Do I need to localise my mobile app?

Let’s not fool ourselves, you will no doubt use lots of different mobile apps. But do you know what the story is behind the ones that are from other countries and weren’t originally written in English? No? Let us tell you! They have had to go through a mobile app localisation process.

You are probably asking yourself what that actually means. Well, in short, it involves adapting an application so that people from other countries can easily use it. The aim is to provide the best experience to users all around the world and this means considering a number of issues that we will explain in more detail later. But first, let’s set the scene a bit:

The boom in the use of mobile apps

You probably already know that smartphones have become extremely important all around the world due to easy access to the Internet.

Their use has skyrocketed. With this has come strong growth in the use of mobile apps, which have become so popular that there are now thousands of them that can be used for many things such as checking the news, using social networks, job searching or online shopping, among many others. They have become essential in all areas of our daily life! As we can see from The mobile market in 2022 report, there were 230 billion app downloads during 2021 worldwide.

Companies are keeping an eye on the advantages it can offer

Companies have seen how widely mobile phones are used, which is why they are now also reinforcing their digital presence through mobile apps. This is a great way to improve customer service, as it provides quick, intuitive and personalised access to the company’s content. This in turn helps improve the user experience and bring the brand closer to the customer.

They are also understanding the advantages of  translating apps

This is not the end of the process. Apps are often so successful that they need to be translated so that all users can download and access them in their native language. What happens when you decide to do this? At this point, the inevitable localisation challenges arise in terms of needing to provide the best user experience to conquer international markets.

Is localisation the same as translation?

Although these terms may seem similar, there are clear differences. While translation is based on transferring the content of a text from one language to another, localisation goes further since it implies a cultural aspect. It therefore consists of adapting a product or service to a specific market, considering the target audience and the culture of that market.

Mobile app localisation

The localisation of mobile apps is an essential part of any company’s internationalisation process. This results in a great user experience in the target language and success in any market in the world.

A mobile app must speak the language of the destination country. This means considering not only linguistic differences, but also cultural and technical ones. That is, adapting not only the texts, but also the images and videos, the colours and the layout of the application. But that’s not all! You also need to adjust the currency, date and time formats, as well as telephone numbers, websites and many other things to the target culture.

In other words, it is the practice of tailoring the features and interface of an application to global markets according to the linguistic and cultural preferences of the market in question. Its power lies in its ability to make the app accessible to users around the world.

This is more complicated and important than it seems, which is why companies need to pay increasing attention to it when launching their products in international markets. Adapting the content to the destination market can have a real impact on the number of downloads.

Perfect localisation should not alter the purpose or features of the original application. In other words, the aim is for the application to look and work in the target culture in the same way it originally did in its native language.

How to overcome mobile app localisation challenges: professional translators

Users prefer brands that offer them localised content and make them feel unique. The professional translators at Okodia UK speak the language of the destination country and know the specific features of the culture, so they can achieve this purpose.

By using its localisation services, you will be able to reach out globally to other countries, boost your sales and get a higher performing app (because more people will download it!). Your app will be available to millions of users who could become your customers, anywhere around the world!

What are you waiting for? Hire a translation agency in London to extend your reach and provide a unique experience for each user. Turn your app into a global success!