June 08, 2020
In
In this week's blog, we reflect on what New Zealand's response to COVID-19 can teach us about software translation.
As we race to find digital solutions to our problems, the importance of decisiveness, of accuracy, and of maintaining public trust could not be clearer.
Last week we saw New Zealand lift COVID-19 restrictions after successfully eradicating the virus. We’ve also seen New Zealanders make another major contribution with the publication of Digital Contact Tracing for COVID-19: A Primer for Policymakers, jointly released by Auckland University of Technology and the University of Queensland.
This new contact tracing app comes with a warning though. Professor Anna Brown of Massey University in Wellington reminded us that for technology to work, users need to believe in it. To quote Professor Brown:
"While nations around the world are working at pace to develop and deploy new digital technologies, they also need to address the issue of public trust”
Not surprisingly, Professor Brown’s research revealed that users needed reassurance about privacy and data security, and it also highlighted the value of precise communication:
“There are risks of low uptake if communications strategy is poorly coordinated or materials have unclear messaging.”
The Wolfestone View
None of this comes as a surprise to us at Wolfestone. As market leaders in software translation, app translation and eLearning translation, we spend every working day helping our clients balance game-changing technical excellence with nuanced, persuasive human communication. We’re proud to work hand in hand with partners whose innovations are changing people’s lives for the better.
It’s our job to ensure that customers in Berlin, Beijing and Buenos Aires understand those changes with perfect clarity. We do that job swiftly, diligently and very, very well.
Where it can go wrong
When an app is translated badly, users don’t question the quality of the translation. They question the quality of the app. That’s harsh on designers who’ve worked tirelessly on the fine details, and it’s the reason Wolfestone leave nothing to chance in recreating a message for each new target audience. We know the pitfalls and we help you steer clear of them.
- When companies launch a software product globally with only part of their interface translated, they run the risk of users not being able to understand important elements of the content.
That doesn’t happen when you work with Wolfestone
- When an app is localised without taking into account differences in formatting, simple changes in text length can make a good product appear amateurish and even ridiculous.
That doesn’t happen when you work with Wolfestone
- When software is translated out of context, the nuance of communication can quickly be lost, and user trust is lost with it.
That doesn’t happen when you work with Wolfestone
And to return to Professor Anna Brown’s point about the importance of data security, we believe our clients deserve state of the art protection.
Our translation management system is held securely on our server. Cutting out unnecessary file transfers minimises the chances of a data breach. We provide email encryption for a further safeguard, and our client portal offers server-to-server file sharing.
Our blue-chip clients in the finance and ICT sectors tell us we tick every one of their boxes for data security.
Let us tick yours too.
Whatever software or service you’re providing for your end users, you need them to buy into that service wholeheartedly. You need their trust. Wolfestone will preserve that trust, in any language.
[su_divider top="no" style="dotted" divider_color="#0079BC"]
Why Wolfestone?
Here at Wolfestone, we have a track record of helping our clients successfully go global – Even during the toughest of times.
Our bespoke translation and localisation services get to the heart of what makes your target market tick.
Get in touch with our expert team and find out how we can help you accelerate your global growth.
