Your Guide To An Effective SaaS Localization Process

To make sure your investment in SaaS localization yields the intended outcomes, we have prepared for you a list of the major aspects the process of SaaS localization covers.

Addressing each of the following key components ensures delivering a high-quality, culturally customized experience for your international users.

Language Translation

While translation alone does not ensure users from diverse cultures fully connect with your SaaS product, it still forms the crucial first step in the localization process. Mainly, it sets the stage for a more impactful experience.

During this initial phase, all core interface textual elements should be translated into the native languages of the target audiences, e.g. buttons and menus, to ensure the interface is understandable and accessible for all target users.

However, translation for localization demands more than a straightforward swap of words; it focuses on conveying the message in the most culturally sensitive way.

And only with the foundational translation work completed, the localization team can properly focus on adapting other important aspects including the visual and functional ones, and more.

Cultural Adaptation

Though important, even culturally sensitive translation fails to account for important elements that directly influence users’ experience with your software.

For SaaS products, in particular, many of the aspects that shape the digital experience vary substantially according to users’ locations and require careful adaptation to resonate with them.

Let’s have a quick look at some of these region-specific elements.

Date & Time Formats

For instance, in the United States, dates are typically formatted as MM-DD-YYYY and time is expressed in a 12-hour clock format. Conversely, in China, the date format is YYYY-MM-DD and a 24-hour clock is the standard. Adapting these date and time conventions is essential to prevent confusion among users and to optimize their experience with the software.

Payment Gateways & Methods

Payment gateways can vary significantly from one region to another. In the United States, for example, PayPal and Stripe are widely used payment gateways while in China, AliPay and WeChat Pay dominate the market.

The same also applies to payment method preferences. In the US the most popular online payment methods are E-wallets and credit cards,  but this is not the same in India where UPI tops the most preferred online payment methods.

When integrating online payment options into your software, it’s essential to localize the payment methods and gateways to align with the preferences of your target market as part of the software localization process for your SaaS offering.

Prices & Currencies

For software companies, crafting a pricing strategy demands thorough market research to estimate the going rates for similar offerings, which must integrate the local currency of the target market for a satisfying user experience.

Adobe, for example, is currently promoting a 40% discount worldwide—uniform in percentage but not in absolute cost.

In the USA, Adobe’s all-in-one package is priced at $35.99, yet in Egypt, it’s listed for L.E 568.86. A direct conversion would yield approximately L.E 1112.09, but Adobe’s market-sensitive pricing means Egyptian users pay significantly less for such products.

This strategy shows how Adobe recognizes and takes into consideration the economic and cultural discrepancies, adjusting their prices to align with each country’s purchasing power and market conditions.

Device & Operating System Compatibility

Another aspect localization takes into consideration is your software compatibility with different operating systems and devices.

In collaboration with developers and engineers, localization experts make sure to tailor your codebase for seamless functionality across various hardware platforms, from desktop computers to mobile devices.

Additionally, they make sure they optimize your software for diverse operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, and others.

Once compatibility is achieved, the next step is to fine-tune your software’s interface to accommodate the unique aspect ratios and screen sizes specific to each device and operating system.

This level of detailed localization ensures that your website or app provides an intuitive and user-friendly experience, regardless of how or where your customers access it.