In the past, defense contractors have been burdened with an immediate need for RFP & Bid Proposal translation services right from the requirements phase, through the development and production phases.
Localization is the process of adapting and fine-tuning various aspects of your product or service to the exact needs of a specific target audience. It should be thought of as an investment, not an expense. A2Z Global can help you develop and implement a localization plan to ensure that your investment pays off.
A2Z Global teams have localized software for many corporations throughout the world utilizing experts for:
- Project Planning & Management
- Cultural & Linguistic Adaptation
- On-line Help & Documentation Translation
We have invested heavily in all the major hardware platforms and operating systems, including DOS, Windows XP/7/8, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012, Unix and Macintosh. Computer-aided translation tools (our own as well as standard industry tools) are used to reduce costs, insure uniformity, and minimize time-to-market.
Most projects will involve three major areas:
- The User Interface
- On-line Help & CBT
- User Documentation
All of these require the development of appropriate glossaries, translation, proofreading and editing, resizing and reformatting, compiling, graphic editing, and the replacement of screen captures. Linguistic and functionality tests are implemented as well as tests to assure compliance with appropriate quality and technology standards.
Baptizing the Team
A2Z Global planning teams work with your staff to establish criteria, allocate resources, and assign responsibilities for each localization project. Together, we will determine the scope of each project and identify technical issues, define milestones, and set deadlines.
Software reviews prior to the translation effort and application-specific training for our translators ensure that the team approaches the product from the users’ viewpoint. This results in improved translation quality and valuable feedback about the application and its usability.
Once a detailed plan is in place, the language teams will work in tandem. We emphasize centralized project management, which affords absolute control of every component of each job.
Wide Applications Experience
A2Z Global staff has experience in the localization of a wide variety of software applications, including:
- Client-Server & Operating Systems
- Financial & Statistical Software
- Enterprise-Wide Software for Financial, Human Resources, Sales Management & Accounting
- Hardware - Computers, Printers & Fax/Modems
- Networking and telecommunications
- Defense Systems
- Map Software
- Telephone, Video Boards & Video Conferencing
- Environmental & Chemical Safety Standards
- Business Applications - Spreadsheets, Utilities & Databases
- CAD & Graphics Software
- Multimedia & Digital Imaging
More explicitly, software localization is the conversion of the User Interface (UI) and supporting materials of a product from its original language to fit the language and cultural nuances of a target locale. It is much more than the simple translation of the written elements of a software package or a product.
Localization of software was once thought to be something that came after the long and tedious process of design and development after all the bugs were painstakingly removed. Now, most companies realize that it is far more affordable and easier to integrate localization into the earliest planning stages of a product.
Localization can be a complex process. It is a process requiring a mix of technical, linguistic, quality assurance, and managerial skills that few companies can afford to develop and keep in-house. Today, even the largest software companies choose to outsource this specialized service.