Localization is a newly arisen profession that is born along with the internationalization tidal current. Because this profession is still in the initial development stage, the market lacks a regular and mature environment, and the localization service process each localization service company provides has huge difference, this increases the difficulty of the producers to chose a proper localization service company. Complicated process is not necessarily the best process, a process that satisfies the actual needs of a localization program is the best one, the most suitable is the best.

For the producers which is the first time to carry on product localization, they may possibly lack a deep comprehension to the importance of localization process, and usually think that: “Is the localization process really so important?” I only care whether a localization service company can hand over localization products with satisfactory quality within the time limits and budgets I set and is according to the product localization plan, as for the details of adopting what process etc., I have no necessity to concern.

As the content of localization products is regarded, taking software localization as an example, the needed localization content may include: software interface, online help, website page, user's manual, packing materials, market propaganda materials etc.. The consignation form of the localization may be mediums such as electronic text file, printed paper, film and CD etc.. The needed localization sectors include language processing procedures such as translation, edition and checks etc.; desktop makeup; document format conversion; product test; blemish correction; and management work of program tracking and control.

For such complicated localization work, if there is no standardized localization process, it will be very difficult to assure localization quality and normal execution of the program. Different processes have direct influence on the quality of localization. For example, as language translation is concerned, if only one translation step is taken and lack of edition and check, then a great deal of localization translation mistakes will be made; for example mistaken translation, inconsistent format and expressions.

As for the localization test, if the test is executed by engineers whose mother tongue is the target language, the engineers can discover and report more language and function blemishes; but if the test is executed by unprofessional persons whose mother tongue is not the target language, then they usually can only discover some unimportant interface blemishes. Moreover, if the test has no quality control personnel to carry out verification and examination, then a high test coverage rate and accuracy is very difficult to guarantee.

As for large localization programs, exchange and feedback is significant to program management. A program manager who has abundant localization program management experience, can effectively analyze and comprehend the producers’ need, allot localization resources reasonably, discover program problems in time, and find out proper solutions; he can control the program to be realized   in schedule through active exchange and feedback with producers and internal personnel.

The process is not imaginary conventions, but solid localization implement standards. Because the localization profession development is not mature, no matter how outstanding some localization service companies may allege their localization process is, or their localization process may be “seemingly very beautiful”, they usually can't carry through the performance absolutely; conceivably, no matter how standard such processes are, they can only be “fought on paper”.

For the producers, product localization needs to invest certain amount of expenses and manpower; they certainly hope for best investment repayment; facing numerous localization service companies of choice, they may commence from comparing localization processes, and promote smooth implement of the localization program through necessary tracking and control means.

An excellent localization service company will always lay great emphasis on processes in all localization programs, and carry it through various contents and sectors of any localization program: text file, software, online help and translation, formatting, test etc..

Through the establishment and execution of professional localization processes, the efficiency of localization service can be raised; the consistency of product localization, the stability of the product quality, and the flexibility of localization service can be maintained; it will be easy to follow and control each process of the localization work, making it progress orderly according to the program plan.

Program manager: The important role of the product localization process

For many localization service companies, localization program managers are a precious human resource; they play an important role in assuring the realization of  localization programs and acquiring the trust of producers.

The most important function of a localization program manager is the program communication and exchanges and the delivery of program information. He is the internal coordinator between producers and localization companies; he also needs to analyze localization programs; arrange personnel and work contents; follow program progress; discover, resolve, and report  problems occurred in the program.

Valid exchanges become an important link of the localization process; it can even become the core link. Localization program managers not only need to deliver producers' request on localization to the localization company’s inner program group timely and accurately, but also need to report true circumstances and problems to the producers.

In order to keep valid exchange, localization program usually adopts the way of single point contact; namely, the localization service company assigns a single program manager to contact with producers. The producers will specify a program manager to inform localization service companies such problems as program request etc.. In order to keep from the program manager’s accidental absence, a standby program manager must be assigned. This kind of single exchange helps to keep the continuity of contact, eradicate mutual evasiveness completely, guarantee the overall understanding of both parties on program progress and problems.

In order to guide and check the professionalism and consistency of translation quality, producers usually choose language reviewers in the target country who are responsible for establishing or reviewing program glossary, collating the translated contents, providing the localization company and producers with feedback on language quality. Language reviewers are usually assumed by the producer’s filiales or office personnel in the target country, or assumed part-timely by experienced professionals in the target country.

For the producer’s program managers, they need to deliver program requirements to the localization service companies accurately and clearly, which includes the program’s beginning and end dates, hand-over format and ways of the localization contents; and in the program implement process, how to hand over program progress report, how to carry on program exchanges, to guarantee that the localization service company’s program managers have complete comprehension of these requests and carry out them. For the effective operation of the program, at the program preparation phase, localization service companies should be requested to provide such localization services as program implement plan, product description text file, program technical term form, translation style text file, the list of localization tools and various program text files etc..

As for the program managers of the localization service companies, they need to comprehend accurately the producer’s need on localization programs, analyze program characteristics, review program budget, arrange the localization resources (translation, typeset, test, engineering and quality control personnel). To guarantee valid program communication, exchange techniques need to be mastered, for example, the writing and oral communication ability, especially English exchange ability. Moreover, latent program problems must be foreseen properly; he should also have clear logic thinking, solve problems in order of priority, make the program team operate efficiently. He should feed the implemented presence and problems of the program back to the producers in time, strengthen the producers’  confidence, obtain the producers’  trust and the support.

Although program managers do not carry out concrete localization work, their function will be indispensable; to some extent we can say, the choice of a suitable program manager has decisive function on the smooth implement of a program; the program manager's valid communication and exchange are important links to improve the localization process.

After the localization program’s prophase preparation, implement stage becomes the key link of the localization program. According to the complication degree and scale of the localization program, the localization service company's program managers need to assign program missions to language department, desktop formatting department, localization engineering department and localization test department; track the program progress; and according to the plan and ways of the program, hand over the stage localization products to other program members in the company or producers.

As for the localization translation, it should include three steps: translation, edition and collation; each step needs to obey the technical term form and the translation style text files provided by the customers. If localization translation external contract is needed, then it needs to show clearly to the external translation contractors missions,　hand-over time and formats, needed tools and regulations; carry out language quality analysis periodically on the external translation contractor’s translation contents and formats ,and put forward improvement measures.

After the completion of localization translation, for the key text files, if the program has a need, before handing over formally to the producers, the files need to be handed over to target country reviewers specified by producers for language quantity review, and carry on modification according to the modification suggestions after reviewing.

As for the localization test program, it needs to build the test environment regulated by the program, establish the program test group, have mother tongue test personnel to test localization software, execute test according to the test plan and provisions on test examples while adopting handicraft test and/ or automatic test means, provide software blemish report according to the blemish management database specified by producers.

The localization service company's program managers need to fill in the program progress report everyday or every week according to the provisions of the program, to reflect the existent program problems, to provide resolution suggestions or ask for help from producers’ program managers.

In addition to tracking program progress, producers’ program managers need to review the stage localization documents provided by the localization service companies’ program managers, review the program condition report, give necessary feedback, and provide methods to solve difficult program problems.

If products need various languages to carry on localization simultaneously, then producers can choose a multi-language localization service company, they can also choose a one-language localization service company respectively for each language. Because the management costs and localization expenses of the two cases are different, comprehensive consideration is needed. Usually various languages can be localized at the same time through the choice of multi-language localization service companies and lower management cost, but the price for the localization of each language may be slightly higher. But if many one-language localization service companies are adopted, then simultaneous exchanges with several localization service companies’ program managers are needed; usually because each localization service company's problem is dissimilar, and different time differences exist, program exchange difficulty may increase, unpredictable latent management cost may also increase.

 “The only unchangeable is change”, alteration in the localization program  performance process usually takes place, program change management is an important content of the localization process management, the localization service companies and producers need to deal with these changes in a common effort.

In order to attain the purpose of synchronous release of English products and  localization products, now the usual way of localization program is mostly the concurrent operation of English product development and localization. The biggest characteristic of the localization's mode is the continuous perfection of English product contents and functions, the contents of localization need to be renewed continuously in correspondence.

For the localization progress to be influenced be product renewal in the least possible way, a few key English product renewal time points( milestones) need to be decided in the program plan as best as possible, how many milestones the products have and how to handle these renewals in the plan also need to be decided .Moreover, because of the existence of factors that can't be anticipated, the program may need some renewals that are not planned, these abrupt factors are one of the contents that constitute the program’s risks; valid process of these renewals is the premise guaranteeing smooth operation of  the program.

Because the program’s unplanned renewals may disrupt the original localization plan, cause strain and difficulties to the localization service company's time and personnel arrangement and increase localization cost, therefore, the program manager of the localization service company, need to superadd extra expenses to the producers and change the localization program progress schedule, re-adjust personnel and other resources in the localization company. The producer’s program manager, should transit the program renewal information as early as possible for the program content change to influence localization progress and cost in the least possible way.

At the localization program’s late stage, especially after handing over all localization contents, for the producers and localization service companies, it doesn't mean the thorough end of a localization program, it is  still not the time to “put the weapons back in the arsenal and graze the war horses on the hillside”.

At the late final stage, summarizing the circumstances of a localization program’s preparation and execution is needed. It should be divided into inner part summary and external part summary, to analyze every program links for the localization service companies and producers, to find out which part is satisfactory, which part has problems; and find out reasons and solutions; and lay the foundation for both parties to continue improvement in late programs. The program summary may be carried out in such means as group discussion, telephone meeting and filling in the program’s late summary report, etc.. The program summary needs to be based on objectivity and practicality, consider the case as it stands, not only affirm merits, but also point out shortages and measures for improvement.

The program summary is not an unessential stage, but should be an indispensable part included in the program localization process. Through summaries, both parties will strengthen further understanding and trust; it can also provide first-hand referential materials for follow-up programs, and should become the knowledge property of the company.

The product localization process is an important factor to control the localization product quality and the program’s efficient operation. Through the adoption of effective localization process proved by industry, professional localization service companies can improve work efficiency, control production cost, strengthen communication with producers, and provide excellent localization service. The producers must investigate and confirm the effectiveness and practicability of its localization program process while choosing the localization service companies, for the purpose of realizing higher investment repayment.