Software localisation in Barcelona

What does Ampersand’s translation for software localisation achieve?

Build customer loyalty

A high-quality translation for software localisation achieves a degree of cultural affinity with the customer that cannot be attained with (for example) software that is not in their language. It has been shown that people tend to prefer products and services that are in their mother tongue, even if they speak other languages and even when the translation is suboptimal. Consequently, translations that are of high quality - like those provided by Ampersand - build trust and loyalty, which is what generates sales.

Penetrate the market faster

There are some who will launch software in English worldwide, and then invest in localisation depending on the response from each market. However, committing to localisation from the very start means that customers respond earlier; therefore, if the software is successful, the success comes at a much earlier stage and the software is able to stay ahead of the competition.

Increase the conversion rate

The percentage of purchases or requests for information made, in relation to the total number of times the app or software product is accessed, increases when there is an emotional connection. An essential factor in creating this connection is cultural proximity, starting with the language and its local specificities (e.g. American or British English, Castilian Spanish or the Spanish of each Latin American country, the Portuguese of Portugal or Brazil, Mandarin or Cantonese, etc.). To achieve this, high-quality localisation is required, and at Ampersand we provide this service to our clients.

Enhance your brand awareness and prestige

Brand awareness and prestige are intangible values that are difficult to measure. They become evident when a brand forms part of the landscape of a particular culture or market: this helps it to stand out from the competition, which in turn facilitates sales. Although this cultural capital is usually accumulated after years of investment in advertising, it can also be aided by good localisation (as offered by Ampersand), which creates a connection with local audiences in such a way that the brand in question comes immediately to mind whenever the corresponding sector or product is mentioned.

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How do I request a quote for translation services for software localisation from Ampersand?

This three-step process is usually completed within 24 to 48 hours and enables us to take different variables into account, such as word count, urgency (which can be specified in the comments in the form) and repetition rate, which may allow us to offer discounts.

1

Send us the material to be localised

Send the quote form you will find here or at the bottom of the page, adding your details and the document containing the text to be translated, and specifying the language you require. We will then evaluate your request. It is important that the texts you send us to be translated are complete, and that you do not remove any words or sentences because they are repeated. We need to have the full context in order to ensure a correct translation. You can also send us a briefing note and any explanatory information that you consider necessary. We will respond to your request very promptly.
2

Accept the bespoke quote

Once the relevant checks have been carried out (the nature of software localisation means a telephone call or even a meeting may be required), we will send you a quote specifying the exact price, the deadline for delivery and the instructions for confirming the project and making payment via bank transfer. Once we receive the confirmation, we will begin the localisation process for your software immediately.
3

We send you the translation for software localisation

Software localisation may involve a single delivery of the translation or it may involve the regular delivery of translations, whether in the form of a text-based document sent via e-mail or using the software or system specified by each company for this purpose, as agreed.

Why is Ampersand the right partner for your software localisation needs?

We have experts in terminology for each sector

We are able to localise software for products and services in any sector, regardless of how specific the terminology may be, as we have teams specialising in technical, commercial, financial and all other types of translations. Moreover, our teams keep up to date with the new terms and technologies for each sector, so that they are able to understand and communicate any type of text in their area of expertise - and thereby help the company’s online business strategy to succeed.

We have a mastery of the source and target languages and markets

Software localisation is highly conditioned by the context of the source and target countries, as well as the languages and terminology involved. It also requires knowledge of software engineering, in order to ensure a mastery of the terminology used in the code and the software user interface in general. At Ampersand we boast a mastery of the language and terminology for each sector and each piece of software, with native translators who know the source and target markets.

We adapt to the most common document formats for the apps in question

At Ampersand we are accustomed to working with the document formats commonly used by developers (e.g. HTML, PHP, JSON, XML, XLIFF, PO, etc.) and ensuring that non-textual content (tags, etc.) is suitably respected. This capacity is valued very highly by our clients, as it saves them a great deal of time on formatting when they are incorporating the translation into the end product.

We offer maximum confidentiality with a single point of contact

We comply with the strictest confidentiality requirements and adhere to the most rigorous international confidentiality standards, as we are very aware of the fact that the software we localise has a very high commercial value. Moreover, we assign our clients a single point of contact, in order to ensure shorter response times and to be able to address any new challenges that may arise.

We are backed by 25 years of translation experience

For software localisation, it is an added value to work with a company whose roots in the sector go back more than 25 years. Our clients know that we will remain responsible for our work even after it has been delivered, and that we will create glossaries and translation memories for them to ensure that future translation and localisation projects are even more cost-effective and remain linguistically consistent over time, thereby making sure the client continues to present an impeccable image.

We offer prices and time frames adapted to each case

The nature of software localisation means that a significant part of the translation involves the format (word length, direction of text, dates, currencies and symbols, etc.) and how this is represented in the design. To this end, we need to work in tandem with the specific department and use the tools it employs to carry out the localisation. For this reason, all of our quotes are entirely made to measure after analysing the material that is to be translated, as this is the only way we can guarantee the best service.

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360° software localisation for any company

At Ampersand we have a dedicated translation team for software localisation, whose technical knowledge enables them to interact with the technical departments and development teams at each company and to transform and adapt the text as required, in order to ensure the perfect connection and fit with the IT components in question.

Additionally, these types of projects demand the very highest levels of quality and terminological consistency. At Ampersand we have the knowledge and experience required to offer a complete translation, internationalisation and localisation service for applications in any language (particularly Java, C/C++, .Net, PHP and Python), as well as for computer systems and programs in general.

Software localisation: FAQ

Still have unanswered questions and need to get in touch?

What types of software can benefit from Ampersand’s localisation services?

Any software, regardless of sector, size or scope, can be localised in order to reach a broader market: from a mobile app with a handful of products, to complex computer software for applications such as the processing of industrial components.

I need to localise a piece of software or an app, but the development team is still working on adapting the design and programming. When is the best time to start the localisation process with Ampersand?

At Ampersand we recommend waiting until the end of the design and programming stage, or until the final stage, so that we can work with the most definitive version of the text and thereby save time and costs. However, when necessary we can work in parallel with the development team so that the material developed to date can be published in all languages. If you have software to localise, feel free to contact us at the earliest stage so that we can advise you and plan the best way to interact with the development process.

How long does it usually take to translate software?

Unlike translating standard documents, whose complexity is limited to certain variables, translation for software localisation is not only conditioned by factors related to length, format and variable terminology, but also requires synchronisation with the company’s development team and/or localisation tool. Consequently, it is not possible to estimate a time frame without knowing the full details of the project; it may even be necessary to have one or more meetings and/or briefing sessions.
Some localisation projects only require the translation of a few hundred words of text with standard terminology, which can be done in one or two weeks; other projects require exhaustive translation of code as well as functional verification, which can take several months.
If you would like to know the exact time frame for localising your software, ask us for a no-obligation quote, making sure to send us the material that is to be translated (in Word, Excel or another format) and specifying the details of the localisation project. After carrying out the appropriate verifications, we will set a specific deadline, which we will comply with scrupulously.
Moreover, when we work with companies on software localisation projects that run over longer periods of time (e.g. in order to keep the software up to date), the specific translation memories and glossaries we create enable us to translate each new text faster, thereby ensuring shorter time frames.

How much does a translation for software localisation cost?

It is very difficult to estimate a fixed price for software localisation based on the word count alone and ignoring other factors. And it is even more difficult to produce high-quality results under such conditions. Software localisation is not just translation: it also requires the creation of glossaries, the maintenance of translation memories, verification processes, linguistic transcreation, and more.
At Ampersand, we need to be provided with all of the material that is to be translated, without any repeated words or sentences removed in order to reduce the word count. We may also need to evaluate the software, depending on the case. That way, we will have all of the context and can ensure that the localisation is carried out correctly. At the same time, we can take the repetition rate, the inclusion of necessary tasks and the elimination of unnecessary ones into account, in order to make the initial quote as cost-effective as possible.

Do you do translation for software localisation in both directions, i.e. into Spanish as well as into foreign languages?

Yes. We provide our clients with a dedicated team of translators specialising in the languages that are most in demand at the European level (English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, Dutch and Portuguese). Additionally, we adapt our work in line with the different variants of each language (e.g. Latin American Spanish, American English, Brazilian Portuguese, etc.), in order to generate greater trust in the local market. We also take on projects in other languages, such as Japanese, Arabic and Chinese. Ask us for information on prices and time frames.