150+ LANGUAGES · ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Software and App Localization in Glasgow
ISO 17100 certified software and app localization in Glasgow: UI strings, SaaS platforms and mobile apps in 150+ languages, from £30 per page.
- 150+ Languages
- ISO 17100 Certified
- Same-day Turnaround
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What is software and app localization?
Software and app localization is the engineering-led process of adapting a software UI, SaaS platform or mobile app — including strings, layouts, dates, currencies and images — from a source locale like en-GB into target locales so users across cultures interact with the product in their native language.
How does software localization differ from translation and internationalization?
Software localization adapts a product to a locale, translation converts text between languages, and internationalization is the engineering practice (i18n) of writing code so it can be localized without changes.
What are the benefits of localizing software and apps for Glasgow businesses?
Localizing software and apps lets Glasgow businesses reach the global marketplace, increase App Store conversion in target locales, reduce support tickets from confused users, meet UK GDPR and locale privacy rules, and compete with London and Edinburgh SaaS vendors already shipping multilingual builds.
What elements inside software and apps require localization?
The elements requiring localization include UI strings, error messages, push notifications, onboarding flows, in-app help, App Store and Play Store metadata, screenshots, currency and date formats, units of measure, legal notices, email templates, and the privacy policy — every user-facing surface a Glasgow product team ships.
What is the typical workflow for software and app localization?
The typical software localization workflow follows eight steps: internationalization audit, string extraction, glossary and translation memory setup, pseudolocalization QA, translation, revision and proofreading (TEP), in-context review, locale testing on device, and continuous localization integration into the CI/CD pipeline.
What tools and technologies power modern software localization?
Modern software localization runs on translation management systems (Crowdin, Lokalise, Phrase, memoQ), CAT tools with translation memory and glossary, XLIFF as the interchange format, pseudolocalization engines, machine translation with post-editing, and translation APIs wired into the CI/CD pipeline of a Glasgow product team.
What we do
What is software and app localization?
Software and app localization is the engineering-led process of adapting a software UI, SaaS platform or mobile app — including strings, layouts, dates, currencies and images — from a source locale like en-GB into target locales so users across cultures interact with the product in their native language.
How it works
How does software localization differ from translation and internationalization?
Software localization adapts a product to a locale, translation converts text between languages, and internationalization is the engineering practice (i18n) of writing code so it can be localized without changes.
What’s included
What are the benefits of localizing software and apps for Glasgow businesses?
Localizing software and apps lets Glasgow businesses reach the global marketplace, increase App Store conversion in target locales, reduce support tickets from confused users, meet UK GDPR and locale privacy rules, and compete with London and Edinburgh SaaS vendors already shipping multilingual builds.
Complete guide
Everything you need to know
Software and app localization in Glasgow is an ISO 17100 certified engineering service that adapts software UIs, SaaS platforms and mobile apps from en-GB into 150+ locales, priced from £30 per page in GBP, with same-day start for Glasgow product teams.
What elements inside software and apps require localization?
The elements requiring localization include UI strings, error messages, push notifications, onboarding flows, in-app help, App Store and Play Store metadata, screenshots, currency and date formats, units of measure, legal notices, email templates, and the privacy policy — every user-facing surface a Glasgow product team ships.
Which UI and interface elements need to be localized?
UI elements needing localization include button labels, form fields, tooltips, menu items, empty states, validation errors and modal titles. Every string is wrapped in a placeholder token in the resource file and extracted for the localization team without touching source code.
Which mobile app store assets require localization?
Mobile app store assets requiring localization include the app title, subtitle, keywords field, description, promotional text, in-app purchase names, screenshots with localized on-screen text, preview videos and what’s-new release notes for every locale on iOS App Store and Google Play.
Which UK-specific en-GB strings break when shipped to other locales?
Seven en-GB strings routinely break when a Glasgow team ships to en-US or de-DE without locale forking:
- Postcode: “G1 3SL” fails a US ZIP regex (5 digits).
- Currency symbol: £ must switch to $ (en-US) or € (de-DE), with symbol position moving in de-DE.
- Date format: DD/MM/YYYY reads as an invalid US date; en-US needs MM/DD/YYYY.
- Weights: Stone and pound labels have no de-DE equivalent — convert to kilograms.
- VAT: “inc. VAT” must become “plus Sales Tax” (en-US) or “inkl. MwSt.” (de-DE).
- NHS references: No meaning outside the UK — replace with locale healthcare wording.
- Companies House URLs: Fork to Bundesanzeiger (de-DE) or the SEC (en-US).
How it works
What is the typical workflow for software and app localization?
1
How are strings extracted and prepared for the localization team?
Strings are extracted by parsing resource files (.strings for iOS, strings.xml for Android, .json or .po for web) into XLIFF, then loaded into the translation management system with placeholder protection, character-length constraints and screenshot context per segment. The engineering side of string handling, TMX memory and i18n bug-fixing is covered in more depth on Technical Translation in Glasgow.
2
What is pseudolocalization QA and why does it run before translation?
Pseudolocalization replaces every source string with accented and expanded variants (e.g. “Save” → “[Šåvé!!]”) to expose truncation, hard-coded text and encoding faults before real translation begins. Glasgow engineering fixes i18n bugs when they are cheap to fix. Pseudolocalization QA runs as an automated gate on every pull request in an agile pipeline.
3
How does the ISO 17100 TEP step work for translated strings?
ISO 17100 TEP routes every translated segment through a second qualified linguist for revision, then a proofreader, with revision records logged in the translation management system. The revision linguist is a native speaker of the target language. TEP is the same substrate used across every Glasgow language services delivery.
4
How is continuous localization CI/CD integrated with the build pipeline?
Continuous localization is integrated with CI/CD by wiring GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket webhooks to Crowdin, Lokalise or Phrase. New strings on a feature branch trigger a localization job. Translated strings land in a pull request against main. Pseudolocalization runs as a gate before merge. A reference architecture for a Glasgow product team combines GitHub Actions + Crowdin (or Lokalise) webhooks + a pseudolocalization gate + native-locale review before deploy. Similar CI/CD patterns run for teams on Translation Services in Edinburgh and Translation Services in Belfast.
5
How does website localization SEO handoff work in this workflow?
Web-app frameworks (Next.js, Nuxt, Rails) share the same JSON and YAML resource files as the main product. Multilingual SEO metadata — hreflang, canonical, localized slugs — is briefed alongside UI strings. Marketing microcopy is routed through the same TMS, with website localization details covered on Website Localization in Glasgow.
What tools and technologies power modern software localization?
Modern software localization runs on translation management systems (Crowdin, Lokalise, Phrase, memoQ), CAT tools with translation memory and glossary, XLIFF as the interchange format, pseudolocalization engines, machine translation with post-editing, and translation APIs wired into the CI/CD pipeline.
Which translation management system platforms does the localization team support?
The localization team supports Crowdin, Lokalise, Phrase, Smartling, memoQ and Trados, with translation API integrations, GitHub Actions webhooks, and file-format handlers for .strings, .xml, .json, .xliff, .po, .resx and .yaml. Automation covers file ingestion, translator assignment and version control across releases.
How do translation memory and glossary reduce localization cost across releases?
Translation memory stores every approved segment, so identical strings across releases are pre-populated, reducing per-word cost 30–70% on subsequent versions. A locked glossary keeps brand terms consistent across cultures and across product teams shipping from Glasgow. Translation memory is the primary driver of speed and cost reduction in ongoing programmes.
Where does machine translation with post-editing fit?
Machine translation with post-editing fits low-risk, high-volume content such as in-app help, changelogs and support articles, where a linguist reviews the raw MT output to reach professional translation quality at 40–60% of full human cost. Real-time production data shows up to 50% cost savings and up to 80% turnaround reduction on suitable content types.
What are the best practices for successful software localization?
The 8 software localization best practices are: internationalize before you localize, extract strings into resource files, run pseudolocalization on every build, lock a glossary early, use translation memory across releases, brief linguists with UI screenshots, test on-device in every locale, and localize continuously — not as a pre-launch panic.
Why must internationalization come before the first translated string?
Internationalization must come before translation because hard-coded strings, concatenated sentences and fixed-width UI elements cannot be fixed by a linguist — they need a code change. Running localization on a non-internationalized build wastes budget on strings that will be replaced. The pseudolocalization step catches these localization errors early.
How does an agile product team ship on every sprint?
An agile product team ships localization on every sprint by adding a pseudolocalization step to the pull-request template, routing new strings to the TMS on merge, and setting a 48-hour SLA for translated strings back into main. Localization testing is scalable — parallel linguists per language pair compress the schedule for global launches.
Pricing
How much does software localization cost in Glasgow?
Software localization cost in Glasgow starts from £30 per page for standard content, with per-word rates from £0.08 for common European locales, and higher for CJK, Arabic and Nordic pairs. Translation memory leverage reduces cost 30–70% on repeat releases. Same-day rush jobs carry a 25–50% surcharge.
| Pricing model | Rate (from) | When it applies | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per page | £30 / page | Documentation, legal notices, help centre | Fixed-quote path, most predictable |
| Per word | £0.08 / word | Flowing marketing copy, UGC, release notes | TM discounts 30–70% |
| Per string | £0.10 / string | Short UI segments with high repetition | Placeholder-heavy resource files |
| MTPE | 40–60% of full human | Low-risk help, changelogs, support | Human post-editor keeps ISO 17100 quality |
How is the localization cost calculated — per word, per string or per page?
Localization cost is calculated per word for continuous flowing copy, per string for UI resource files, and per page (from £30) for documentation and legal notices. The localization project manager selects the model that gives the Glasgow buyer the lowest defensible price. Language pair, volume and turnaround are the main cost drivers.
What is the turnaround time for a Glasgow localization project?
The turnaround time for a Glasgow localization project follows the ISO 17100 benchmark of 1,500–2,000 words per linguist per day. Clyde-time SLA matrix below maps file size to turnaround for Glasgow product teams:
| File size | Turnaround (single linguist per pair) | With parallel linguists |
|---|---|---|
| 100 UI strings | Same-day | Same-day |
| 1,000 strings | 3 working days | 1–2 working days |
| 10,000 strings | 2 working weeks | 3–5 working days |
Larger mobile app builds run 2–4 weeks per language. Full SaaS platforms across many time zones run 6–12 weeks depending on review cycles.
Which translation companies in Glasgow offer software and app localization services?
A small number of translation companies in Glasgow offer software and app localization services. Below we score five local providers on ISO 17100 certification, CI/CD integration, supported file formats and same-day turnaround, in our own voice as the incumbent language partner.
| Provider profile | ISO 17100 | CI/CD (GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket) | File formats | Same-day turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Glasgow agency | Yes | Yes — webhooks + GitHub Actions | .strings, .xml, .json, .xliff, .po, .resx, .yaml | Yes |
| Provider B | Yes | Partial | .xliff, .po | No |
| Provider C | No | No | .docx, .xliff | No |
| Provider D | Yes | Partial | .strings, .xml, .xliff | Yes |
| Provider E | No | No | .docx | No |
For sister-city coverage, Software and App Localization in Manchester mirrors the same figures and process for teams north-west of the border.
What should you check when choosing a localization company in Glasgow?
When choosing a localization company in Glasgow, check ISO 17100 certification, supported file formats (.strings, .xml, .json, .xliff, .po), CI/CD webhook integration, translation memory ownership, native-speaker linguist pool by language pair, and a fixed-quote path priced in GBP. Verify whether medical translation and other regulated content routes to specialist linguists.
Which Glasgow industries most often commission software and app localization?
Glasgow industries most often commissioning software and app localization include:
- Fintech at the International Financial Services District — a major hub for banking and payments software.
- Gaming studios across Glasgow’s growing games cluster.
- Health-tech partners of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde — clinical strings routed to specialist medical translation linguists.
- Clydeside engineering firms shipping industrial software abroad.
How do you get a quote for software or app localization in Glasgow?
To get a quote for software or app localization in Glasgow, send the resource files (.strings, .xml, .json, .po or .xliff), the target language list and the release date. A fixed GBP quote with turnaround time is returned within one working hour. Same-day start is available for briefs received before 10:00 Glasgow time.
What information does the localization team need for a fixed quote?
For a fixed quote the localization team needs:
- Source resource files in the format the codebase uses.
- Target locale list (e.g. es-ES, de-DE, ja-JP).
- Word or string count.
- Release deadline.
- Existing translation memory or glossary, if any.
- Any regulated content (medical, legal, financial) that requires specialist linguists.
What happens after the quote is accepted?
After the quote is accepted, a project manager sets up the TMS project, connects the CI/CD webhook, runs pseudolocalization on the current build, assigns native-language linguists per pair, and returns translated builds through the deployment branch without manual intervention. Localization testing runs on-device before release. The Glasgow buyer receives a signed delivery record and the translation memory asset.