SOFTWARE LOCALIZATION

Software products are typically distributed in countries other than the one in which they were created. The software must first be adapted to the international market, and then be localized. The development of a software product requires synchronization between multiple teams of specialists including: development, engineering, documentation, quality control, testing and distribution.

At Local Concept we carefully analyze the requirements of each client with regard to their specific target market. We examine the development process and adapt our software tools, technology, and program management, customizing the process to fit the needs of our customers.

In short, this is how we work with each software localization project:

First, a client briefing is scheduled with the client’s development team to ensure we are fully prepared to move forward with your project. The following are examples of items discussed:

  • ♦ How well defined are the locale requirements of the target market?
  • ♦ Is internationalized software available for local markets and languages?
  • ♦ Is there an executable version of the software available for each locale?
  • ♦ Are all language resources in a localized format?
  • ♦ Is there a difference in length between the text of the source language and the target language?
  • ♦ Is there any standardized formula to calculate the difference?
  • ♦ Is it possible to see the user interface correctly in the target language?
  • ♦ Do you use software bitmaps, icons or other image files that require localization?

In the meeting, we present key elements addressed in software localization including:

  • ♦ Software Interface
  • ♦ Tutorials
  • ♦ Instructional manuals and printed advertising material
  • ♦ Online help
  • ♦ Graphic Design and DTP
  • ♦ Localization indexes
  • ♦ Separation of code and text
  • ♦ Managing Updates
  • ♦ Enabling double-byte characters
  • ♦ Product Testing

By incorporating the requirements of internationalization in the early stages of software development, not only does it optimize time and money, but it also addresses any technical issues that may arise when translating the product. The knowledge of our internationalization team is critical in order to identify and use relevant technical and design information. This comprehensive effort allows adjustments to be performed more efficiently and reduces the risk of costly re-engineering. Our development team works closely with our clients in order to facilitate the simultaneous launch of the product in foreign markets.

Local Concept offers a wide range of resources and services to ensure the success of your software localization project including:

  • ♦ Highly skilled project managers with extensive experience in localization
  • ♦ A software development and engineering department
  • ♦ Development and maintenance of company-wide glossaries through LexiTerm, our glossary management system
  • ♦ Linguistic and functional testing services
  • ♦ Technical review