Software Localization Services

Take your software to a global audience, but make it feel local. We go beyond translation, adapting your programs culturally so you can succeed in new markets.
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INTRO

Your Software, Everywhere

Our software localization services entails much more than just translating interface text. It’s about making your program feel native — not translated. Colors, fonts and imagery all create an impression that can feel familiar — or foreign. With years of experience in international software rollouts, we’ll guide you smoothly through the complex process of preparing your products for a global audience.

Typical Software Localization Challenges:

Translation typically increases text length by 10% to 40%. Proper planning ensures that your layout still looks good when the text expands.

    Measurement units, calendars and currencies all need to reflect the local norms to create the most organic experience for your users.

      In English, strings can be appended to form whole sentences, but this fails in many European languages.

        Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu and other languages flow both right to left and left to right. Extensive adaption is needed to support these languages.

          It is also important to consider cultural sensibilities towards image choices, icons, illustrations and colors.

            INTRO
            APPLICATIONS

            What We Localize

            Our customized workflows support the localization of every app type, including:

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            DESKTOP SYSTEMS

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            ELEARNING

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            WEB APPLICATIONS

            SERVICES

            Software Localization Services

            Internationalization consulting

            Internationalization consulting

            Plan before you program. We will help you design and implement products and services that are easy to adapt to a variety of languages and cultures.

            Terminology management

            Terminology management

            Make sure the correct terms are used throughout your materials with our state-of-the-art terminology management software.

            Localization engineering

            Localization engineering

            Leverage our technology to put your localization plan into action, creating better experiences for users around the world.

            In-context translation

            In-context translation

            What you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) tools enable translations to be carried out in context, leading to better results.

            Transcreation

            Transcreation

            Adapt your critical message for new markets in multiple languages without losing the intent, style, tone or context you envisioned.

            Testing

            Testing

            Verify that your software works as intended in all your chosen languages on every target platform for a successful international roll-out.

            GLOBAL

            Software Localization Services for an International Audience

            Meeting users’ needs around the world is easier when you don’t have to edit source code. We will identify issues and show you how to internationalize your code for easy localization.

            Internationalization

            We will review the application framework, to determine if your software will support internationalization.

              Assess the languages of the markets you plan to enter. Some languages expand while some contract from English; most are read from left to right, but several are justified and read from right to left.

                Code your strings in Unicode UTF-8 or UTF-16 (for Asian languages). This will enable you to extract, translate and reinsert your strings without issue.

                  Strings intended for localization should be externalized. Avoid hard-coded strings and thereby make localization easier. Andovar performs pseudo-localization (a process of substituting symbols in place of extracted/externalized text) to identify any remaining hard-coded strings.

                    QUALITY ASSURANCE

                    Our Software Localization Services Testing & QA

                    Your localized software must work well on multiple devices, on multiple operating systems and in multiple geographies. We’ll make sure it does.

                    The last and most important aspect of the software localization service will be testing it before launch. With the amount of layout changes and text contraction, all final translations will need to be reviewed in context in a beta version of the localized software. Andovar will provide in-country reviewers to log into the finalized application and provide a review of all in-context translations. This testing plan could include one or each of the following: mobile, PC, tablets. This testing would cover the following five testing rounds;

                    • Initial review and bug reporting : Smoke checks, pseudo-translation, and other initial localization tests will be completed followed by a thorough initial review of each page
                    • Secondary review : This secondary review will be done to compare changes/bugs suggested by the initial review and come to a conclusion about the implementation of the changes
                    • Regression testing : After all bugs have been fixed and all changes implemented, Andovar's QA team will regress all remaining bugs to ensure the changes have been made
                    • Mobile testing : Smoke checks and other pseudo-localization checks will be completed on the mobile devices requested
                    • Mobile bug regression : After all bug have been fixed and all changes implemented, Andovar's QA team will regress all remaining bugs to ensure the changes have been made

                    Multilingual Quality Metrics Customizable LQA profiles allow our clients to tailor the severity and types of errors flagged, and the ability to implement pass/fail thresholds in line with their quality standards. The feature permits users to set rules and weighting for errors according to content types, client style guides, or other genre-specific requirements. For example, marketing texts do not require literal translation, while legal texts should be very precise. Therefore, marketing content could be assigned a 0.5 severity weighting for “omission errors” while legal texts could have a 2.0 severity weighting assigned to that same error.

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                      Millions of people around the world are using software localized by Andovar

                      TECHNOLOGY

                      Software Localization Technologies

                      Each project is unique, and we’ve got the tools to meet any challenge. From CAT tools to termbases to translation management systems, we’ll supply the tech to make your software shine in any language.

                      Translation tools, also known as CAT (computer-aided translation), are a vital component of software localization services as they enhance the productivity and consistency of translators, while at the same time eliminating any risk of compromising code or mark-up. They usually include several component technologies in a single integrated workbench such as terminology management and translation memory.

                        To reduce the possibility of the translator's misunderstanding context, we use what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) CAT tools. These software localization tools enable translators to translate while at the same time seeing a simulation of the UI of the software.

                          Termbase is built into our translation management system and interfaces with CAT tools and translation memory. A major software localization asset, multilingual termbase ensures that translators use pre-approved terminology translations across the software and in any accompanying materials (e.g., help files, FAQs, training content).

                            For high-volume projects and those with extensive content localization requirements, Andovar offers the option of AI-enhanced translation. When applied in combination with professional post-editing, AI can help to translate high-quality content quickly and inexpensively, including FAQs, help files and documentation.

                              Translation management systems or TMS, help streamline the work of language teams by automating and tracking the entire translation process. TMS helps handle the repetitive tasks of moving content in and out of content repositories, channelling it directly to key project stakeholders, including the translation teams, engineers, reviewers and the client.

                                TECHNOLOGY
                                Case Studies

                                Success Stories

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                                Agoda

                                Audiences across Europe and Asia can now access Agoda’s extensive travel services in their own languages.

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                                Spotify

                                Reaching out to music lovers in Thailand, Spotify translated its user interface into Thai, expanding into a new market.

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                                Airbnb

                                Preparing to launch in a new region, Airbnb wanted to adapt its marketing content and localize its app and videos.

                                Andovar reviews sourced by G2
                                FAQ

                                Frequently Asked Questions

                                Software localization is the process of adapting software to another language, the end goal being software that feels native. Other aspects of adaptation include culture, formats (such as date, time, currency and numbers) and legal requirements. Typical elements for localization are the user interface (UI), images and documentation.

                                  • Include localization as part of your product development: Add it into the product development cycle to ensure that it is given equal importance. This will help with budget and release schedules.
                                  • Externalize your strings: Avoid hard coding any user-visible elements into your strings. It is a best practice to have versions of your resource files for each language.
                                  • Use controlled/simple language: Using uncomplicated, locale-neutral language will lead to an easier translation phase. By using controlled language, you may also benefit from greater content leveraging in future releases, saving time and money.

                                  Internationalization

                                  The first step is to ensure that your application can be localized for your intended market. This stage includes reviewing the languages involved and the applications' ability to support expansion and contraction of content (most languages expand from English), character encoding to support European, Asian or Middle Eastern languages, format support (date, time, currency etc.) and externalization of locale-specific content and resource strings. Internationalization should be built directly into the development process and elements considered during every stage of the cycle.

                                  Localization

                                  Localization is the process of adapting the content itself; the first step is extracting the content from your resource files. A high-end TMS such as Memsource makes this step easy since it supports all major file types (including XLIFF, a localization-compliant form of XML). Files are processed and made available to translators, editors & reviewers through the Memsource cloud-based workbench. Pre-project processes will also be carried out such as glossary/termbase development prior to translation to ensure correct and consistent terminology use during the translation phase.

                                  Testing

                                  Once the edited content is imported back into the code structure and deployed, functional and linguistic testing can take place. Testing includes checks for translation accuracy and context, as well as display, data entry and formatting.A high-quality TMS such as Memsource provides the option of pulling and pushing content, therefore supporting continuous localization practices.

                                    If you are interested in localizing your software or if you have any questions about the process, connectors or API documents, please feel free to get in touch with us here at Andovar.
                                    If you are ready to get started and already have your software strings and other files exported, send your files (e.g. .xml, .xliff, .csv, .html) to us via our quote form. Please send an NDA in advance via our web form.
                                    The next step is for us to analyze the content word count while maintaining all code. We are able to extract translatable text while identifying repeat content which is excluded from your quotation.
                                    Once we have completed our analysis, we will provide a quotation and schedule for each language.
                                    Let us know how we can help you! Call or email us for a free consultation.

                                      We support all types of software formats including the most common formats .xml, .xliff, .csv, .json and many others.

                                        Andovar works with some of the industry's most experienced translators, editors and transcreators. We also advocate the use of multilingual glossaries/termbase to ensure consistent terminology use throughout your website. All website localization projects undergo quality assurance as standard prior to delivery, including, human and automated QA checks, as well as linguistic and functional testing. Andovar adopts the Multidimensional Quality Metrics (MQM) framework in our quality assurance system.

                                          We are confident in our quality. However, in case the translation does not meet your expectations, we provide free revisions within 30 days of delivery. Simply explain what the issues are along with some examples, and our translators will update the translations and redeliver. We value your comfort and peace of mind.

                                            Andovar offers software localization services in over 200 language pairs, including 80 languages into and from English.

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                                              Talk to an expert

                                              Please provide a little bit of information in the form below and we will be in touch soon. If you are interested in working for Andovar (as translator/ SLV or full-time employee), please visit our careers site.