TMS & PMS
INTEGRATIONS
REMOTE TEAMS
SETUP, TRAINING
& MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOWS FOR
CONTINUOUS
DEVELOPMENT
AND RFP ON PROJECT &
CMS TOOLS
In today’s endless ocean of language services and solutions, deciding for the right candidate has become challenging for localization project owners. Despite the numerous choices available, the similarity in features offered by competitors, all promising comprehensive solutions for any localization need, complicates the decision making.
Some software has been around for decades and has undergone significant transformations — transitioning from client-based to cloud-based, introducing internal marketplaces, integrating machine translation, and so on. And although these tools might excel in certain aspects, they may have been less successful in other crucial elements of the process. It is tough to keep track of these developments, and even harder to notice them when under pressure due to impending deadlines that require tooling upgrades.
If you cannot afford a time-consuming trial-and-error process or simply have better things to do, this is where my expertise can help you. With many years of experience as a localization manager and engineer, I’ve worked with a wide array of tools, implemented them in different contexts, and also dealt with both common and uncommon roadblocks along the way. As a result, I am intimately aware of their strengths and, perhaps more importantly, of what they fail to deliver. As an independent localization consultant, I am not tied to any particular software or service and can help you make the right choice based on the actual needs of your content. I can also ensure the best possible conditions when approaching developers.
CUSTOM CMS, TMS & PMS INTEGRATIONS
Creating a solution that naturally integrates into your existing infrastructure is paramount for a successful l10n setup. That’s why my approach to custom CMS, TMS, and PMS integrations is centered on fluency and native harmonization. The target solution will not only blend seamlessly with your current system but also amplify its effectiveness without interrupting ongoing processes — a symbiotic addition that all departments can gain from.
Recognizing that your teams are already employing multiple platforms and software, we remain judicious about introducing new elements into your digital ecosystem. Instead of loading up additional platforms with overlapping functions, our focus will be on fully harnessing the potential of your existing ones. My style is to adapt over impose, minimizing the learning curve while simultaneously optimizing workflow efficiency.
At the heart of each localization management initiative I undertake are three principles: content ownership, technical flexibility, and resource independence. This means the setups I build ensure localization happens on on-premise platforms, providing better control and ownership over your content.
By integrating external partners into agile workflows and delivering optimal visibility for project management, I can increase productivity and reduce linguistic inconsistencies. I firmly believe in having an open yet controlled environment, which invites contributions from all corners but never at the expense of quality or your brand’s unique voice.
Adopting the motto ‘Your Content, Your Rules,’ I strive to create a localization infrastructure that ensures you are in the driving seat but without the customary hassles of steering. My role is not just to set up mechanisms that work but also to ensure they work for you in the way you intend them to. That way, you’re always in command, making the process as personal and efficient as possible.
INDEPENDENT FREELANCE REMOTE TEAMS - SETUP, TRAINING & MANAGEMENT
Building and maintaining your own remote team offers unparalleled benefits, the foremost being superior quality control. Even if your team doesn’t cover all your translation needs, having your own language specialists cross-checking work allows you to provide vendors with precise feedback on your expectations. This direct involvement in the translation process ensures that your brand’s voice and message remain consistent across all languages and markets.
A remote team also presents a unique opportunity to tap directly into your target market. By having native speakers on your team, you gain insights into local customs, seasonal opportunities, and cultural nuances. These team members can proactively alert you to country-specific holidays or cultural events, enabling you to tailor your marketing efforts to resonate more deeply with your audience.
With the integration of project management systems and communication tools like Slack and Jira, managing your remote team’s availability and tasks becomes a breeze. You can conveniently oversee project progress, assign tasks, and communicate with your team, all from within your preferred platforms.
Don’t worry about management overhead. I will take care of recruiting a team of freelancers for you, and you can be as involved in the selection process as you wish. Once the team is assembled, I will ensure they are set up and trained on the platforms relevant to their tasks. This way, you can focus on what matters most – creating high-quality content to your audience.
LOCALIZATION WORKFLOWS FOR CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT
In the digital economy, continuous delivery and development have become the norm. However, consistently meeting the needs of your international audience presents a unique challenge. Every time your product evolves, localizing the changes shouldn’t delay its delivery in various languages.
Localization has often been a sequential, waterfall-like process, mirroring a craftsman delicately shaping wood. Each text string or document becomes an individual project – completed, delivered, standing in stark contrast to the continuous, iterative nature of Agile workflows.
Despite these historical challenges, modern advancements in language technology and Agile project management software have rewritten this narrative. Today, we can flawlessly meld the worlds of code and language, all thanks to our shared lingua franca: API. A unified workflow now incorporates everyone, from coders to translators, facilitating efficient collaboration.
As your dedicated localization consultant, my prime goal is to effortlessly merge the worlds of translation and continuous development. Utilizing your current tools, I align with your teams to understand requirements and alleviate pain points, crafting a solution that brings everyone on board. This enables localization to become a homegrown part of your Agile workflows, eliminating unnecessary pauses and disruptions.
Your teams remain committed to their vital work of enhancing the product, while I ensure every localization requirement wraps neatly into these enhancements. Through this synergy, every product update or iteration speaks authentically to your global audience. The goal here isn’t just product localization but also cultivating confidence in you that someone adept is taking care of your complex localization needs. I’ll handle your localization so that you can focus on delivering exceptional products to your users – across all languages and regions.
This perception exists today just as it did back then, however, the technological landscape multilingual development takes place in has drastically changed. The importance of professional localization for a successful business has only increased.
As department head, the workflows and technology I established to support continuous localization were born out of the necessity to meet their requirements. The l10n & i18n strategy that is considered as standard nowadays involved adjusting to the agile development cycle and efficiently adapting our games for different markets around the world.
Additionally to project volumes typically being in the hundred thousands in average, being part of a fast moving business meant for me having to find ways for the team to adapt to accelerated deadlines, unexpected additional scope and constantly switching between multiple projects. It certainly involved its fair share of trial and error, but eventually found a way to balance the needs of our internal clients with the demands of the localization process and my team of language professionals. These were tumultuous days where project completion always prevailed over best practices. However, these experiences have left an obvious mark on my project management style up until today.
I developed a strong instinct to develop internal capacities of localization talent and a DIY mentality for learning the technology behind content management, implementation, and l10n tech. A skillset I started to offer as Loquatics Consulting in 2015.
