Managing translation and localization across multiple formats used to invariably lead to messy files and broken code. If you’ve ever tried to run a localization process without a translation management platform, you know the pain of copying and pasting text. Such a manual translation process slows down time to market and bloats translation costs. The project manager winds up spending more time chasing strings than doing actual translation project management.
Dealing with these operational bottlenecks makes ongoing translation a nightmare.
To fix this, you need to use a translation tool that scales. A modern TMS automates the entire translation pipeline and connects content management systems directly to translation teams. In my experience, implementing the right translation management system completely transforms the workflow. Let’s look at how to use a TMS to speed up operations and support an international localization strategy.
Wait, What’s a Translation Management System Again?
A TMS acts as a central hub. It handles end-to-end translation tasks, from content ingestion to final delivery. This is where centralized translation happens. Unlike a standalone CAT tool (covered in the computer-assisted translation guide here on the blog), a TMS handles a layer of business logic in that it provides storage and translation business management features. In other words, it’s a system that lets you translate everything in one place so that translation projects can be managed across all departments.
The Role of a TMS in Project Management
A cloud-based TMS integrates directly with the existing infrastructure. Whether content is pulled from marketing apps or code repositories, the translation technology bridges the gap. For example, syncing strings from platforms like Github or pulling copy from customer relationship management software happens automatically.
This setup ultimately helps automate the translation pipeline. A powerful TMS pushes the source text to the linguists and pulls the localized content back when ready in real-time.
Choosing the Best Translation Management System
There’s no single perfect software for everyone; choosing the best translation tools will depend on your infrastructure and needs. When choosing the best translation management setup, I would evaluate API capabilities first. Check the developer documentation to see how well it handles your specific file format.
Then map out your localization workflow. Do you need a platform that heavily uses translation automation, or are you focused strictly on human translation? The right TMS for your needs ideally also aligns with your team’s technical skills. Migration, onboarding and re-training are expensive otherwise.
The actual admin capabilities of different software also have to be evaluated. Good localization management solutions offer granular permissions for your language service provider or internal linguists. These management tools track translation performance and budget limits efficiently.
Best Localization Platforms for Your Stack
The industry standard has shifted firmly toward continuous localization over the past decade, and modern localization platforms connect directly to the codebase. They basically allow a team of linguists to start working on translations as soon as product updates are pushed.
Because localization is the process of adapting software to the preferences of the local market and target audience, a good localization tool will have some contextual functionality. A visual localization management platform like Lokalise allows developers to attach screenshots directly from Figma, for example. This gives the translator immediate visual context for e.g. iOS and Android apps, and can really help up turnaround times in the translation workflow, as linguists less frequently have to go digging for context.
Top Tools Available for Efficient Localization
There are a range of tools available to handle multilingual rollouts. Crowdin, as one example, is for software localization and localizing products. It supports over 40 file formats, so the import and export of language data and direct export of language files is very simple. Their API and CLI help automate localization efforts. Plus, the platform allows developers and linguists to collaborate with each other in a single workspace.
If you focus on website content and web and mobile applications, Transifex is another popular translation management platform. It handles multiple languages and offers integrations with Github to update e.g. marketing assets. This localization software also includes built-in tools like QA checks and a shared glossary to speed up localization work.
For lighter translation and localization needs, POEditor serves as a highly functional management platform. It provides a clear interface to manage translations across different languages.
Most of these translation technologies offer a free trial, so you can test them before committing to a full localization service or translation service.
Benefits of a Translation Management Workflow
The primary benefits of a translation management tool involve scale. A TMS can help standardize work. Keeping terminology in a central database helps improve translation quality across all languages. The best translation management approach treats language as code!
Terminology Management and Effective Translation
Many platforms include features like translation memories to store previously translated segments. This means you never pay to translate the exact same sentence twice. Accessing translation memory is a core technical requirement of any TMS.
Depending on the chosen tool, the system will also integrate with machine translation engines. Combining translation memory and machine translation with human review speeds up complex translation cycles. This hybrid approach to localization and translation keeps overhead down while it actively improves translation efficiency.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a TMS and a CAT tool?
A CAT tool helps linguists translate text sentence by sentence. A TMS is broader; it handles project management, billing, and integrations. They work together for effective translation management.
Can a TMS work without an agency?
Yes. Many TMS providers sell software independent of language services. A TMS provider simply supplies the infrastructure for cloud-based translation. You can bring your own linguists or use AI translation.
Does a TMS really help with localization management?
Absolutely. Beyond translation, localization management involves adapting formats, currencies, and context. A TMS provides visual context to linguists to aid this process.
Scaling Your Localization Process Internationally
Scaling your global presence requires solid infrastructure. If you rely on passing files back and forth, your localization project will eventually hit a wall. Using translation software prevents these bottlenecks and really structures the entire translation and localization processes.
Take the time to choose the right TMS for your situation. The best setup is the one that fits smoothly into the existing development cycle and won’t require intensive training.
