Software localization is the process of adapting and translating software in order to meet the language, technical, and cultural requirements of the local market. For example, changing an American product to describe units in the metric system rather than the imperial system, or removing American-specific language for lingo a European user would better understand. If your company has connections to sources overseas or across several counties, you likely have to work with several cultures and languages, meaning you likely localize things for different locations. Or, you might be thinking about expanding into foreign regions, meaning localization is something that will quickly become something for you to worry about. The process of doing this can seem time-consuming and rather tedious, but the time and money that you invest will pay off as your understanding of the product isn’t hindered by cultural or language barriers. It’s a good idea to localize the foreign software in your office, and below are just a few reasons why.
Increase Your Market Share
Localization software will make it easier for you to enter into new, foreign markets. Having localized versions of your product makes it easier to sell them to a new clientele that might not have looked twice at it otherwise. This, of course, will allow you to generate more income for your business and expand brand recognition in a foreign area. It will also improve your company’s overall reputation in foreign markets.
As a beneficial byproduct, some of the best advertising is recommendations from trusted sources. People are more likely to buy your product if the people around them vouch for it.
Competitive Advantage
Localizing your software will give you a competitive advantage. One of the keys to attracting more customers is to separate and put yourself above the competition. Localized software will allow you to distinguish yourself from the competition and, as stated above, appeal to a wider and foreign market.
In the office as well, when it comes to the software on your own computers, offering localized versions for the various regions your company reaches can increase productivity and appreciation in employees. People who feel accepted and appreciated by their companies are more likely to stick around longer, and making work materials easy to understand is one of the easier things to do when showing your care about your staff. This can give you a significant advantage over companies that don’t bother when it comes to who people would want to work for.
Reduce the Cost of Support
By using the right localization software, you can make your products incredibly user friendly, which would eliminate user confusion and cut down on people reaching out for tech support. The right software will improve the functionality and readability of your product, meaning foreign markets are more willing to use it over software that doesn’t. If you’re product is popular enough, it may even become preferred over what’s offered domestically. Because people will have an easier time using your products, they will be less likely to have to reach out to support.
This can end up saving you a lot of money on support costs, which you can instead spend on investing in other avenues to better your company.
Keep Your Users Engaged
Localization will help eliminate some of the cultural and language barriers that might keep customers from being able to easily understand or even use your product. People will also have a better understanding of how they can benefit from using your product. For comparison, if a user does not feel like they can benefit from using a product, then they will quickly look for another one that they can get more out of. Localization software will help people get the user experience you were intending.
Keep Customers Coming Back
Software localization not only helps you attract more customers, but it also keeps the one that you have coming back. A loyal client base can be vital to a business’s success or failure. People who are happy with their experience are more likely to use your business again as you develop and sell more and more products. Keeping your current customers is a lot easier than getting new ones.
Localization software can help you take your business to the next level, especially if you want to move beyond the domestic markets. Localizing your software can help you increase your market share and the competitive advantage of both foreign and domestic markets. It can also reduce the costs spent on tech support since the confusion created by culture or language barriers are removed. Additionally, making your software more familiar to foreign clients keeps your users engaged and willing to come back for more. Localization software overall is an invaluable tool to help keep both your staff and your customers happy and coming back to your business.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.
