The Importance of SaaS Localization and How to Do It

Software As A Service (SaaS) also known as on-demand software or cloud-based software has now become mainstream and is massively used by businesses ranging from large corporations to small-scale firms. Unlike other regular software that can be downloaded, for you to use SaaS, you must subscribe to have access to it. Like most software, SaaS uses English which is the acceptable language for the internet. The fact that most people are not native English speakers, their desire to use SaaS in a language that they understand is what has been driving the localization discussion. If you are wondering how localization can help your business, this article is for you.

Benefits of SaaS localization

Suppose you are wondering why it is important to localize, here are four benefits that you should take into account.

Gets rid of culture and language barriers: It is important that you localize to stay close and communicate better with your local and international customers. When you localize, you ensure that your customers have better user experience in any language that they speak. Other than translation of content, localization also customizes the software so that users can benefit from the products that it has to offer.

Enhances customer experience: Localization is a good tactic that you could use to gain the trust of your customers and increase your local market pool. Normally, when customers have access to your products, they develop confidence in you and become ambassadors which further builds your reputation.

Guarantees your competitive advantage: Localization gives credibility to your product which sets you apart from your competitors. Making your SaaS available in multiple languages also demonstrates that you care about your customers because they get to enjoy a more personalized experience with your software. Localizing SaaS to local languages also gives you a chance to communicate effectively which further helps you overcome existing cultural barriers.

Saves you money: SaaS localization also works to boost your revenue exponentially. This advantage also allows you to enter more markets which grows your revenue further. However, you can only reap these benefits when you follow the appropriate localization practices.

Localization roadmap

The first step in the SaaS localization process is setting priorities. Some of the most urgent ones include:

Selecting the right locales: Given that you are required to provide the appropriate translations to your target audience, you need to select your translated text and locales carefully. Suppose your target customers are in Japan, that means that you need to prioritize your translation to Japanese to maintain your clientele. While at it, you need to be rational by ensuring that your locales remain small so that they are easy to manage.

Observe translational coverage: It is imperative that you take care of all missing translations in labels or modal messages so that everything flows seamlessly. With a Translation Management System, you can keep track of all missing messages, keep them updated, and successfully reuse strings.

Leverage automation: Any SaaS model requires a lot of automation to aid in the delivery of the final product. Therefore, for you to reap any benefits, you have to continually automate your translation pipeline. Automation requires that you invest heavily in it so that you add more functionality to your system and promote your business in the end.

Invest in localization tools: In addition, you need to source another SaaS vendor to assist with your localization needs. You can achieve this by purchasing software that helps you scale up as your needs become more elaborate. For instance, in the beginning, you may only have a few tasks to work on but as your system becomes more agile, you need to upgrade it to accommodate duties including external integration, translation memory, and project management among others.

Translation process

With your list of priorities at hand, you can now move to the translation process by:

Step 1: Picking your target: The first step is choosing what to translate and how to go about it. Often, it is advisable that you begin by localizing texts before images and videos. Utilizing this approach shows that you have a systematic approach in the localization process which also saves you time.

Step 2: Team organization: Localization involves numerous technical experts who need to work together to produce the final product. So, you organize your teams, you need to ensure that there are clear communication channels for teams to share information.

Step 3: Task prioritization: You need to ensure that all duties are recorded as single tickets where standard tasks are differentiated from platform-specific and more refined issues. Doing so ensures that localization is done perfectly so that there is no going back and forth to sort out any issues that arise.

Step 4: Conduct translations: Your translators need to have the context of the language you are translating to for them to perform better. Provide them with everything they require from software to designs and pictures. In turn, you should use translation management software to monitor progress.

Step 5: Test translations: Once the translation is complete, you should have testers ready to perform manual and automated localization to assess whether everything works as anticipated. Among the issues that they should take into account in this process include assessing whether images load properly, the right locale is detectable and whether there is consistency in the text. Testing comes to a halt when a report documenting the process is provided for auditing.

Step 6: Maintenance: Given that language changes often, you need to ensure that you implement these variations often so that there are no misunderstandings. You should also act on the suggestions provided by the users so that your software stays at par.  

Final thought

There is no doubt that SaaS has become a critical component for business but it can only make it more lucrative when it is localized. If you envision growing your networks while catering to the needs of clientele, you have no choice but to translate your content and give it a personal touch so that it is appealing. While translating, the context matters as much as the wording when it comes to maximizing user experience. Try it out today!