Summary

In this episode, Jay Stansell interviews Andrew Sachs, a veteran in product strategy and localization. They discuss the concept of localization debt, the evolution of localization solutions, and the importance of integrating localization into product development from the start. Andrew shares insights on the differences between Smartling and Google Translate, the challenges of ensuring translation quality, and the necessity of building a business case for localization. The conversation also touches on data privacy concerns and the future of translation technology, including real-time translation capabilities.

Takeaways

* Localization debt arises when language considerations are an afterthought.

* Manual processes in localization lead to accumulating debt.

* The shift to cloud-based solutions has transformed localization.

* Machine translation has evolved but still requires human oversight.

* Quality in translation is subjective and requires native speakers.

* A global-first approach should be integrated into product development.

* Building a business case for localization is essential for market success.

* Localization should be considered in the design and development phases.

* Data privacy regulations impact localization strategies.

* The future of translation includes real-time capabilities and AI integration.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Localization and Smartling

02:18 Understanding Localization Debt

06:13 Evolution of Localization Solutions

09:46 AI’s Role in Localization

16:29 Building a Global-First Product

21:14 Making the Business Case for Localization

24:42 Managing Localization Backlogs

25:56 Handling PII and Jurisdictional Constraints

27:12 The Future of Translation Technology

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