Integrating localization services into project management

In a previous post, we introduced some basic localization concepts. Then, in the latest article, we looked at the essential stages of project management for content strategists. This time, we'll delve deeper into the role of localization in multilingual content projects.

Several beginning translators tend to miss the bigger picture: they receive the file, translate it and send it back. This approach is unlikely to yield positive results in the long run. As language specialists, we need to understand how localization influences the entire process to improve our performance and make our work even more purposeful.

Know the steps

The translated product doesn't exist alone. Usually, it's part of a company's localization project plan, which consists of several steps. In turn, the project is one of the company's tools to achieve a bigger purpose (for instance, the production of multilingual documentation or the launch of an international marketing strategy). The company then interacts with external stakeholders, such as marketing and procurement representatives, authors, developers, customers, regulatory agencies and the press).

Here are some of the processes taking place around localization and how to approach them:

Project preparation

Determine whether you have all the details you need to get started: language combinations, volume, scope of the translation, type of service requested (translation, localization, transcreation, post-editing, proofreading), format of the deliverables, timelines and delivery dates for project completion.

As you research the subject matter and the content, go through the reference material provided to you (such as corpora, translation memories, terminology databases, media and so on). This might be easier if you work with a translation service provider.

When working with a direct client, you might need to obtain additional information through a brief or an interview. In this case, here are some aspects that could be covered:

Campaign: What is the product or service? What does it do? Which problem does it solve? How is it marketed in the source and target countries?

Target audience: What are the demographics? Are client or user personas available? How and why would the audience use the content and the product? What other suppliers or competitors does the audience interact with?

Content: What is the content to be localized about? What does it aim to communicate? What are the objectives and calls to action?

Media: In which contexts, media and formats will the content need to appear?

Technical preparation

Check that your software suits the task (and you can access technical support or knowledge if needed). Review and apply the conventions requested by the client when it comes to encoding, segmentation, data and layout formats, length restrictions. Additionally, be sure you can handle the client's files safely and confidentially.

Quality assurance

Review the client's needs and expectations and respect their requirements regarding meaning, style, language and terminology. If any reference materials are provided (style guides, glossaries...), follow them carefully.

Ideally, your translation should be reviewed and edited compared to the original text, then proofread in the target context. Liaise with the reviewers and proofreaders who will check your work and discuss changes in a constructive way. Clarify your performance evaluation criteria from the start, and request feedback on your work as you go.

Cooperation and coordination

Consider that your deliverables might need to be used by other professionals working on the same project or related projects (desktop publishing specialists, terminologists, team members working on localizing a different product, QA testers).

This can never be stressed enough: communicate openly and consistently with the parties involved in the project, whether you work with a direct client or with an agency, their project manager and other team members. For example, do you know who to turn to for a language-related question or a technical query?

To conclude, this is the cornerstone of our job:

When we translate, we are always solving a problem.

Understanding how crucial our role is and being fully aware of what happens around our work are the first steps to making a real difference for the client.