How to take your localization program to the next level

To succeed in fast-moving global markets, a reactive localization strategy won’t cut it. Are you ready to level up? Continuous improvement is key to staying competitive, and assessing your current localization program is the first step. A mature, optimized localization process expands your global reach, strengthens brand consistency, and drives sustained revenue growth.

Yet many businesses remain stuck in chaotic, ad hoc efforts, causing inefficiencies, inconsistent messaging, and missed opportunities. The path is a rise in maturity level. You can leverage a framework called the SCALE® model, based on the Localization Maturity Model (LMM), which offers a clear roadmap and tips for moving from reactive to integrated, streamlined processes that align with your goals.

In this post, with that as our frame, we’ll show how we evaluate localization programs to guide your processes to maturity, helping refine your strategy, boost efficiency, and scale globally with confidence.

Appraise these areas of your localization program

To stay competitive, your localization program needs regular check-ins. A comprehensive appraisal at quarterly or bi-annual intervals helps you spot inefficiencies, refine your processes, and (re)align with business goals. Whether it’s evolving your team, upgrading technology, or expanding your services, each area plays a critical role in scaling successfully.

By continuously evaluating your localization program in each of the following areas, you can keep it agile, efficient, and ready to meet the demands of your global growth.

Team and resources

Your people are just as important as your processes. In fact, without the right team structure, even the best localization strategy can fall flat. Your team will need to grow with your business: early on, you may only need a localization manager to oversee the strategy and process of localization. As your program scales, however, you’ll require additional roles: a localization project manager for coordination, a quality manager for consistency, a language manager for each language, and a technology manager to oversee localization tools like your Translation Management System.

A localization provider can facilitate scaling by handling sudden surges in translation demand or providing specialized linguistic expertise that your internal team may lack, reducing the need for additional hires.

Technology and tools

Just as crucial as having the right people on your team is equipping them with the right tools. As your localization program evolves, the importance of a scalable technology stack grows along with it. While basic tools may suffice early on, scaling effectively requires a more advanced setup to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.

Consider equipping your team with the following tools:

• Translation management system (TMS): Automates workflows and integrates with other platforms, speeding up localization. Some TMSs can be complex, so mid-sized businesses may find a simpler portal to be a better fit. Regardless, you’ll need something to centralize your processes as you grow.
• Terminology database: A glossary of translated terms and their definitions that maintains consistent terminology across languages to safeguard brand consistency and automates usage of those terms in the translation process.
• Translation memory (TM) tools: Reuse past translations to save time and keep quality high.
• Machine and AI-powered translation: Speeds up the process of localization. In some cases, you’ll need to maintain quality with human oversight, but in others, ‘raw’ automatic translations will be perfectly suited.

Regularly evaluating and improving your tech stack is essential for keeping your localization efforts scalable as your business grows globally.

Automation and integrations

Is your localization workflow running at peak efficiency? Automation and AI help you streamline manual tasks, improve accuracy, and scale faster. From automating repetitive processes to integrating Translation Management Systems (TMS) and Content Management Systems (CMS), these solutions free up your team for more strategic work, can speed up your time to market, and save you money.

Here are some key automation and integrations that can enhance your localization efforts:

• Automated file handling: Eliminate manual uploads by automating file transfers between systems.
• Automated quality assurance (QA) checks: Detect and fix translation errors instantly.
• CMS/TMS integrations: Sync content seamlessly between platforms.
• API integrations: Automate data flows and task assignments.

Automation and integrations not only boost efficiency but also position your localization program to adapt to your expanding global needs.

Evolve your KPIs

When was the last time you updated your localization program’s KPIs? It might be time to take a closer look at what you’re tracking to make sure your current metrics still reflect what matters most to your business. (And to further justify all the work you do and accomplish to the senior leadership team).

As your localization strategy grows, the KPIs you track may need to change. For instance, if you’re expanding into new markets, metrics like customer satisfaction or engagement in specific regions may become more critical. A stagnant growth curve, inconsistent results, or shifting business priorities can all signal that it’s time to adjust your KPIs. Regularly reassessing these metrics helps ensure that you’re measuring success in ways that truly align with your evolving global goals.

Expand your localization partnership

As your localization program scales, how confident are you that you are taking advantage of all the services available to you to maximize your quality and market reach? Talking to your localization partner about adding services like internationalization and testing can help ensure your product and content perform at their best everywhere.

Internationalization (I18n) prepares your software or content for easy adaptation to different languages and regions, reducing the need for future rework as you grow. Localization testing can help you validate that your localized product functions correctly, maintains high-quality standards, and delivers a consistent user experience across different languages and regions.

Here are the key types of testing to consider:

• Linguistic testing: Verifies translations for accuracy and cultural relevance.
• Functional testing: Ensures software works correctly across languages.
• Localization testing: Makes sure your product has no issues related to layout, formatting, untranslated text, or display problems.

As your company expands into new markets, your testing requirements may evolve. Regularly evaluating and adjusting your testing program is crucial to maintaining high standards as your localization efforts grow. Partnering with an LSP for testing offers access to expert linguists, advanced testing environments, and the technical resources needed to deliver top-quality localized content across all markets.

Audit target markets

Market success isn’t static—are your current markets still the best fit for your goals? Regular audits ensure you remain focused on the markets with the strongest ROI. Start by reviewing metrics such as customer engagement, satisfaction, and sales performance to assess how each target market is performing. If the numbers aren’t adding up, it may be time to shift focus, either by refining your approach in current markets, moving resources to more promising areas, or expanding into new regions. Staying agile and data-driven keeps your global strategy on track for growth.

Prioritize content

Not all content has the same importance in every market, so it’s crucial to audit and prioritize what you localize based on its impact. Are you focusing on the most valuable content for each region? Once you’ve determined the key pieces, you can select the right type of translation: AI-driven for speed, Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) for efficiency, or human translation for high-quality, nuanced content. Regularly evaluating your content strategy helps ensure you’re focusing on what truly connects with your global audiences.

How to work with your localization services provider to prioritize continuous improvement

Your localization provider should be more than a vendor—they should be a true partner in your success. Here’s what to look for from your localization partner:

• Conducts Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), which are meetings with your localization vendor where you review progress, scope, issues, and results and identify areas for improvement.
• Has a dedicated technologist on staff who reviews workflows and tech stack with a view to optimize.
• Leverages a dedicated quality manager who keeps up with quality needs and the processes to achieve them.
• Assigns a proactive, engaged project manager who communicates clearly with you on all issues related to present work and future results.
• Shares joint documentation, such as standard operating procedures and risk mitigation plans, that covers all processes and can be used to train and keep everyone on the same page.

We drive these activities with all our customers.  For example, Acclaro worked with a leading commerce platform to centralize and streamline their localization processes, improving efficiency and reducing costs. Similarly, Acclaro helped another global client standardize their operations, leading to better control and scalability.

Lastly, an effective language services provider should stay updated on emerging technologies and best practices and share their findings with you. Acclaro stays current by attending and participating in conferences such as LocWorld, GALA, Slator, AMTA, EAMT, and Women in Localization.

Take the next step to upgrade your localization program

Is your localization program driving the global growth you want? If not, it might be time to examine your strategy more closely. By considering key factors like team structure, technology, testing, and market audits, you can evolve your localization efforts into a mature, optimized program that strengthens your global presence and drives real results. Partner with Acclaro to refine your strategy, overcome challenges, and tap into new opportunities for international success.

Ready to refresh your localization program? Contact Acclaro today, and let’s make it happen.