Translation and Localization Platforms — Tips for Agile Teams
Localization is not an easy task, especially if the content is regularly updated. Here’s how TMSs help streamline the localization process.
How TMS can help your business?
Localization is not an easy task. Especially if you need to translate a lot of text in 30 languages. And it can be even more challenging to localize continuously as the content is regularly updated.
Just imagine: you have hundreds of documents with text strings for translation, dozens of freelance translators, and several tools to tie it all together. You need orchestration and synchronization.
It might be easier not to localize your content at all. However, never forget that about 50% of the countries that rank in the top 10 for downloads and revenue are non-English speaking countries in Europe and East Asia. And if you fail to localize your app properly or at all, you may be losing a lot of your potential audience.
This is where a translation management system (TMS) can save you a major headache in streamlining multiple, unharmonized processes.
What is TMS?
TMS is a type of software that automates the majority of translation-related processes. Its main goal is to maximize the efficiency of localization.
A TMS usually consists of two types of technology: a process management instrument that automates the workflow and a linguistic tool with translation software-related features to help translators do their job faster.
Translation management systems usually feature a translation memory, glossary, spelling and grammar check, and dashboards to view project activity and progress.
A chat feature is also helpful to keep communication inside the system and not require additional, outside tools.
Why do you need a TMS?
A TMS is a meeting place for the various project stakeholders. Project managers set tasks for translators, and translators localize the needed content and then upload it to the system.
The role of TMS is huge, especially in the continuous localization process. Translation management systems bring a lot of benefits to your business processes and work great to reduce your stress.
- One of the most significant advantages of using a TMS in the localization process is that it makes file management easy and effective. You have the power of version control and managing your translation memory and glossary files, while easily browsing your document archive.
- TMS gives translators a set of professional features similar to those of CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools, such as a translation editor, terminology management, and translation memory.
- TMS is a great way to communicate with all translation vendors. No more keeping up hundreds of chats in messenger apps and emails.
- A translation management system takes care of the cost calculations and can auto-generate invoices for companies and freelance translators.
- A TMS can also help you monitor project schedules and avoid missing deadlines. TMS solutions are perfect for tracking all project stages.
With clear benefits, it’s no wonder why many companies have turned to TMS to complete and optimize their localization processes. So, with the many reasons for using a TMS, the question becomes which one is the best fit for your company?
What are the top TMSs on the market?
You can get lost in the multitude of TMS apps out there. But we’re here to help. As a professional localization service provider, we at Alconost are working almost with every TMS present on the market. So, we’ve prepared a list of the most popular and sophisticated systems to advance your localization workflow. Now you just need to find the right TMS that best addresses your business needs.
Crowdin
Crowdin is a cloud-based solution that is particularly suited for agile and continuous localization of mobile apps or games.
With Crowdin, companies will enjoy automated deployment of completed translations, task management system, budget planning features, and report generation options.
You can integrate Crowdin with a repository or help desk. There are a lot of integrations with third-party platforms and tools like GitHub, GitLab, Zendesk, Slack, or Jira Software, Android, and iOS SDK. You can also set up API integration with Crowdin as well as use Crowdin CLI to manage and synchronize localization resources with your Crowdin project. These integrations help to source always up-to-date content and get translations automatically.
By the way, the above-mentioned companies use Crowdin in their internal localization processes. They mention that Crowdin helps to save time and get their communities engaged quickly by taking advantage of the ability to automatically present new strings for translation. Some of them were particularly impressed with the in-context localization option.
Crowdin is up to even the most complicated applications with subject-specific terminology requiring research and fact-checking. Our localization project performed for the Clue app has shown that Crowdin was a great solution for simultaneous and fast translation, even into 9 languages.
To boot, app features like screenshots, a glossary of terms, and rapid notifications all help smooth out the process. Crowdin users can upload screenshots to make the context clear and create glossaries so that a new translator can understand what is going on in the project.
Pricing:
Pricing starts at $19.00 per month. There is a free trial offer, so you can try it and make sure that it works for you. Alternatively, you can join an existing project in your localization vendor's account.
Lokalise
Lokalise is both a localization and translation management platform that works great for agile teams.
The main features include collaborative translation, localization workflow management, localization process automation, translation QA and in-context editing.
Lokalise, like any good TMS, helps make localization a part of the development cycle which helps reduce time-to-market.
There are plenty of integrations with third-party tools. For example, you can connect to Android SDK and iOS SDK, Docker, Grunt, Jenkins, Jira, Slack, Asana, and dozens of other tools you use for your workflow.
Pricing: pricing starts from $90 per month for 10 seats included. The PRO option will cost you $450 per month. There is also a free plan that offers up to 500 strings and 1 seat. However, translation history, API, or mobile SDK are only available on paid plans.
Phrase
Phrase (formerly PhraseApp) is another popular agile translation management system for localization projects.
It works for enhancing team collaboration, saving development time, and releasing your product faster.
Phrase makes the lives of developers, managers, translators, and designers easier as it eliminates huge translation spreadsheets, out-dated email communication, and the hassle of broken language files.
Main features include reliable import and export of language files, versatile API, and a dedicated CLI tool. Besides, Phrase supports more than 40 file formats. It supports real-time monitoring of the localization process as well as reporting and a robust selection of statistics.
Despite all the pros, some users find the interface for switching between locales a bit confusing.
Pricing: the monthly price for using Phrase platform starts at $14 per user. So, you’ll need to pay for every member separately.
However, there is a Free plan for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and start-ups looking to take their app global. It’s available for 3 users and 2 languages only.
Protemos
Protemos is a translation business management system for agencies and freelancers.
The tool helps to store all project information in one place. You can monitor all deadlines and view full project history in just a few clicks.
Protemos features include assigning jobs to translators, automatic email notifications, and controlling job costs and payment status. This platform also offers automatic currency conversion and exchange rate updates.
Protemos offers a platform for freelancers where they can maintain sheets with orders, organize files in various folders, and send invoices. Moreover, all this functionality is available for freelance translators both on desktop and mobile devices which makes it very convenient.
However, there are no machine translation and terminology management options.
Pricing: Prices start at $50.00 per month per user. So, as with Phrase, it might not be the best option for large teams. There is a one-month free trial.
Of note, Protemos is always free for freelancers.
Wordbee
Wordbee is a cloud-based, end-to-end translation management system with an integrated CAT tool.
With Wordbee you can create workflow templates for translation, proofreading, or revision to simplify all these processes. You get a dedicated account manager to answer any question you have. There is a possibility to automate the processes by splitting documents, jobs, and tasks regardless of assignment methods.
The main features include translation memory, consolidated memories, glossaries and terminology, and live QA checks.
Pricing: You need to contact the Wordbee team to get pricing. And they offer a 15-day free trial. Capterra suggests, however, that the pricing starts at $63.00 per month per user.
MemoQ
This is more an on-premise suite available on Mac and Windows. MemoQ also provides their clients with a cloud-based solution, however, its functionality is much more limited than the desktop version.
MemoQ allows businesses to manage translation projects by creating reports, tracking project changes, accessing voice commands, and much more. The service specializes in translations in life science, game localization, and audiovisual translations.
You can enjoy a terminology management module, a wide variety of file formats, compatibility with most other CAT tools that make the localization process smooth and effective.
There is a Hey memoQ product that helps to translate by dictating in more than 30 languages.
Unfortunately, the platform doesn’t include order management and estimation for project time options. Also, you cannot work with subtitle files without converting them into XML files, for instance.
Pricing:
You need to book a call with the MemoQ team to learn detailed information about their pricing for businesses. And there is a 30-day free trial for the memoQ translator pro tool.
It’s impossible to mention and review all the TMS available, as there are plenty of them on the market. Don’t expect unrealistic 100% perfection from any of the available software solutions, of course. If you’re thinking of waiting for a flawless solution, you’ll not likely be releasing a product on the global market any time soon.
Your main task is to choose the one that will suit well all (or almost all) the requirements of your team. We at Alconost work with most of the TMS, so we are flexible in the tools we can use to help you with your localization.
You might also find useful:
Better Product Internationalization With Localization Best Practices
Continuous localization: making it happen
How to Prepare a Game for Localization? 10 Basic Rules
About Alconost
Alconost is a global provider of localization services into 70+ languages.
Want to discuss your project? Book a call with us!
