional settings from the outset, developers can prevent i18n bugs and facilitate a smoother localization process.

Together, these processes enable software to effectively serve a global audience. If you want to learn more about how they work together, you can read an article “What is the Difference between Localization and Internationalization”.

Why Localization is Crucial for Product Success

To illustrate the importance of localization, let’s look at some compelling data. A straightforward formula can summarize the impact: the more languages you support in your product, the more users you attract, leading to increased revenue.

3 Approaches to Organize Software Localization Process

We have looked at the definitions and explored the importance of software localization for product success. Now, we’re moving to the practical part. First of all, let’s discuss three primary methodologies—Waterfall, Agile, and Continuous Localization—that you can employ to organize software localization process.

1. Waterfall Localization

Waterfall localization follows a linear, sequential approach where localization occurs after the software development is complete. The process typically involves these steps:

1. Software development and finalization

2. Content extraction

• Identify all translatable content within the software
• Extract all necessary content from the source code
• Organize and prepare the content for translation

3. Translation of all content at once

• Send all extracted content to the translation teams
• Translate all content into the required target languages
• Review translations for accuracy, consistency, and quality

4. Integration of translated content

• Integrate the translated content back into the software
• Ensure proper formatting and placement of translations within the software
• Adjust the user interface to accommodate different languages and text lengths

5. Testing and quality assurance

• Conduct thorough testing of the localized versions, including linguistic, functional, and visual testing
• Identify and fix any localization bugs or issues
• Ensure translations are contextually appropriate and culturally relevant

6. Release of localized versions

• Deploy the localized versions to the appropriate markets
• Monitor user feedback
• Address any post-release localization issues or updates needed

This approach has a number of benefits, as well as significant drawbacks, because of its linear nature. Here are they:

Advantages of the Waterfall Localization	Disadvantages of the Waterfall Localization
Predictable project scope and costs Easier resource allocation and scheduling Simpler in-country review process Extensive documentation at each phase	Longer time-to-market, often weeks or months Difficulty in catching and correcting errors Less flexibility for changes or updates Potential for delays if issues arise in any phase

In conclusion, Waterfall Localization is best suited for smaller projects with not frequent releases, well-defined requirements or for regulated industries where documentation and linear processes are crucial. This methodology is less effective for SaaS or other applications with frequent incremental updates, as it can negatively impact global customers who may have to wait longer for localized versions.

2. Agile Localization

Agile localization aligns the localization process with agile software development methodologies. Here’s how the process is organized:

1. Project Setup

• Define scope, languages, and team
• Set up tools and resources (localization platform, style guides, glossaries)
• Plan sprint schedule

2. Sprint Planning

• Prioritize localization tasks
• Define sprint goals and assign tasks

3. Content Handling

• Extract new/updated content
• Translate and review content
• Integrate translations back into software

4. Testing and Quality Assurance

• Perform linguistic and functional testing
• Address issues and refine translations

5. Release and Feedback

• Prepare and release localized versions
• Gather user feedback

6. Sprint Review and Iteration

• Review sprint performance
• Plan improvements for next sprint
• Start next iteration

So, as you see, each step is repeated in subsequent sprints, which allows for continuous improvements throughout the project cycle.

Advantages of agile localization	Disadvantages of agile localization
Quickened product launch Earlier detection and resolution of issues Greater flexibility to apply changes Improved collaboration between teams	Requires more coordination and communication May lack context for translators due to fragmented content Needs robust tools and processes to manage frequent updates

To crown it all, Agile Localization is ideal for software projects with regular updates and releases.

3. Continuous Localization

Continuous localization takes the agile approach further. It involves localization integration into the delivery workflow through automation. Here’s the process in 6 steps:

1. Setup and Integration

• Implement Localization Automation Software (TMS, Translation portal, etc)
• Integrate with version control and content management systems

2. Automated Content Extraction*

• Continuously monitor for new or updated content
• Automatically extract localizable strings

*use Localyzer  for automated content extraction, along with many other powerful features.

3. Translation Processing

• Send content to translators or machine translation
• Utilize translation memory and glossaries

4. Real-time Integration*

• Automatically integrate translated content back into the software
• Sync translations with development builds

* use Localyzer to sync translation with development, along with many other powerful features.

5. Continuous Quality Assurance

• Perform automated linguistic and functional checks
• Enable in-context review for translators and stakeholders

6. Deployment and Iteration

• Release localized versions alongside product updates
• Gather feedback and continuously refine the process

Advantages of continuous localization	Disadvantages of continuous localization
Near real-time localization of new content Reduced manual work and human error Improved consistency across translations Faster release cycles for localized versions	Requires sophisticated tooling and integration May be complex to set up initially Needs a tech-savvy localization team

This is, undeniably, the best method for software localization. If you’re able to solve all the above challenges, you can quickly benefit from a localized version of your product. Consider Lingoport’s Localyzer and Globalyzer, which support continuous software localization, are easy to implement and can be integrated with your TMS

We have partnership relationships with leading TMSs like Trados Enterprise, Smartling, XTM, Memoq, Worldserver etc. These tools integrate smoothly with CI/CD pipelines, and Lingoport’s specialists can help prepare your team for localization.

Try Globalyzer and Localyzer! Order your personalized demo today:

Navigating the Localization Process

Now that you know everything about the methodologies, let’s explore the key steps. Software localization can be complex, but starting with a solid foundation will make the process smoother. Here’s how to better organize your efforts to save time and resources on your L10n journey.

Step 1. Internationalization (i18n)

Software internationalization (often abbreviated as i18n) is the process of designing and preparing software so that it can be easily adapted to various languages without requiring engineering changes to the source code. 

The best practice in software localization is to identify and fix l10n issues before they become bugs, or upstream approach. It can make the overall localization process 95% cheaper. In our article “What is the Real Cost of i18n?” we describe a real use-case where a company is expected to spend hundreds of hours less than when they were catching bugs after software development!

Below you can find out what steps the pre-localization process includes.

1.1. Audit and Assessment.

• Code review: Analyze the existing codebase to identify hard-coded strings and locale-specific elements.
• Identify components: List out all UI elements, messages, and data that will need localization.

1.2. String Externalization

• Extract strings: Move all user-facing text from the source code to external resource files.
• Implement placeholders: Use placeholders for dynamic content that will be replaced based on locale.

Before:

After:

Update the JavaScript code to load the string from the JSON file:

1.3. Unicode and Locale Support Implementation:

• Use Unicode: Ensure the software fully supports Unicode for handling different character sets.
• Manage locales: Set up mechanisms for handling different locales, including date, time, number, and currency formats.

Not all developers have the knowledge or time to externalize strings, conduct code audits, and so on. But at Lingoport, we do. We offer a range of i18n services, such as i18n guidelines, i18n testing, i18n implementation, and more. Contact us to learn more about our offerings.

Step 2. Design Readiness for Localization

To make sure your software is easy to use and works well in different languages, follow these simple steps:

• Flexible UI creation: Design user interfaces that can adapt to different text lengths and directions.
• Selecting the right font: Choose fonts that support a wide range of characters, including special characters and scripts for various languages.
• Bidirectional text support: Ensure the software supports both left-to-right and right-to-left languages.
• Mirroring Elements: Mirror UI elements such as navigation bars and buttons for RTL languages to maintain intuitive navigation and usability.
• Pre-test your design: Special tools like Localyzer and its Figma connector can be a great help for the localization team and designers in identifying potential UI localization bugs before actual translation. Here is an example of how we made it possible for the Avigilon team.

The Avigilon team wanted to gauge how far text would extend beyond interface element borders. To help them, our developers at Lingoport added a special feature to the Localyzer Connector for Figma. This feature automatically substitutes an English word or phrase with the longest text from a range of Avigilon’s target languages. For example, the English word “General” was replaced with the German “Allgemein,” and “Digital Inputs and Outputs” became the French “Entrées et sorties numériques.” This allowed the team to see the longest possible string without the need of creating numerous designs for each language, and identify text expansion problems upfront.

Step 3. Actual Localization

In this phase, the goal is to translate and adapt your software so it feels right for users in different countries. Here’s what it involves:

2.1. Translation:

• Content translation: Translate all extracted text strings into the target languages.
• Cultural adaptation: Adapt content to be culturally appropriate for each target locale.

2.2. Localization of Assets:

• Media localization: Localize images, videos, and other multimedia assets.
• Documentation translation: Translate user manuals, help files, and other documentation.
• Glossary and style guides: Follow glossaries and style guides to ensure consistency across translations.

Step 4. Post-Localization Test and Deployment

This step will help check if your software works seamlessly across different languages and regions after everything is ready.

It should include the following:

Linguistic Q&A

• Linguistic testing: Verify the accuracy and appropriateness of translations in context.
• Functional testing: Ensure that the localized software functions correctly in each target language.
• UI Testing: Check for UI issues such as text overflow, misalignment, and truncated text.

Bug Fixing

• Issue identification and fixing: Identify and document localization-related bugs. Make necessary adjustments to the translations and code to fix the identified issues.

Deployment

• Building, release, and distribution: Compile and build the localized software for deployment. Distribute the localized versions to the target markets.

User Feedback

• Feedback gathering: Collect feedback from users in the target locales to identify any remaining issues or areas for improvement.
• Continuous improvement: Implement changes based on user feedback.

Challenges in Software Localization

When developers and localization specialists start to localize software, they encounter a number of obstacles that can complicate the process. They range from technical hurdles to communication gaps. technical to communication ones. Let’s explore the most commons ones:

1. Code Not Developed with Localization in Mind

Although all software developers want to expand their products globally, they often forget to think about how to organize it for the future. This can lead to hardcoded strings and lack of support for different character sets. It also results in poor handling of locale-specific data like dates, times, and currencies.

2. Lack of Synchronization Between Repositories and Translation Management Systems (TMSs)

When this synchronization is not set up properly, there can be delays, errors, and inconsistencies in the translation process. Such repositories as GitHub, GitLab, BitBucket, SVN, and TFS require sophisticated instruments to synchronize. You can easily solve this problem by choosing the right tool for this task, such as Localyzer by Lingoport. It is an advanced software which serves as a connector between repositories and TMSs of your choice.

3. Communication Gap Between Technical and Localization Teams

Everyone knows how important close collaboration between developers and other specialists is. However, these teams often face barriers due to different terminologies, workflows, and priorities. For example, when developers and translators aren’t on the same page about terminology, it can cause delays. Similarly, not having a centralized localization process can lead to inconsistent translations and a poor user experience.

Together, these problems can lead to misunderstandings and delays in the localization process. Now, let’s explore how you can improve the process and the best practices to follow.

5 Best Practices for Software Localization 

With 20+ years of experience in software localization, our team has plenty of valuable tips for effective localization organization. Here are our top 5. 

1. Find a Localization Tool (or a Combination) That Suits Your Product

When selecting a Translation/Localization Management System (TMS), it’s crucial to focus on how well the system fits your specific needs, product, team setup, and industry niche rather than relying solely on general reviews. A platform that’s perfect for game localization might not be suitable for learning and development. Therefore, make an informed choice by exploring which localization tools align best with your industry or product type.

In some cases, you may need to use a combination of tools to meet the diverse needs of all teams involved in the localization process, such as the L10n team, developers, and designers, to make the process as smooth and agile as possible. Integrating multiple tools can provide the flexibility required to streamline your localization workflow.

When localizing software, you’ll find that many localization platforms excel in management features, embedded CAT tools, AI capabilities, and more. However, challenges can arise when connecting them with your code repositories. This is where specialized tools like Localyzer come into play.

Localyzer

Localyzer has all the capabilities of a GIT connector, allowing it to seamlessly connect with development repos. Beyond connector capabilities, it offers a range of features that simplify the work for all teams involved.

Here is a very short summary of what every team can get:

For Localization managers	For Developers	For Designers
No need for spreadsheets and tedious repetitive, error prone, and time consuming tasks.	Provides real-time insight and status updates on localization including what is in repositories	Instantly see what the application will look like in target languages without the need of manually creating design copies for every language in your Figma.
Track translation progress, and proactively resolve localization issues. See what’s in repositories, and not just in translation.	Simple integration with software repositories. No need for API integration and maintenance.	Run tests with Pseudo localization to detect localization issues with your design.
Inspect  the source text to ensure its accuracy before proceeding with translation.	Quickly adapts to various locale naming conventions used by different development teams.	Use the power of MT or AI tools to instantly see translations in your design. No need to wait for human translation delays.
Detects over 40 potential issues (e.g., missing curly brackets, duplicate string IDs) in localization files both before and after translation. Prevent time-consuming problems.	Localyzer supports various file formats and data structures, such as XML, JSON, RESX, PO, and even strings in databases and more.
Allows to save translation costs by choosing between sending full files for translation or only the changes (deltas).
… and more

2. Hire l10n and i18n experts to set up your perfect localization process 

Just as Localyzer provides a missing link between TMS capabilities and software localization, localization and i18n experts provide the missing link between lack of knowledge/bandwidth/resources and the goal to establish a smooth software localization process.  

Why and when to hire the experts:

• Your developers are stretched thin with coding new features and lack the bandwidth to effectively internationalize their code.
• You want to reduce costs of i18n bug fix but you don’t know where to start 
• You plan to expand to a new market/s and want to make sure your release will go smoothly 
• Your development team doesn’t have experience with i18n.
• Your localization team doesn’t have enough resources or you don’t have a localization team at all.

Professional localization services can accelerate the localization process and save you tons of time and resources. We have helped companies like Upwork, Workday, Snap, Broadcom and many more in different situations, from setting up i18n process from scratch, to building L10n process for a news market launch. 

Lingoport has taken on a complex situation and paved the way for us. Today we are able to proceed with our software i18n efforts on our own and are on plan to start localization for our first set of target locales.

– Upwork.
Read Upwork’s success story here.

Our i18n issues were complicated and we were stuck. We didn’t have the depth of i18n expertise necessary to solve them in a timely manner. Hiring Lingoport was the best decision for us.

– Snapchat.
Read Snapchat’s success story here.

We didn’t have any institutional i18n knowledge  and we sought a tailored i18n approach, avoiding the black box method of just shipping and receiving code. Lingoport seamlessly integrated with our workflow and worked as part of our team, which was crucial for us.

– Broadcom.
Read Broadcom’s success story here.

3. Solve i18n Issues Upfront

If you choose to prevent bugs instead of fixing them, you can save up to 90% of your efforts and localization budget. Here is a quick overview of two approaches to i18n that we have explained in the article “What is the Real Cost of i18n”. 

Approach 1 – Downstream

With this approach, you will identify and fix i18n bugs during testing, translation, or when customers report them. This process consists of numerous costly steps:

1. Discovering issues
2. Documenting them
3. Triaging
4. Fixing bugs
5. Reviewing pull requests
6. Performing regression testing

Every step means that you need to involve your team (develop or a localization manager). Obviously, the more bugs you have the more time your team will spend on fixing them. 

Approach 2 – Upstream

With this approach, you can catch i18n issues early during development and prevent them from becoming bugs. The process will only consist of two easy steps:

1. Discovering issues 
2. Fixing the issues

“The best bug is a prevented bug.”

Geneviève Bolduc, Localization Manager at Avigilon, a Motorola Solutions Company

Huge economy can be achieved with Globalyzer, which scans code for potential i18n issues from the developer’s IDE, commits and pull requests, or across repositories. Globalyzer reduces the need for extensive documentation and bug tracking, saving you tons of time and money.

4. Test with Pseudo-Localization

Pseudo-localization is one of the easiest ways to test if your software is ready for localization before the actual process begins. It mimics the translation process by automatically swapping out text with placeholder characters. This way, developers can identify potential localization issues such as text expansion, encoding, and layout.

Here is an example of how a text line will look with pseudo-localization:

• Source: Order placed successfully!
• Pseudo-localized string: [Öŕðéŕ þļåçéð šûççéššƒûļļý!————- П國カ내]

This modification includes:

• Adding start ([) and end (]) characters.
• Expanding text to reflect possible target locale string widths.
• Inserting characters from other writing systems to check for encoding or font issues.

You can read more about pseudo-localization in our article “Pseudo-Localization and Its Role in Localization Testing”.

5. Cultivate Globalization Mindset among Developers

Implementing the right tools is crucial, but it’s not enough. If the development team doesn’t have a globalization (g11n) mindset, all the processes you build might not work. Here are a few tips from Workday’s Senior Director of Localization and Globalization, Loy Searle, on how to do it:

• Start with the teams most passionate about localization. Collaborate with product teams eager to go global. As a result, you will establish a precedent and will be able to leverage this success to motivate other teams.
• Encourage early involvement of localization teams in the development process to ensure internationalization (i18n) is considered from the start.
• Integrate i18n tools that developers love. For example, the use of Globalyzer became a cornerstone of Workday’s localization strategy, enabling teams to effectively integrate internationalization into their workflow.
• Provide i18n training for new hires and existing developers. Incorporate training into new hire onboarding processes to ensure everyone is up to speed.
• Use Slack channels to create a community for developers, localization managers, and QA teams to share knowledge, ask questions, and collaborate effectively.
• Organize regular engagement meetings with product teams, including PMO, language services, engineering, and globalization teams, to ensure alignment and address any issues early.

By taking these steps, you can foster the mindset needed for effective collaboration between developers and localization teams, reaching a new level of synergy. Check out Workday’s story on how they achieved this (and so can you):

Benefits of Software Localization

Explaining the importance and costs of software localization to your management can be challenging, whether you’re a localization manager, project manager, or developer. We’ve got you covered. Here are the key reasons why localizing your software can benefit your project.

Expanded User Base and Market Reach

Localization allows companies to reach a wider audience if they offer their products in multiple languages. As a result, this opens up new markets and helps businesses connect with users who don’t understand content in an unfamiliar language.

Improved User Experience and Satisfaction

When software is localized, it feels more familiar and relevant to users, enhancing their experience. For example, a Spanish-speaking user will appreciate navigating an app in their native language, understanding instructions without confusion. See, localized UX leads to higher satisfaction, greater engagement, and increased loyalty.

Faster Time to Market in Multiple Regions

Localized software enables businesses to launch their products in different regions at the same time. This speeds up market entry and helps establish a presence in multiple areas quickly.

Stronger Brand Awareness and Loyalty

Localization ensures that marketing messages and user interfaces resonate with local audiences. All in all, this cultural sensitivity builds trust and loyalty, strengthening the brand’s reputation.

Increased Revenue and ROI

Businesses can maximize their sales potential and take advantage of opportunities in diverse markets. For example, when customers see prices in their local currency, it builds trust and reduces confusion, making them more likely to complete a purchase. Summing up, adapting your software to display local currencies demonstrates a commitment to meeting the needs of your international users.

Conclusion

Software localization is not just a strategic asset—it’s essential for any business looking to compete globally. Moreover, localization expands your product’s market presence, ensures compliance with international laws, and builds trust with users around the world.

To enjoy all these benefits, choose a reliable method for localizing your software. Consider Lingoport, a trusted expert in software localization and internationalization. Lingoport offers products and services to adapt software for international markets. On the whole, customers rely on Lingoport’s software to scan and process billions of lines of code, which makes localization simpler and hassle-free.

Schedule a discovery call with us!