Mobile app localization is a technical process that addresses the modification of an app’s interface, text, graphic, and visual features along with textual elements, and functionality. All these changes are made according to the demands of different target languages. When we talk about mobile app translation services, these are used to make an app culturally relevant according to the target audience’s preferences and likenesses. The process may include dealing with the translation of the app’s text, working on visuals, and making adjustments that make the app look good aesthetically and culturally relevant. It also includes accommodating the regional customs. Moreover, for effective mobile app localization, it is important to pay attention to some core elements such as language, images, date formats, and currencies, etc.
However, the whole process can be confusing even for the app developers and companies who work on the mobile apps. Therefore, the companies with their translation agencies should practice sitting together to brainstorm and understand how the process works.
The mobile localization comes with three main variants considering the localization scope.
- Minimum Viable Localization (MVL)
The first important variant is minimum viable localization.
Focus on key elements
This type of localization focuses on the key elements more than secondary elements. This approach also prioritizes localization of the important elements including App Store descriptions, keywords, and not to forget the metadata. Minimum viable localization also known as MVL in the industry works on the core features and important content which often resonates with the needs of individual app developers and small setups.
Quick and cost-effective
Moreover, opting for this type of localization for your mobile app also makes you enjoy an economical option that suits your budget. This approach is particularly ideal for businesses and startups with limited resources making them test the potential market before making a heavy investment, which may go wrong due to incompetent and raw practices. This also indicates the need for proper research and identifying the scope according to the target audience’s needs and requirements before working to introduce something major.
Example
The examples may include translation of the keywords, descriptions, and screenshots into the selected targeted languages to make the app more discoverable.
2. Full App Localization
This type comes with the most comprehensive type of app localization.
Comprehensive approach
The comprehensive approach is the main essence of this localization type. Offering app localization services can become tricky and challenging. However, prior work helps to navigate through these challenges conveniently. This may involve the localization of the app’s content, such as UI text, and in-app messages along with the marketing material and campaigns that are needed to educate and advertise the potential companies, and individuals as buyers. Any other user-facing content that comes up during the process will also fall in the same category.
Cultural factors
Full app localization also demands a deep understanding of the cultural nuances. It ensures that all the cultural nuances are taken care of and the app is resonating well with the target audience’s needs and preferences. Additionally, it is particularly important to consider and be mindful that any mobile app that is not coherent with the culture can ruin all your efforts. Therefore, you as a mobile app developer should never proceed without considering the cultural aspects.
Example
The translation of the in-app content while adapting the images and colors to local preferences can be considered an example of this type of app localization. Moreover, it also includes optimizing the app’s layout according to the requirements that may vary with the screen sizes and reading directions.
3. Hybrid Localization:
Hybrid localization, as the name tells, is a combination of the two above-mentioned variants.It includes implementing localization in stages, focusing on most-critical app elements first.
Combination of MVL and full localization
This approach is particularly adapted for localizing the core app features on priority and then expanding to cover other elements as per requirements. Many experts suggest using hybrid localization for improved user experience.
Flexible and scalable
Companies and developers can work on hybrid localization where they can prioritize resources and efforts as per the needs of the target market and the potential. User demand in the target audiences can also affect the overall work. The flexibility and scalability that this strategy offers often go well in everyone’s favor. This approach also helps businesses to work on balancing the cost while performing localization. It is important to mention here that the services of a professional translation company should be prioritized in the whole process.
Example
All these applications that you see exclusively developed for the major markets, such as China, USA, UK, and other countries are developed considering a hybrid approach while using MVL for other languages which belong to medium to minor markets.
Conclusion
Mobile app localization is a tricky and challenging process. It is important that companies and businesses understand this process even before they execute it. There are three main types of mobile app localization, which are minimum viable localization which focuses on key elements, full app localization which comes with a comprehensive approach, and hybrid localization which is a combination of the MVL and full app localization.
