Auteur/autrice : tetraepik_admin

IT companies and Software Houses face the challenge of needing to expand their reach to international markets. A crucial factor in achieving this goal is communicating in the language of their customers.

In this article, we will explore the importance and advantages of Software Localization.

What is Software Localization?

Software localization is the process of adapting a software product to meet the cultural, linguistic, and technical needs of a specific market. This process goes far beyond the simple translation of texts, as it also involves adjustments to the user interface, date and time formats, currencies and many other aspects.

The Importance of Software Localization for IT Companies and Software Houses

1. Increased accessibility: By localizing the software, companies make their products more accessible to a variety of users in different regions of the world. They eliminate language and cultural barriers and thus expand their market potential.
2. Improved user experience: Adapting the software to the language and culture of the user results in a more familiar and intuitive experience. This type of experience increases customer satisfaction and retention probability, as users feel more comfortable and connected to the product.
3. Gain of relevance: Software localization allows companies to be perceived as closer and more relevant to customers in foreign markets. This builds trust and credibility, facilitating product acceptance in new territories.

Advantages of Software Localization

1. Market expansion: With localization, companies can target specific markets more accurately, by adapting the software to local preferences and requirements. This makes it possible to generate opportunities for penetration into new markets.
2. Increased competitiveness: Companies that invest in software localization stand out from the competition, demonstrating a commitment to quality and product customization in order to meet the unique needs of each market. In a highly competitive environment, this can be a decisive factor.
3. Long-term cost reduction: Although the initial localization process may require significant investments, in the long term, it can result in cost reduction. This is because localized products are more likely to succeed and require less post-sale assistance, resulting in a clearer and more sustainable return on investment.

Conclusion

Software localization is an essential strategy for IT companies and Software Houses looking to expand their global presence. By adapting their products to the specific needs of each market, companies can increase their accessibility, relevance, and international competitiveness.

Investing in software localization is not only a smart strategic decision but also a crucial step towards success in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.

« Liberté, égalité, fraternité » – rarement un dicton comme ce célèbre slogan de la Révolution française n’a été plus adéquat qu’aujourd’hui : le jour où le monde célèbre à nouveau la Journée internationale de la langue française.

Quand cette expression, généralement attribuée à l’homme d’État français Maximilien Robespierre, a-t-elle été plus appropriée que dans le moment de bouleversement international que nous vivons aujourd’hui, avec des guerres et des crises partout dans le monde et des millions de personnes faisant l’expérience chaque jour que « liberté, égalité, fraternité » n’est peut-être après tout rien de plus qu’un rêve interdit ?

Mais laissons cela de côté et célébrons plutôt la Francophonie. Après tout, le français est parlé par plus de 350 millions de personnes dans le monde et est la langue officielle de 27 pays. Qui n’est jamais tombé amoureux des peintures de Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir ou Paul Cézanne ; de la musique de Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel ou Hector Berlioz ; des voix d’Édith Piaf, Charles Aznavour ou Serge Gainsbourg ; des oeuvres d’Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Alexandre Dumas ou Jules Verne ; de la beauté et du génie de Brigitte Bardot, Gérard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve, Alain Delon, Juliette Binoche ou Jean-Paul Belmondo ; ou encore des exploits de Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Zinédine Zidane, Michel Platini ou Astérix ? Il y a une source presque inépuisable de culture et de patrimoine français qui est sans égale. Existe-t-il une source apparemment inépuisable de culture et de patrimoine aussi exceptionnelle ?

Les Nations Unies ont commencé à célébrer la Journée de la langue française le 20 mars 2010, pour « célébrer le multilinguisme et la diversité culturelle, ainsi que pour promouvoir l’utilisation égale des six langues officielles (arabe, chinois, anglais, français, russe et espagnol) dans toute l’Organisation ». Cette date remonte à la fondation, en 1970, de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), un groupe dont les 77 États membres partagent une langue commune et qui vise à promouvoir la langue française et la diversité culturelle.

La Journée de la langue française est célébrée chaque année et l’un de ses principaux objectifs est de promouvoir la diversité linguistique et le multilinguisme, des valeurs qui sont au cœur de la mission des Nations Unies pour la paix, la coopération et la compréhension entre les nations.

De plus, la Journée de la langue française est l’occasion de réfléchir au rôle de la langue dans la promotion de l’inclusion et la construction de ponts entre des personnes de différents horizons. Dans un monde de plus en plus interconnecté, la maîtrise de plusieurs langues, dont le français, ouvre la voie à de nouvelles opportunités et facilite la compréhension interculturelle et la coopération.

Chez TETRAEPIK, nous ne sommes pas étrangers à la construction de ponts et à la diversité linguistique et, c’est pourquoi nous embrassons et honorons la Francophonie et tous ses locuteurs natifs, les passionnés de langues ou ceux qui sont simplement curieux de la langue française et de son patrimoine. Profitez au maximum de cette date et de cette occasion pour explorer, apprendre et célébrer la beauté du français.

Ou, comme l’a écrit autrefois le poète et journaliste français Anatole France : « La langue française est une femme. Et cette femme est si belle, si fière, si modeste, si audacieuse, touchante, voluptueuse, chaste, noble, familière, folle, sage, qu’on l’aime de toute son âme, et qu’on n’est jamais tenté de lui être infidèle. »

Steve Jobs, visionary co-founder of Apple Inc., once said, « The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” And that makes perfect sense for TETRAEPIK, which has been loving, for over 26 years now, to do what it does for and with SAP SE, the German technological giant that leads the global market in enterprise application software.

“Run Simple”, no matter what

In line with its operational principle of « Run Simple”, SAP has helped TETRAEPIK grow, navigate constant market changes, and turn dreams into reality. Obviously it hasn’t been simple all the time, but wasn’t it another visionary, called Albert Einstein, who stated, « In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity! »?

TETRAEPIK has had its fair share of difficulties throughout its 26-year journey. When we dared to dream in 1997 of having our own language services agency, we were far from believing it would be a walk in the park. It wasn’t then, it hasn’t been since… it never is, actually. But we’re acutely aware that it would have been immensely more difficult if SAP hadn’t placed its trust in a newly formed company in early 1998, created by four daring, bold, and – why not – visionary translators.

Our role alongside SAP

We have always believed in our crucial role in harmonizing relationships between companies, institutions, and individuals from different countries, cultures, origins, and societies, as well as eliminating seemingly insurmountable language barriers. But doing so alongside the German giant and its global ecosystem allowed us to grow with SAP and break some paradigms.

After all, inexperience, youth, and irreverence can be assets, and being located on the fringes of Europe doesn’t necessarily have to be a disadvantage. We turned these challenges into opportunities and built bridges to Brazil, to the Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, and to practically all European countries.

Adversity, bridges, and partnerships

SAP also helped us build other bridges, bringing us closer to agencies and customers worldwide, enabling us to partake in international partnerships and ultimately to found, together with 10 other agencies, a « business hub » called ASAP Globalizers, of which we are extremely proud.

Even during the most challenging moments, such as the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009, the International Bailout to Portugal from 2011 to 2013, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, and more recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, SAP has always stood by our side. It always believed that we could maintain our high levels of quality, commitment, and dedication, continuing to provide exemplary services with strict adherence to deadlines, unparalleled translation accuracy, and incomparable friendliness to everyone – all at competitive prices. In short, it always believed that we would uphold TETRAEPIK’s four guiding values: Efficiency, Precision, Interactivity, and Know-how.

Awards and future

We believe SAP has never regretted opening its doors to us in 1998. In fact, it proved this by awarding us the « Translation Partner of the Year » in 2006/07 and highlighting our 25-year collaboration in 2023, granting us the « Long Service Award.”

We aim to continue earning the trust of SAP and all our other customers. That’s why we are committed to overcoming the challenges that Artificial Intelligence is already posing to our industry. After all, TETRAEPIK is convinced that what Abraham Lincoln once said makes perfect sense: « The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

International Mother Language Day, observed globally on February 21, is a special occasion to recognize the importance of languages in preserving cultural identity and promoting linguistic diversity all over the world. Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999, this day highlights the need to protect and value all mother languages, which are an essential part of each individual’s and community’s cultural heritage.

The mother language is the first language we learn, usually in childhood, and the one that is most familiar to us. It is an important part of our cultural identity, enabling us to communicate with those around us.

The Importance of the Mother Language

The mother language plays a fundamental role in everyone’s life. It is through it that we express our thoughts and feelings, revealing our identity. Additionally, the mother language forms the foundation for the educational and intellectual development of every human being, as well as for the exchange of knowledge and cultural traditions from generation to generation.

Preserving Linguistic Diversity

This day also seeks to raise awareness about linguistic diversity. It is after all one of humanity’s richest and most fascinating characteristics, with approximately 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, each with its own history, structure, and cultural significance. However, many of these languages are at risk of disappearing due to globalization, migration and cultural assimilation. The loss of a language is a loss for all of humanity. Today serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting and promoting this diversity by celebrating and valuing all languages.

The Role of Language Services in the Celebration of the Mother Language

As a language services agency, we recognize the vital importance of the mother language in all aspects of life. Our mission is to assist in preserving and promoting mother languages by providing translation, localization, and interpretation services in a variety of language combinations. Our work enables people to communicate with each other in their mother language, regardless of the language that is actually spoken. By facilitating communication across different languages and cultures, we contribute to the preservation of linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide.

Through translation and localization into various languages, we enable individuals from different cultures to access information in their own language. With simultaneous interpretation, individuals from different cultures and speaking different languages can communicate during meetings and events, often hubs of significant advancements in various fields of knowledge, such as medicine or technology.

On this International Mother Language Day, we celebrate the importance of the mother language and the richness of linguistic diversity. Together, we can collaborate to preserve and promote mother languages, ensuring that every voice is heard, and every story is told.