Product Localization
Product Localization is the process of adapting a product's documentation such as owner's manuals, datasheets, online documentation, brochures, and product packaging for a new locale. Good product localization not only helps enhance a product's quality, it also reduces post-sales support resulting in lower costs and happier customers. Poor localization of a product's support documents creates an unfavorable impression on its quality and leads to product misuse, problems, and on rare occasions, product liabilities.
In addition to the quality issues, poorly localized products often have significantly higher costs associated with foreign post-sales support. Poorly translated product manuals or online documentation tend to confuse the customer, resulting in increased direct telephone support by the call-center staff. Conversely, if the localized content is precise and easy to understand, it reduces technical support volume, leading to a decreased need for manpower and training associated overseas support costs.
Good product localization involves expertly localizing all product documentation so that customers can get the full value from them. The following are typical documents in need of localization:
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