Localization Testing Best Practices

Did you know that users worldwide downloaded approximately 77 billion mobile apps in 2023? With the rise of global digital markets and a growing smartphone user base, making your app stand out requires more than great functionality. It demands cultural relevance and linguistic accuracy.

Global app developers must ensure their app is accessible to all types of users regardless of language and location. However, successfully adapting a product to a different language and locale can be challenging.

Localization testing is essential to overcome localization challenges. It ensures your app adapts to the cultural, linguistic, and regulatory needs of various markets. With growing user expectations, effective localization can distinguish between a successful global rollout and missed opportunities.

In this article, we will discuss some localization testing best practices and present a checklist to guide your testing efforts. 

What is Localization Testing, and Why is it Important?

Localization testing validates how well a product’s features are adapted to meet users’ cultural, social, visual, and linguistic needs in a particular location. It ensures user experiences (UX) are optimized for the target audience. 

App localization testing is seen as a competitive advantage as it helps increase customer acquisition and retention. It is important for businesses for the following reasons:

  • It ensures a consistent and flawless app experience across different markets.
  • Incorporating localization early in the development stage allows for easier adaptation of UX and UI for target markets.
  • It ensures users in different regions have an experience customized to their cultural, social, and linguistic preferences. 

What Elements Should Be Considered for a Successful Localization Strategy?

Building a strong localization strategy requires careful planning and consideration. Here are five essential tips to create a solid framework:

1. Identify Target Regions

  • Understand users’ characteristics, including product usage patterns and geodemographics.
  • Take note of special seasons and public holidays.
  • Analyze competitor characteristics, such as user base, growth, and product format (language, layout, and content).
  • Assess your product’s features and the adjustments needed for localization.

2. Determine Localization Variables

  • Go beyond language for content localization; consider local regulations, content interests, and social, religious, and political norms.
  • Maintain quality throughout the entire product localization process.

3. Plan Your Localization Timeline

  • Remember, localization is an ongoing process that involves continuous quality improvements.
  • Decide if you will implement a localized marketing strategy alongside your product localization.

4. Set Localization KPIs

Use the following performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of your efforts:

  • On-time delivery rate (%)
  • Localization-related complaints (%)
  • Localization-related bugs (%)
  • Fixed localization bugs (%)
  • Failed localization bugs (%)
  • Number of users post-localization

5. Define Budget and Stakeholders

  • Assign a project manager and team members, including the technical team.
  • If in-house capacity is lacking, consider partnering with a software testing company like Testlio, which offers a global network of expert testers in over 150 countries.

What are Localization Testing Best Practices? 

For a successful localization testing strategy, consider these five best practices:

  • Test as early as possible: Start localization testing early in the development process to reduce costs and spot issues before they aggravate.
  • Use competent localized testers: Ensure your product is ready for global release by testing with local testers. These testers should be skilled in all aspects of localization, including language and cultural changes, user interactions, and the interplay between translation and user interface (UI).
  • Monitor your KPIs: Regularly measure user growth, analyze feedback from existing users, and track localization-related complaints to improve the localized experience continually.
  • Use automation tools: Use automation tools for repetitive tasks in localization testing. Automation speeds up the process, reduces human error, and ensures consistency across different regions.
  • Avoid over-automating: While automation can be beneficial, it’s important to balance it with manual testing. Over-automating may overlook cultural nuances and user experience issues that are best caught by human testers.
  • Follow a Checklist: Map out your localization process and follow a checklist to ensure you don’t miss testing critical functionality or features. We’ve compiled a checklist below that you can adapt to your project.

Localization Testing Checklist 

A thorough localization checklist ensures your product effectively reaches and resonates with your target audience. It helps you cover all critical aspects of localization, from language accuracy to cultural relevance to functional and UI consistency. 

We’ve compiled a generalized checklist you can use as a starting point in localization testing.

1. Style Guide

  • Define the product’s tone of voice and language style for each target market.
  • Ensure consistency in brand messaging and terminology across all localized versions.
  • Adapt stylistic elements, such as formality or colloquial expressions, to fit cultural preferences.

2. Glossaries 

  • Compile a list of key terms and phrases that need consistent translation.
  • Validate that industry-specific jargon is accurately translated and understood in the target market.
  • Update glossaries regularly to reflect any changes in terminology or new content.

3. Product or Feature Specification

  • Document requirements for each feature, including functional and design specifications.
  • Ensure that localized features meet the same standards of performance and usability as the original.
  • Check for any additional requirements unique to the target market, such as regulatory compliance.

4. Languages and Locations

  • Identify all languages and regions where localization is needed.
  • Determine regional variations in language, such as dialects or formal/informal speech.
  • Assess any additional regional considerations, such as local laws or customs affecting content.

5. Product Platform

  • Test the app across different platforms, including mobile (iOS and Android), desktop, and AR.
  • Verify compatibility with various device models and operating system versions.
  • Ensure consistent performance and user experience across all platforms.

6. Functional/UI Testing Scope

  • Verify that text fits within UI elements without causing truncation or overlap.
  • Check that font sizes and styles are consistent and legible across different languages.
  • Ensure that the layout remains user-friendly and visually appealing in all localized versions.

7. Location-Related Testing Scope

  • Ensure all product content, including phone numbers, dates, times, decimal numbers, currency, and temperature formats, is accurately localized to regional standards.
  • Validate that colors, flags, and country names align with local customs and cultural norms.
  • Confirm that event-based marketing is triggered appropriately and reflects the correct local context and customs.

8. Linguistic Testing Scope

  • Ensure grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct in all localized versions.
  • Identify and correct unnatural translations and ensure idiomatic expressions fit local usage.
  • Verify consistency of translations across the entire product and check right-to-left (RTL) formatting for languages like Arabic and Urdu.

9. Regulatory Compliance

  • Verify all product content and features comply with local regulations and legal requirements.
  • Ensure data privacy and protection measures meet regional standards and guidelines.

10. Localization Impact Results

  • Measure conversion rates and user engagement before and after localization.
  • Track localization-related complaints and user feedback to identify areas for improvement.
  • Assess overall user satisfaction and the effectiveness of localized content in enhancing the user experience.

Example of Localization Testing

Let’s take an example of a fitness app initially designed for English-speaking users in the US. When localizing it for the Japanese market, you’ll have to focus on several key areas. 

You may consider the following aspects to ensure the app provides an engaging and tailored experience to the local audience. 

  • Adapt promotional messages to align with local holidays.
  • Verify the app’s data and time formats, as well as any region-specific features. 
  • Ensure all text and messages are accurately translated and culturally relevant. 
  • Adjust the UI to handle longer Japanese text without layout issues. 
  • Check that images and icons are culturally appropriate and resonate with the Japanese users. 

Final Words

Effective localization testing delivers a smooth user experience across diverse regions. Accurate translation, cultural relevance, and customized UIs can help you ensure your app resonates with users in every market.

Don’t let poor localization hold you back. Consider Testlio localization testing services to optimize your app’s localization!

Here’s what Testlio offers:

  • Access to over 10,000 expert testers across 150+ countries. 
  • Testing of over 600,000 devices and 800+ payment methods to ensure your app performs flawlessly. 
  • Flexible staffing options to help you scale your resources based on your project needs. 
  • Rapid market expansion to expand into new markets with confidence.
  • Quicker and more reliable releases with our dedicated testing teams.

Talk to an expert at Testlio today to learn how we can help you explore new markets and enhance your global presence.