App localization is kind of like software localization, but for apps, of course. If your app is in only one language, it’s only user-friendly to one market. That’s not particularly helpful or lucrative, especially in an increasingly global marketplace. When your potential customers are checking out their mobile app store of choice, they could be anywhere in the world. They could speak any number of languages. Just because your app is technically available around the globe doesn’t mean it’s actually available to everyone in the world. Whether it’s for Android, iOS or both, making your app culturally sensitive and available in many languages is key.
This isn’t simple translation (not that translation is ever simple). App localization means that your app has been wholly adapted to not just another language (or languages), but to other cultures as well. Take the United States and Canada, for example. They both share English as a language, but have entirely different units of measure. Consider this: There are more than 7 billion mobile subscriptions around the world. Is your app suitable for all of them?
A Growing Market
You, your business and your app already have key demographics earmarked, but think bigger. Over 52 percent of the globe’s mobile subscribers are in the Asia Pacific region, not North America. Right now, Europe is in second place. However, it’s expected that by the end of 2016, the Middle East and Africa will rise up to snatch the silver from Europe. Although mobile apps are truly a worldwide feature, only 14 countries are responsible for 61 percent of all mobile subscriptions. It’s no surprise that China’s No. 1, but it’s followed by India, the United States, Indonesia and Brazil.
In other words, the mobile app market doesn’t necessarily look like many people think it does. Recently, Distimo App Analytics released “The Impact of App Translations” study, which revealed that companies which localize application texts enjoy 128 percent more downloads in every country. If that’s not enough to make a business prioritize app localization, nothing is. Plus, with every country covered with app localization, businesses enjoyed a 26 percent revenue hike in the first week alone.
What’s the Big Deal?
App localization is so much more than getting the language right. Often, a process called internationalization is used as a prep. Internationalization is the software preparedness aspect. Localization starts when you add resources to that software so that a specific country/culture/language/etc. gets support. App localization is a little trickier than software localization because you need cross-platform strategies that work with both Android and iOS.
A reputable expert can help. You’ll get quality resources, right-to-left layouts/text, proper formatting for numbers/currencies/dates/etc., troubleshooting and context supremacy. Contact Verbatim Solutions today and connect with app localization experts.
