Automated Translation in Ecommerce: Scaling Your Business Globally

14 December 2023

In today's interconnected world, the concept of borders is fading away. The internet has transformed commerce, making it possible for businesses of all sizes to expand their reach beyond their local markets and into the global arena. Ecommerce, in particular, has undergone a massive transformation, enabling entrepreneurs to tap into a vast and diverse customer base. 

One of the key tools driving this global expansion is automated translation. How? Let’s find out.

 

Breaking Down the Language Barrier

Imagine you're a small business owner, operating an online store selling handmade jewellery. Your creations are unique, and you take great pride in your work. In your local market, business is booming, but you have a nagging feeling that there's a much larger audience out there who would love to own your beautiful pieces if only they could understand your product descriptions and communicate with you in their native language. This is where automated translation steps in as a game-changer.

Expanding Your Customer Base

Automated translation tools like Google Translate, DeepL, and others have become increasingly sophisticated over the years. They can be used to translate product listings, customer reviews, and even chat interactions into multiple languages with ease.

 

 This opens up a world of opportunities for ecommerce businesses. You can now target customers in regions where your products might be in high demand, but language differences have been a barrier in the past.

 

Building Trust with Localised Content

According to CSA's ''Can't Read Won't Buy'' study in 2020, 76% of online shoppers prefer to buy products described in their native language. 

When expanding into new markets, it's crucial to build trust with your potential customers. People are more likely to make a purchase if they feel comfortable and confident in their buying decision.

 Automated translation allows you to provide content in the language your target audience speaks, making your website more accessible and relatable. From product descriptions to customer service responses, every interaction becomes more personal, leading to higher conversion rates.

Staying Competitive

The ecommerce landscape is highly competitive, and staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. As more businesses realise the potential of global markets, the use of automated translation tools is becoming increasingly common. By embracing this technology, you can keep pace with or even outperform your competitors who are yet to tap into international markets.

The Role of Human Review

While automated translation is a powerful tool, it's important to understand its limitations. Automated translations may not always capture the nuances of a language or industry-specific terminology. That's where human review and oversight come into play. Consider having native speakers or professional translators review your translated content to ensure accuracy and cultural appropriateness.

Choosing the Right Tools

The market offers a plethora of automated translation tools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. It's crucial to choose the right one for your business. Factors to consider include the languages you want to target, the volume of content you need to translate, and your budget. Additionally, some ecommerce platforms offer built-in translation features or integrations with translation services, making it easier to implement automated translation into your workflow.

User-Friendly Website Localisation

Expanding globally isn't just about translating your product listings. It's also about creating a seamless shopping experience for customers from different parts of the world. This includes localising your website's user interface, payment options, and shipping information. Many ecommerce platforms offer localization features that work hand-in-hand with automated translation to ensure a smooth and user-friendly experience for international customers.

Maintaining Consistency

Consistency is key in ecommerce. Your brand identity and messaging should remain consistent across all markets, regardless of language. Automated translation tools can help maintain this consistency by ensuring that your product listings and marketing materials convey the same message in multiple languages. This not only strengthens your brand but also enhances the customer experience.

Staying Compliant

Expanding globally also means navigating the complexities of international regulations and compliance requirements. Automated translation tools can assist in translating legal documents, terms and conditions, and privacy policies accurately. However, you have to consult with legal experts to ensure that your business complies with the specific laws and regulations of each market you enter.

Measuring Success

As you expand your business globally with the help of automated translation, it's vital to measure the success of your efforts. Use analytics tools to track the performance of your international campaigns, monitor customer feedback, and gather insights into which languages and markets are driving the most revenue. This data will help you refine your strategy and optimise your approach as you continue to scale.

Unlock Global Potential with e-Arabization  

Planning to expand globally? Got some bulky content to translate within a short period of time? We are here to help. e-Arabization combines the latest automated translation tools with our team’s pre and post-editing expertise to deliver timely and cost-effective translations. 

We follow two different approaches depending on the type of content: either by pre-editing your content to unify the tone and messaging to improve the error margin or post-editing your machine-generated content to elevate it with a human touch.

 

Book a consultation today to learn more about our machine translation solution.