Five Reasons Why Software Translation Services Can Fail
The following are the 5 reasons why product localization falters.
- Improper or incomplete internationalization of the software
Your software translation services provider should have the basic internationalization knowledge to identify if you followed the
correct practices.
- Lack of process
Every company should establish a localization process that permits easy file processing and translation reuse. A collection of project reference materials - style guides, translation databases, glossaries for each language in your target market - is also essential.
- Crippling budgets
Professional language translation services and localization are costly, and will require a financial commitment, first for the initial effort and then to maintain on an ongoing basis. Before setting the budgets for localization, try to estimate what would be the cost of a failed attempt.
- Crippling schedules
Give localization projects the time they deserve, even if that comes at the expense of time-to-market. A short delay in a successful product release should always be favored over a timely release of a potentially failed product.
- Inexperienced staff
Your software translation services provider should provide experienced translators armed with an excellent command of the source and target languages as well as a good knowledge of your product's subject area. They should also complement them with competent layout and engineering staff and delegate authority to a capable project manager who's tasked with delivering results on time, on budget, and within pre-established quality standards.
Avoiding these mistakes will increase
your success rate by orders of magnitude.
Data from the Census Bureau News indicates that the Hispanic population in the USA has reached 41.3 million in 2004 and is growing at 3.6 times the growth of the total population. In other words, the USA now holds the second largest Hispanic population in the world. With many continuing to use their mother tongue and pass it on to the next generation, English to Spanish translation services have gained much importance in the USA.
Around the world, based on CIA data, Spanish speaking countries contributed in 2006 to over 4 Trillion dollars or 6% of the world GDP. Furthermore, according to Nielsen/NetRatings, Spanish has the fourth largest language presence on the web with 7.5% of the web content in it.
This is why English to Spanish translation services will continue to boom.
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