Localization is the multi-step process of adapting a project to a target language with region-specific linguistic nuances and cultural norms in mind. For a company, a high-quality translation of a website, software, or an app can become an advantage on the market and can help expand a product’s audience reach and increase its profitability. Statistically, 75% of users prefer getting information in their mother tongue. Their content quality expectations are increasing as well. Users’ general impression of a company, perception of its brand, and its product’s credibility all depend on whether or not the product is localized.

Localization and Translation: What are the Differences?

Localization is more than translation. Its ultimate goal is not simply to translate text into another language but to create a fully adapted version that looks and feels authentic to a foreign user.

Localization involves modifying UI elements, media files, charts, and number formats. This is especially important when creating foreign-language versions of websites and launching mobile apps, software, and other IT projects in a foreign market.

Localization is completed by a team of experts handling specific tasks assigned to them, including professional translators, native speakers, editors, proofreaders, etc. To ensure the best possible results, all translated files are tested in their final format.

Website Localization

English is the language of international communication but it might not be sufficient to conquer a foreign market. For example, only 5% of Europeans can speak English, while in a heavily-populated region such as China, this number is a mere 1%. Localizing a web store in a local language will improve customer loyalty and sales volume.

Translators handle all web pages, visuals, and system messages. Unlike automatic browser translation of a web page, the localized text that the foreign user will see at any stage of interacting with the resource will be in their native language.

SEO for Multilingual Websites

We integrate localization with SEO to make sure every language version of your site reaches its target audience effectively.
By structuring pages correctly, implementing hreflang tags, and optimizing localized content, your site ranks higher and attracts organic traffic in all markets. Read more here.

Software Localization

This process involves the translation of the UI, technical documents, and supporting files. The source and target texts often differ in text length and fitting a larger number of symbols into a graphic element may require choosing a different font, breaking words into multiple lines, or altering the layout of the elements on the screen. In addition, all values will be converted into local units of measurement.

App Localization

More and more companies make applications for smartphones. This is due to a high level of user engagement, the growing number of smartphone users, and the general digitization of business. Translating an app into other languages helps reach a significantly larger target audience.

Localization for iOS or Android makes the product competitive in the global market, affecting its user-friendliness, rating, and visibility in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.

Our Localization Process

Analyze product and requirements

Study the product, terminology, and target audience to prepare for precise, context-aware localization.

Create a glossary and style guide

Develop a unified glossary and style guide to ensure consistency in terminology and tone.

Translate and edit in TMS

Use modern translation management systems (TMS) and involve experienced translators and editors.

Test through LQA and in-context checks

Check localized content directly in the product to ensure naturalness, accuracy, functionality, and fit for purpose.

Provide ongoing support and updates

Keep translations up to date with every product release, maintaining consistency and quality over time.

How Can Your Business Benefit From Localization?

Localization makes your product clear and familiar to users in any country. It helps your business build relationships with new audiences, lower entry barriers, and get feedback from customers in an environment that feels natural to them.

With proper adaptation, you’re not just translating words — you’re creating an experience where users feel at home. It builds loyalty, drives organic growth, and allows marketing campaigns to work from day one. And when your product speaks the user’s language, you gain a strong position among local competitors and open the door to sustainable international growth.

What Does Localization Include?

1. Internationalization of technical portions, which simplifies further localization processes.

2. Complete content translation by native speakers.

3. Adaptation of images and audiovisual content.

4. Adjusting date, number, and currency formats.

5. Editing and proofreading.

6. Localization testing to ensure that the content appears correctly in context.

How Many Languages Can Localization Cover?

Kenaz Translation Agency is a global company working with experts all over the world. This means the number of languages we can provide is unlimited. We offer translation and localization services for many languages, including English, German, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, French, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Hindi, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, and more.

Which Languages Should You Choose?

When choosing languages for localization, you should consider market volume, a foreign audience’s interest in what you have to offer, and other factors. See our article, Why You Should Get a Multilingual Website, for statistics regarding the usage of different languages online and the benefits of localization for e-commerce.

Localization is the way to go if you need to translate your website or software for a foreign market or to reach a multinational audience within one country. For instance, it is worth translating your website into Ukrainian and Russian for Ukraine; localizing in German, French, and Italian for Switzerland; or translating into English and Spanish for a US audience.

How is the Localization Team’s Work Organized?

Every project offers a personalized approach and the selection of experts. The project manager is always in touch with the client, ready to address any of their requests and needs. The translation agency will handle translator selection and other tasks.

Whether you are in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or any other city in the US or worldwide, feel free to order a translation of a website, software, or an app using email to communicate and share files with the project manager.

Translation Bureau and Translation Agency: What’s the Difference?

The translation services offered by a translation bureau and by a translation agency may have much in common. However, a translation bureau focuses primarily on the B2C segment, translating individual documents for clients, offering certified translations, or acting as an intermediate to obtain an apostille. A translation agency is actively involved in the B2B segment, translating for businesses and localizing IT products for companies.

Another difference is that, more often than not, a translation bureau does business locally, employing staff based in its city. An agency, on the other hand, often works with translators and consultants across the globe, primarily employing native speakers of various languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s the difference between translation and localization?
Translation focuses on words, while localization adapts the product to the culture and context of each market.

2. What types of products can you localize?
Websites, apps, software, and games — anything that needs to work properly and feel natural for users.

3. How do you handle NDA and data confidentiality?
We sign NDAs and follow strict security procedures to keep your data safe throughout the project.

4. How long does a typical localization project take?
From a few days to two weeks, depending on the volume and number of languages.

5. How do you ensure quality?
We run LQA (Localization Quality Assurance) by checking the localized product for accuracy, context, and usability.