The readiness of your software for localization into different markets is achieved through internationalization (i18n). Just like translation and localization, internationalization is also essential to bridge the gap between development and localization. By adopting internationalization best practices, you make your software more adaptable to chances, so you can smoothly localize it into different languages. For an enterprise translation solution into multiple languages, it is important to focus on i18n.
I18n helps you get your software product’s technical foundation right so localization becomes more seamless and faster. Businesses typically hire language service providers or employ some localization platform to make their i18n hassle-free and agile. In this article, we will discuss the i18n and its benefits that businesses can have.
What Is Internationalization?
Unlike localization, which is performed on a finished version of the software, i18n is an integral part of your software development. It goes side by side with your other software development cycle. I18n is a set of practices that intend to build software more adaptable to changes. If you are a developer, it is your core responsibility to make your software compatible with localization. You can use a professional localization platform or work with a language service provider platform to manage all your software i18n and localization processes in one place. Read this article to get a deeper understanding of i18n’s key advantages.
Why Internationalization Matters in Global Brand Expansion?
You can really make your software localization journey smooth and effortless by following the i18n guidelines. Here are some key benefits of internationalizing your software for global markets.
Simplified Localization
Localization gets super easier and simplified when you have already internationalized your global software. It becomes very convenient to translate the text into multiple languages and make changes to the design because all your user-interfacing elements are outside the software code. There is no need to extract the text from the code when you keep each translation string separated from the code.
Faster Time to Market
Software I18n allows you to save a lot of localization time by keeping the process super agile and fast. Making your software ready for localization helps you deliver the updated content faster and update it seamlessly while creating many versions of your multilingual software. It will significantly reduce your time to market the software in various regions. The quicker you will be able to market the software, the higher ROI you can generate out of it.
Better User Experience
I18n also optimizes your online user experience because it provides a personalized user experience to diversified audiences. For instance, your software is now more accessible to audiences speaking different languages. Your non-native customers can easily navigate through the system and find the required information. Moreover, you can also adjust the design and formats for each country, which further adds to the overall experience of customers.
Save Cost
You can save a significant amount of localization costs when you make your software ready for it. First of all, it will take less time for your developers to localize your software into a different version; they spend fewer hours on each version localization. If you are using a localization platform, you can even reduce your cost. You don’t really need excessive resources and staff; if you have the right knowledge and effective methods in place, you can manage your i18n project without spending much.
Eliminate Error
When your software is not internationalized, it is not just more time-consuming and costly but also more complicated and error-prone. When you hardcode your user and text elements, it requires a lot of time and effort to extract those elements from the code. Still, there are chances that something gets missed because of the manual extraction. I18n eliminates the error by reducing the manual work; when you keep all the text and user-facing elements separate from the code, it makes it less complex to translate the text and make changes to other elements.
Wrapping Up!
It is important to prepare your software to make it ready for future localization. It will save you and your developers from hassle. Not just will it bring more ease and agility to the localization process, but it will also have a positive impact on the overall user experience. Moreover, you must have all the right tools and resources in place for a seamless i18n and localization journey.
If you are looking for a reliable localization platform where you can manage your software i18n and development processes, MarsHub is a valuable option out there. It is a professional platform that provides you with all the features that you may need to effectively handle your localization and i18n projects. You can customize your features and functionalities on this platform and tailor it to your unique business needs.