Creating a Team for Your Website Translation

So, you’ve made the decision to localize your website. Well, that’s a smart move. However, the decision to localize your website is just the initial step. The actual hard part comes when you have to implement the various steps that are a core part of the website localization process.

Of the many steps involved, creating a website localization team is the hardest. The thing about localization is that it is dependent on a lot of people. However, most businesses cannot fit such large teams into their budget. This is when they have to improvise with what they have while retaining a special focus on quality and efficiency.

It doesn’t matter what approach you use. Maybe, you prefer conducting first hand marketing research or hire a local consultant to save on time and other resources. But, at the end of the day, you still need a team that is in line with your goals and understands what makes customers tick.

‍The Typical Website Localization Team

‍A typical website localization team will obviously have its fair share of native translators from the various regions you’re planning on targeting. A professional translator will be able to translate your messages with accuracy and contextually. However, they won’t have the skills to predict market trends or likelihood of product adoption. This is where the marketers come in. Marketers understand your business and they know how a product needs to be sold. Other than marketers, you’ll need your developers; developers who can work with multiple software programs and speak the local language. They’ll need to make sense of all the translation that your translators have carried out.‍

Key Features to be Expected in a Website Localization Team

‍There are some primary expectations that effective localization teams must be able to meet. Here’s a look at some of the expectations.

• Perform with Minimal Error: Human error is common in the localization arena, especially when there are multiple teams involved for each specific region. Because human error is an issue, you must make sure your website localization team is capable of reducing errors as they progress.They need to have parameters and filters in place to guide them. This applies to everybody in the team; from content writers to coders. But, human error is still very much possible. This is when you have to consider enhancing your team’s current capabilities with an effective translation management software that can automate a chunk of the localization tasks.
• Collaborate: There’s no point in having a strong localization team if they can’t work in unison. So, don’t hesitate to invest in translation management software that enables this level of collaboration. However, that’s just one part. Your team needs to have a collaborative attitude as well. The silo mentality has no room in the localization process. It is a process that is highly dependent on collaboration. In fact, most companies have their localization team members spread throughout the globe, which, by default, creates the need for efficient collaboration solutions.
• Autonomous Functioning: This is an obvious expectation in localization teams – they must be able to function without a manager to constantly supervise them. Localization tasks are complex and therefore, you will most definitely require team members who can be trusted to handle this level of complexity. At the same time, each member must be comfortable with the other. To enhance the autonomy, you will again need translation management solutions to improve coordination between the team members. When your team members work with such a solution, their autonomy gets a serious boost as they gain a clear idea of their objectives.