The popularity of subscription-based software solutions (software as a service, or SaaS) is continuing to grow from one year to the next. In this article we’re going to talk about why SaaS applications should be localized and how our specialists do it.
Software as a service (SaaS) is a subscription-based software distribution model. SaaS solutions can be used via a browser or mobile app.
The SaaS model owes its popularity to several advantages it has over traditional local software. First of all, it has a lower initial implementation cost. Payment for SaaS applications is typically made on a monthly or yearly basis, which means that users don’t have to make a substantial investment right at the beginning. Second, these services are available from any place on Earth with internet access, which is very convenient for remote employees. And third, SaaS applications can easily scale to match the market’s changing needs.
Examples of software products that are distributed via the SaaS model include Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Shopify, Asana, Jira, WooCommerce, Salesforce, and more. Among other things, these products owe their international success to localization.
If a developer or publisher is planning to release an SaaS application in foreign markets, they need to localize it first. Localization can be used to:
According to CSA Research, 76% of internet users are more likely to buy a product if it has a description in their native language. Moreover, 40% of those surveyed said that they never buy a product from a website in a foreign language.
It’s best to start preparing an SaaS application for localization during development in order to avoid having to make major changes at the last minute. The following parts of a software product are typically localized:
The process of localizing an SaaS application includes the following key steps:
In addition to the SaaS application itself, it may also be necessary to translate marketing materials such as banners and video clips, as well as the product’s page in online stores and/or the company’s website. It’s also important to offer tech support in the users’ native language.
CorpTech Solutions develops project management tools for small and medium-sized businesses. After their products were successful in the US, the company decided to break into foreign markets, including Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, and South Korea. CorpTech Solution’s analysts found that these countries had a high demand for software solutions like theirs. Because of this, localizing their SaaS product would give the company a competitive advantage and allow it to effectively firm up its position in these target markets. CorpTech Solutions went to Logrus IT to help them do just that.
The first thing Logrus IT’s specialists did was translate the application and all user documentation into the languages of the target countries, as well as adapt certain aspects of its UI. These changes had to do with date formats, currency-related characters, and other regional characteristics. For example, for Spain, our experts replaced the American MM/DD/YYYY standard with the European DD/MM/YYYY and changed the currency from dollars to euros. Some aspects of the program also had to be adjusted to satisfy the EU’s GDPR.
The localization process was anything but simple – we had to coordinate the activities of multiple teams of specialists, including both in-house employees and freelancers – and ensure the consistency of the translation across various language versions. But Logrus IT’s experts managed to overcome all of these challenges.
The next step was localization testing, which helped us detect and correct all technical issues and malfunctions. We brought in residents of the target countries to perform these tests. They checked the localization from the perspective of linguistic and cultural features, as well as ease of use.
The final step was launching marketing campaigns that had been specialty adapted for each region. This included, among other things, partnering with influencers, advertising on popular platforms, and attending industry-related events and conferences.
In the end, the localization of CorpTech Solution’s SaaS product bore fruit. Their software solution received positive user reviews, the company’s customer base grew by 34%, and the product’s sales grew by 29%.
Logrus IT works with software developers from all over the world. Our clients include Yandex, Microsoft, Kaspersky, Logitech, Samsung, and other major companies. We offer top-notch service and a flexible approach to each client, and we take deadlines extremely seriously. We work with native speakers with translation experience in relevant fields. If you’re looking for a reliable partner to localize your SaaS application, feel free to get in touch with Logrus IT’s specialists.
How Do You Localize an Online Store?
Localizing Marketing Materials for China
What You Need to Know about Website Localization
What is Gamification in Education?
