Technology content rarely exists in a single document. A product may include a software interface, device display, installation guide, support centre, website, training course, legal notices and marketing content. Users experience all of these as parts of the same product, so the language needs to remain consistent across them.

Asian Absolute provides translation and localisation support for software companies, technology providers, electronics manufacturers, telecoms businesses and organisations managing complex digital products. Projects can involve a single technical document or a wider multilingual programme covering several teams, platforms and release cycles.

Before defining the workflow, we review the technology, content types, target users, languages, locales, files, platforms and planned release process. We also identify any existing terminology, string context, character restrictions, design requirements and internal review stages.

The aim is to build the language process around the way the product is developed, documented and supported, rather than treating every file as an unrelated translation task.

The right service depends on where the content appears and how people will use it. Interface text, a technical manual and launch campaign may belong to the same product, but they require different skills and review criteria.

Software, applications and digital products

Software localisation can cover the interface itself and the content that helps users understand and adopt the product.

Projects may include:

• User-interface strings
• Menus, buttons and navigation labels
• Dialogues, notifications and error messages
• Onboarding flows
• User settings and account content
• Help files and knowledge bases
• Release notes and update messages
• App store and product listings
• Web applications and customer portals
• Mobile and desktop applications

The team needs enough context to understand where each string appears, what action it describes and how much space is available. A short label without a screenshot, string ID or developer note can be more difficult to translate reliably than a full paragraph.

Asian Absolute’s software localisation services can support projects that require interface translation, localisation review and connected linguistic testing.

IT systems and enterprise technology

IT content may be written for administrators, internal users, technical teams, customers or senior decision-makers. The terminology and level of explanation should reflect that audience.

Projects can include content relating to:

• Enterprise software and ERP systems
• Cybersecurity products and documentation
• Geographic and data applications
• Cloud-based platforms and services
• System administration and configuration
• Technical reports and research
• Implementation and migration guidance
• Internal process and training materials
• Sales, procurement and tender documentation

Some assignments combine technical language with another specialist field such as finance, healthcare, engineering, legal or HR. The linguists should be selected for the complete subject matter rather than technology terminology alone.

Electronics and connected devices

An electronics project may include language embedded in the product, printed alongside it and delivered through supporting digital services.

Relevant content can include:

• Device interfaces and display text
• Installation and setup instructions
• User, service and maintenance manuals
• Product specifications and data sheets
• Safety information and warnings
• Packaging and labelling
• Firmware and update messages
• Companion apps and online portals
• Product catalogues
• Training and service materials

When the product combines hardware, firmware, software and documentation, terminology should be planned across all four. A component or function should not acquire a different name each time the user moves from the interface to the manual or support site.

Telecoms and network technology

Telecommunications content can be highly technical, but it may also be intended for customers, field teams, commercial partners or regulators.

Projects may include:

• Network and equipment documentation
• Installation, operation and maintenance manuals
• Technical specifications
• Testing and measurement documentation
• Mobile and fixed-line service content
• Messaging, voicemail and customer communications
• Network-management interfaces
• Procurement and tender documents
• Field-service and technical training
• Customer portals, billing support and help content
• Product, service and marketing materials

The project brief should identify the intended readers. Documentation for network engineers should not be translated in the same way as setup instructions for end users or a service description aimed at procurement teams.

Technical, commercial and customer-facing content

Technology businesses also produce material that sits outside the product interface. This may include:

• Websites and landing pages
• Product and solution pages
• White papers and research reports
• Case studies
• Sales presentations
• Brochures and product catalogues
• Customer-support articles
• Training courses and videos
• Contracts, policies and compliance content

These materials may need technical accuracy, persuasive writing or both. Marketing content can be coordinated with transcreation where a more creative market-specific approach is required.

A single technology programme may need several types of linguist. The person best suited to a network specification may not be the right choice for an app store description or a beginner-facing support article.

Asian Absolute selects the team according to:

• The technology and sector
• The content type
• The level of technical knowledge required
• The intended user or reader
• The language and locale
• The platform and file format
• The required review and QA stages

Technical translators focus on meaning, terminology and usability for the relevant professional audience. Localisation linguists also need to understand interface constraints and how isolated strings behave in context. Marketing translators and transcreators may be involved when product positioning, campaign language or brand voice requires a more adaptive approach.

Where the product serves a specialist industry, the underlying field matters too. Medical software, financial platforms, industrial control systems and legal technology should not be assigned solely on the basis that they are all software products.

Users notice when the same feature has one name in the interface, another in the manual and a third in the help centre. These inconsistencies can create confusion, increase support queries and make training materials harder to follow.

Before translation begins, we can review the language resources available for the product. These may include:

• Existing glossaries and termbases
• Previous translations
• Product and feature names
• UI labels
• Style guides
• Approved abbreviations
• Screenshots and prototypes
• Technical reference materials
• Client reviewer feedback
• Records of earlier language decisions

Approved terminology can then be shared across the relevant parts of the project. Translation memories may also help reuse approved text and maintain consistency across updates, provided the content and context are suitable.

Consistency does not mean translating every repeated phrase in exactly the same way regardless of context. A term used as a short interface label may need different grammar from the same term inside a full instruction. Linguistic judgement remains necessary even when terminology and translation tools are in place.

Localisation is easier to manage when language requirements are considered before the final build or design is complete. Early preparation can identify issues that would otherwise appear during testing or just before release.

Useful project information may include:

• String IDs and descriptions
• Screenshots, wireframes or access to a test environment
• Character limits
• Variables, placeholders and tags that must not be changed
• Information about plural forms and dynamic content
• A list of product names and non-translatable terms
• The relationship between the interface and supporting documentation
• The required import and export format
• Details of the target operating systems, devices or browsers

Strings should be separated from code where possible and supplied with enough context for the linguist to understand their function. Concatenated fragments, unclear placeholders and text embedded in images can make accurate localisation more difficult and may require additional preparation.

If the product is still in development, Asian Absolute can work with the client’s developers, localisation team or product managers to agree a practical handoff and query process. Development, internationalisation and functional engineering tasks should be defined separately from translation and linguistic QA so that responsibilities are clear.

A translation can be correct in a spreadsheet and still fail when placed inside the product. Text may be truncated, displayed in the wrong order, separated from a variable or shown in a font that does not support the target script.

Where included in the scope, in-context linguistic QA can review issues such as:

• Missing or untranslated strings
• Truncated or overlapping text
• Incorrect line breaks
• Broken variables, placeholders or tags
• Text displayed in the wrong location
• Font, encoding and character-support problems
• Dates, times, numbers and measurement formats
• Inconsistent terminology
• Text expansion within buttons, menus and layouts
• Right-to-left display and reading order
• Differences between the interface and documentation

The exact testing environment, supported platforms, devices and acceptance criteria should be agreed before testing begins. Functional software testing, debugging and engineering changes are separate from linguistic QA unless specifically included in the project.

Frequently Asked Questions