No More Files - The Smart Way To Translate Your Websites and Apps

There are a host of language service providers (LSPs) and translation management systems (TMSs) out there. So how do you choose the best one for your translation and localization projects?

For a long time, traditional file-based processes were the only option. But if you’ve ever had to spend weeks emailing translation files back and forth for a single project, you may be wondering if there’s a better way nowadays.

Fortunately, the answer is yes! New advancements in TMS technology have transformed the translation process for maximum ease of use and efficiency. Read on to find out how Localize can revolutionize your localization workflow by syncing with your website and eliminating the need for files.

The Traditional Translation Process: How it Works

Traditionally, when companies wanted to translate and localize their content in new languages, they used a file-based approach. This approach to translation involved copying, pasting, saving files locally, and attaching everything as a ZIP file to email back and forth between an LSP and localization team.

Sounds overwhelming, right? The old method of translation is an intensive, time-consuming process that requires a lot of hands-on work.

File-Based Localization Management

From start to finish, here’s what a typical file-based translation process looks like:

1. Identify the content that needs to be translated. This could be your website, a web application, a mobile app, or a document.
2. Collect all your source files for translation. For example, you’ll need to manually extract web app content for translation and save the strings as a file. Missing this step could result in time-consuming back and forth emails, missed deadlines, and higher translation costs.
3. Compress the source files into a ZIP folder.
4. Attach zipped source files to an email and send them to your LSP for a quote. If the quote is acceptable, let the LSP know via email.
5. The provider will translate your content and send it back via email as a series of files containing the source language and target translations.
6. Review the translated content. For web apps, this means you should import, compile, and run the application to test the localized interface.
7. Request edits to the translation. It's important to note that any changes, edits, or fixes require steps 1-6 to be repeated.
8. Once final translations are approved, the multilingual content is typically compiled and released to a staging or production environment.
9. After the translation is completed, you’ll upload your files to your codebase or Content Management System (CMS) and publish the updates.
10. The translation is officially finished, and your localized content is live. However, if you have any updates or new content, you must repeat steps 1-9.

As you can see, traditional file-based workflows involve time-consuming, file-intensive, email-driven translation processes. This slows teams down, increases costs, and requires a lot of resources.

Better Localization with a Translation Management System (TMS)

When localizing content for the global market, many companies partner with a translation management system (TMS) to streamline the movement of files and minimize blind spots created by email-based file processes. This can be helpful, but some translation management platforms still use files and focus on a portal or dashboard for file transfers. File management requires additional work and manual intervention to initiate, edit, approve, and launch translation and localization processes.

Luckily, the latest advances in TMS functionality completely remove the need for files and file management.

The Localize Advantage - Using Automation instead of Files

If you’re tired of a messy file-based approach with endless back-and-forth emails and maintenance headaches, consider Localize. Our automatic content detection feature sets the Localize platform apart from the competition.

Localize automatically detects translatable content on your site. We constantly monitor your websites and web apps to see what pages have been updated. Then we send new phrases for translation, without the need for human intervention! From GitHub to WordPress, Localize also syncs with the technology you already use so translation can be easy, automatic, and worry-free.

Localize is always on—translating new content on the fly, to ensure translations are always up to date. This unique approach drastically decreases translation turnaround time and reduces costs.

Translation Management with the Localize Platform

With Localize, translation is a dynamic, automated process. Here's how it works:

1. 1. To set up Localize, install our JavaScript code snippet on your website. This way, Localize automatically detects updated site content and sends it to your preferred translators or LSP.
   2. Manage your content and translations on your Localize dashboard.
   3. Localize automatically deploys your translations to your site.

That’s it! Continuous localization is a reality.

All of our setup, translation, and content maintenance processes are incredibly simple. And the best part of Localize? Our platform was designed to support traditional file-based translation processes to help companies transition to our more responsive solution.

Our goal is to reduce the time and effort associated with website and web app translation so you can focus on your business. The Localize platform is a complete TMS, offering robust tools for translation memory, style guides, glossaries, intuitive and in-context editors, and much more. Our user-friendly interface was designed with process productivity in mind.

The Bottom Line

Localize removes manual, file-based processes, replacing them with a solution that eliminates extra steps and ensures your translated content is always up to date. When it comes to translation, Localize has separated itself from traditional TMS solutions with one simple concept:

NO MORE FILES!!

If you want to escape the tedium of manual, file-based processes and jump-start your translations, contact us today!