Localization services in real time
What it means to localize
GAT would like to introduce you to a couple formal definitions of localization services. Perhaps it will help you understand that localization (or internationalization) goes well beyond translating a document from English to another language.
Localization
Localization is the process of adapting a product or service to a particular language, culture, and desired local “look-and-feel.” Ideally, a product or service is developed so that localization is relatively easy to achieve – for example, by creating technical illustrations for manuals in which the text can easily be changed to another language and allowing some expansion room for this purpose. This enabling process is termed internationalization. An internationalized product or service is therefore easier to localize. The process of first enabling a product to be localized and then localizing it for different national audiences is sometimes known as globalization.
In localizing a product, in addition to idiomatic language translation, such details as time zones, money, national holidays, local color sensitivities, product or service names, gender roles, and geographic examples must all be considered. A successfully localized service or product is one that appears to have been developed within the local culture.
Language translation, which is a large part of localization, can sometimes be facilitated with automatic language translation. However, much additional work is usually needed.
Source: SearchCIO.com Definitions (Powered by WhatIs.com)
In computing, internationalization and localization are means of adapting computer software to different languages and regional differences. Internationalization is the process of designing a software application so that it can be adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes. Localization is the process of adapting internationalized software for a specific region or language by adding locale-specific components and translating text.
Source: Wikipedia
Think local. Go global.
From a customer relationship management standpoint, put yourself in your reader’s seat. How would you like it if a document came to you that was totally out of character with your everyday spoken language, business tonality and culture at large. You wouldn’t like it, and more importantly, you wouldn’t buy it.
The secret to successful localization – as practiced by GAT – is that before you go Global, you have to think local. And the only supplier who can really deliver local is living and working in the country you are targeting.
Discover the value of localization
In today’s Customer Relationship Management focused world the goal is to assess business opportunity on a Lifetime Customer Value basis. If your growth plans are dependent on developing customer relationships in foreign lands and languages, it is absolutely critical that you get your message right the first time.
That’s where GAT’s localization expertise truly pays off.