Why Localization Needs Subject Matter Experts
Localization goes beyond translation. It’s about adapting content to meet local market needs while maintaining accuracy. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) play a critical role in this process by ensuring technical precision, compliance with local standards, and relevance to the target audience. Here’s why SMEs are essential:
- Maintain Technical Accuracy: SMEs ensure specialized terms and concepts are correctly translated without losing meaning.
- Meet Local Standards: They align content with regional regulations, certifications, and safety requirements.
- Adapt for Local Users: SMEs tailor content to resonate with local audiences while preserving technical details.
Key Insight: Involving SMEs leads to higher-quality localization, fewer errors, and faster project completion. Tools like terminology databases and collaboration platforms can streamline the process and make SME input more effective.
Want better localization results? Start collaborating with SMEs early, define clear workflows, and use tools to bridge communication gaps.
In-country Review Explained
How SMEs Improve Localization
Subject matter experts (SMEs) play a key role in improving localization quality. Their knowledge ensures not only technical accuracy but also that content resonates with local markets.
Connecting Language and Technical Knowledge
SMEs combine technical expertise with linguistic clarity, ensuring specialized terminology retains its precise meaning while being understandable for local users. This is especially critical in industries like manufacturing, engineering, and industrial automation, where accuracy can directly affect safety and compliance.
For example, when translating industrial equipment manuals, terms like "pressure relief valve" must maintain their exact technical specifications and safety implications. Misinterpretations in such critical documentation can lead to serious risks.
Meeting Industry Standards
SMEs ensure content aligns with both international and local standards by adapting technical details, safety protocols, and certifications. Their expertise is essential for areas such as:
- Industry-specific certifications
- Local electrical codes
- Regional safety guidelines
Take electrical equipment localization as an example: SMEs ensure that voltage specifications, safety warnings, and installation instructions meet local requirements.
Making Content Work for Local Users
SMEs adjust technical content to include terminology and examples familiar to the target audience. They understand how technical concepts are approached in different regions, enabling them to make adjustments that maintain technical accuracy.
For instance, in industrial marketing materials, SMEs identify which technical features are most relevant to local markets. They adapt technical demonstrations, case studies, and product specifications to reflect regional practices while staying true to the core technical details.
Research on SME Impact in Localization
Measuring SME Effectiveness
Studies in the industry highlight how involving subject matter experts (SMEs) improves localization results. Projects that include SME oversight tend to achieve better accuracy, require fewer revisions, and are completed more quickly compared to those without their involvement. When SMEs provide input early in the process, compliance also improves. This shows that collaborating with SMEs can lead to both higher-quality outcomes and greater efficiency.
Feedback from Localization Teams
Beyond measurable results, feedback from localization teams underscores the value of SMEs. Teams often note that working with SMEs boosts technical accuracy, makes it easier to adapt complex content for local markets, and helps resolve technical challenges more quickly. These experiences highlight the critical role SMEs play in combining technical expertise with language skills to create precise, culturally appropriate content.
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SME Success Stories in Localization
Examples from the field show how involving SMEs can deliver measurable results.
Industrial Product Marketing Success
Pirobloc S.A. highlights how working closely with SMEs can lead to notable market improvements. By integrating SME expertise into their localization strategy, the company saw a steady 15–20% boost in both leads and website traffic.
"I only have positive things to say about Nacho. He’s professional, business oriented, proactive and completely involved with the company… Shortly after hiring Nacho we started to see pretty good results and nowadays, we have sustained increases in the 15 to 20% range in terms of leads and traffic." – Carles Ferrer, Sales & Marketing Director at Pirobloc, S.A. [1]
Studio Amida‘s SME-Driven Localization
Studio Amida takes a unique approach by involving technical SMEs at every step of the localization process. This method underscores the importance of combining technical accuracy with market understanding. For industrial localization, it’s not just about translating words – it’s about ensuring technical details and cultural nuances align perfectly. By embedding SMEs, Studio Amida achieves both precision and relevance.
Managing SME-Localization Team Work to Further Boost Technical Accuracy and Market Relevance
Key Challenges with SMEs
Working with subject matter experts (SMEs) in localization projects can be tricky. One major issue is time constraints – SMEs often juggle demanding primary roles, making it hard to align schedules and maintain smooth workflows.
There’s also the challenge of communication barriers. SMEs are highly skilled in their fields, but they may struggle to simplify complex concepts for linguists. This disconnect can lead to misunderstandings and inaccuracies in the localized content.
Finally, there’s the balance between technical depth and accessibility. SMEs provide detailed, precise information, but this level of detail often requires adjustments to suit the target audience’s understanding and local market needs. Streamlining SME contributions with clear processes can help address these issues.
Tips for Working with SMEs
To make the most of SME input without overburdening them, it’s essential to have clear processes in place. Start by setting realistic deadlines and defining specific tasks or review areas to prevent delays.
Create style guides and glossaries early on. These tools capture SME insights in a reusable format, reducing the need for repeated consultations on terminology and concepts.
Use feedback templates to guide SME reviews. This helps them focus on technical accuracy and market relevance without getting sidetracked.
SME Collaboration Tools
Modern tools make it easier to bridge the gaps between SMEs and localization teams. Platforms like Smartling and Phrase TMS are great for managing workflows and keeping reviews on track, allowing SMEs to concentrate on their expertise.
Content management systems with built-in review features, such as MemoQ and SDL Trados, help gather feedback efficiently. These tools also ensure terminology stays consistent across projects.
For managing technical terms, dedicated terminology databases are invaluable. They store SME knowledge and ensure the same terms are used consistently in all localized content.
| Tool Type | Primary Function | SME Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | Workflow Organization | Structured review processes |
| Terminology Management | Term Consistency | Reduced SME consultation needs |
| Content Management | Review Coordination | Streamlined feedback collection |
Conclusion
Main Points
Subject matter experts (SMEs) are key to the success of localization projects in industrial markets. Their knowledge ensures precise translations while addressing cultural and linguistic nuances. Studies highlight that involving SMEs leads to higher-quality translations, fewer revisions, and better understanding. This combination of technical knowledge and language skills creates localized content that connects with local audiences without losing technical accuracy – an approach well-suited for industries like manufacturing, engineering, and industrial automation.
These insights emphasize how essential SMEs are in technical localization.
Next Steps
To effectively include SMEs in your localization process:
- Review your current workflows to identify technical challenges.
- Build a network of SMEs with expertise in complex technical fields and local market specifics.
- Use collaboration tools that make communication between linguists and SMEs smooth and efficient.
For businesses looking to elevate their localization efforts, Studio Amida provides expertise in technical content localization. Their process combines SME knowledge with proven strategies to deliver content that’s both technically precise and culturally aligned.
