Sailing through the Covid pandemic- We do have our life jackets on, but the dry land is far ahead.

Do you think it is time to localize your eCommerce website? 

The COVID-19 crisis saw worldwide enforcement of lock-downs, travel restrictions, and social distancing. Nearly all the sectors have been affected since the beginning of 2020. This led to accelerated eCommerce growth and digital transformation world over. In what seems like a blessing in disguise, the pandemic forced consumers to shop differently, leading to significant demand for eCommerce/online sales. When it’s unsafe to leave homes, what is the best way for people to shop? Ecommerce is the best solution.  

Now, how will eCommerce companies make their websites & apps accessible to customers in different countries & cultures, speaking other languages? 
Ecommerce localization it is!!!!!!!!!!!

The shift in the eCommerce ecosystem has been a huge one. It presented several challenges to businesses: meeting customer expectations, addressing end-to-end customer journeys, managing stock and orders, and more. However, without a foreseeable end to the pandemic, businesses have had no option but to step up to the challenge and build infrastructure that would support online commerce.

As people increasingly use online shopping platforms and eCommerce businesses are going global, localization services have become a basic requirement. Ecommerce companies must hire reliable translation & localization service providers to increase the reach & the number of satisfied customers.For businesses in the eCommerce industry, localization is not just an option anymore; it is a necessity.

What is eCommerce localization?

Ecommerce localization is the translation of your webshop (online shopping website & app) to a language that buyers in the target market understand. It is all about comforting your digital customers when they visit your online store. Most importantly, taking the local population’s habits and culture into consideration. 

The goal is to ensure that the target customers can easily use your eCommerce website and transact like they just visited their neighborhood store. Localization calls for businesses to translate their websites, apps, eBooks, product information, graphic images, etc., into a language that connects strongly with their target audience & is culturally apt. 
For an eCommerce business to succeed in different markets in different countries, localization is the key.

Steps in Creating an eCommerce Localization Strategy

1. Conduct market research 

The first step in localizing your eCommerce platform is conducting market research to determine your target market. Track your website traffic and learn how potential customers find your site, where they are from, which products they show interest in, and their preferred payment methods. This data will help determine your target markets & then understand in what language & culture your website needs to localize.

2. Ascertain the preferred language

After determining the target markets, ascertain the languages customers prefer when surfing sites in those markets and translate your website content into it. It is advisable to engage a professional translation and localization company with native language experts to ensure that the context is culturally precise. 

3. Get the content translated into the native language

Once you have selected the translation agency, identify the content on your website that would need a translation. It could range from product titles, reviews, descriptions, etc. All elements of the site’s checkout process, like tax regulations, payment methods, and currencies, must be translated and localized appropriately.

4. Localize the design and user interface of the website

Localization goes beyond text. When your website is visited by your potential customers, it should look and feel tailor-made just for them. The UI developer should develop a flexible design to accommodate text, colors, icons, and symbols specific to the local language & culture of the target market.

Is It Time To Think About Localization Services?

If the recent trend with the pandemic is anything to go by, where there is a new virus strain now and then, COVID will be here for a long time. People will continue to source products online, and the success of a business will highly depend on offering them a flawless customer experience on the eCommerce platforms. 

Get in touch with a professional translation agency like Vanan Services that has years of experience & the right talent required to localize eCommerce websites.