In today’s interconnected world, businesses are no longer confined to a single market or language. Content localization, the process of adapting content to meet the language, cultural, and contextual requirements of different regions, has become a critical aspect of global business operations. To manage these complex processes efficiently, companies turn to Translation Management Systems. These systems streamline the localization process, allowing businesses to scale and reach diverse audiences worldwide without compromising on quality or time. This article will explore the key features, benefits, and best practices for using translation management systems, and how OOONA’s management platform stands out as a leading solution specifically for media localization work.
A Translation Management System (TMS) is a specialized platform designed to help organizations manage the entire content localization process—from translation orders, budgets, resource allocation, to quality assurance, key performance indicators (KPIs) and file delivery. TMSs integrate with other tools such as Content Management Systems (CMS) that track all different versions of assets, as well as language technology tools to provide a seamless localization workflow.
Localization goes beyond translation; it includes cultural adaptation, formatting adjustments, and ensuring compliance with regional requirements. In our globalized world, all industries that want to achieve an international impact for their products and services rely heavily on TMSs, including media companies, tech firms, e-commerce, gaming, and corporate training, all of which need to provide content tailored to specific regions.
OOONA is a recognized leader in providing robust content localization management solutions tailored to the media industry. With its cloud-based platform and focus on subtitling and dubbing services, OOONA enables businesses to manage media localization and accessibility projects efficiently, ensuring that content meets the required standards across different languages and regions.
To streamline localization processes and manage content efficiently, Translation Management Systems come equipped with several key features. These features help ensure that projects are completed on time, on budget, and with the highest level of quality.
Effective project management is at the core of any translation management system. TMS platforms provide dashboards that allow users to track project progress, set deadlines, assign tasks to team members, and monitor key performance indicators and user metrics. For example, localization managers can view real-time project status, ensuring they meet delivery deadlines, while clients are provided with their own dashboards to approve files and request changes before final delivery.
OOONA’s award-winning Integrated platform offers advanced project management features, including real-time project tracking and task completion progress, a mobile app for project scheduling 24/7, bulk work assignments, team collaboration features, and human and machine resource management. With a seamless integration of OOONA’s popular toolkit to handle any type of media localization task, it allows teams to stay on top of complex localization projects.
Manual processes can be time-consuming and prone to errors. One of the key features of a TMS is its ability to automate repetitive tasks, such as file management and publishing, use of templates to facilitate project setup, and the ability to automatically assign tasks to selected resources as soon as materials become available. Automated workflows significantly reduce the time it takes to localize content, allowing teams to handle a larger volume of projects while effortlessly staying on top of key milestones.
With an in-depth knowledge of media operations, OOONA offers not one but two such TMS solutions, starting with its flagship product, OOONA Integrated. The latter automates multiple steps in the localization workflow, from work order ingest through to updates to customers’ schedules following file delivery. The company has also developed a separate platform that focuses solely on quality assurance workflows, OOONA QA Manager, making it a go-to solution for media companies looking to optimize their workflows to handle the QC of hundreds or thousands of files on a daily basis.
Media localization projects typically involve multiple languages and regional variants. The best TMS platforms support all major world languages and scripts, and integrate relevant language technology tools, such as machine translation, speech recognition and synthesis to support linguistic resources in all languages.
OOONA offers comprehensive multi-language support across all its solutions, including Japanese which is notoriously complex when it comes to timed text creation. The user interface of the OOONA toolkit itself is also localized in the top languages of its users: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, apart from English.
Localization is typically a team effort involving project managers, translators, reviewers, and clients. Translation management systems provide collaboration tools that allow teams to work together in real time, even if they are located in different parts of the world. These tools often include review and approval workflows, enabling clients and stakeholders to provide feedback on translations before final delivery.
OOONA’s TMS solutions enable seamless collaboration between teams, vendors, and stakeholders, making it an ideal choice for companies with dispersed localization teams. From subtitle-level annotations and track-changes features to facilitate review workflows for translators, to customizable dashboards, automated notifications and a mobile app for easy 24/7 task scheduling, OOONA makes translation management a breeze.
Localization projects involve a wide range of file types, from text documents to audio, video, and graphics. ΤMSs support multiple file formats and ensure compatibility with various platforms and content management systems. This is critical for ensuring that content is localized and delivered in the required format, whether for web, mobile, or broadcast.
OOONA supports over 60 industry-standard timed-text file formats, more than any other platform in the market, ensuring that media content can be localized and delivered across different platforms with ease.
Language technology solutions, such as machine translation engines, are a key feature of localization software, as they enable post-editing workflows, which are becoming increasingly common also in the media localization space. Speech recognition and synthesis models are equally important when it comes to video localization workflows. Such tools speed up the localization process, enabling providers to achieve faster time to market and cost control by providing automatic transcription of the audio or voicing scripts in audio description workflows.
OOONA’s localization platform integrates a growing list of such engines from popular providers that offer systems specialized to media and entertainment content. Even if you don’t rely on such language technology solutions today, computer-assisted tools are quickly becoming a core part of media localization workflows and OOONA is staying ahead of the curve by continuously integrating such tools on the basis of client demand.
When selecting a translation management system, it is important to understand what sets the best localization tools apart. Here are some key factors to consider:
A user-friendly interface is essential for maximizing productivity. The best localization tools should be intuitive, allowing team members to navigate the platform without needing extensive training. Simplified dashboards, drag-and-drop features, and customizable workflows make it easier for localization teams to manage their projects.
OOONA’s platform has been designed with usability in mind and on the basis of user feedback. As such, it features an intuitive interface that ensures users can focus on managing content rather than navigate a complicated system. When it comes to scheduling work, the mobile app makes things even easier, allowing project managers and translators to schedule, assign and accept work at a click of a button, from anywhere, anytime.
As businesses expand into new markets, their localization needs grow. A scalable TMS can handle both small projects and large, complex localization efforts. The best systems will allow you to add users, languages, and integrations without losing performance or efficiency. More than that, they will safeguard the security and integrity of customer data, a sine qua non in the media and entertainment industry. Data privacy is a concern for businesses of all types, particularly when working with confidential content, such as pre-release films and series that are prime targets for piracy. The best TMSs typically include robust security features including encryption, user access controls, and secure data storage.
OOONA’s platform is hosted on AWS and operates entirely online, leveraging advanced cloud technologies and security measures. The company is a holder of the TPN Gold Shield for cloud security, ISO 27001 certified, and has passed multiple audits by major Hollywood studios and streaming platforms. The OOONA Integrated platform is continuously tested and monitored, providing a secure and scalable environment for organizations of any size, accommodating fluctuations in work volume with ease, making it suitable for small startups and large global enterprises alike.
Translation management systems need to integrate seamlessly with other tools, like content management systems and third-party applications, such as language technology tools that help (semi-) automate translation, transcription and voicing tasks. TMS integration capabilities transform them into ecosystems, catering to all their user needs, who never need to leave the system to complete their tasks.
OOONA’s Integrated platform comes with a powerful API that integrates with end-client CMSs, automatically ingesting client orders and updating client scheduling systems upon project delivery. OOONA’s Timed Text Tools also include integrations to a continuously growing number of speech recognition, machine translation and speech synthesis tools that provide added efficiency in captioning, subtitling, voice over and audio description workflows.
Investing in a translation management system offers numerous benefits for companies aiming to expand their global reach. Here are some key localization benefits:
TMS platforms support complex localization projects by introducing automation and eliminating manual repetitive tasks, thus increasing efficiency. Localization teams are often based in different locations and time zones, and TMSs help all team members work more effectively, completing localization projects faster, which is essential for meeting the demands of today’s global market. Workflow automation also reduces the likelihood of human error, resulting in more accurate localized content. Efficient localization practices also rely on strong reporting capabilities. Stakeholders need access to KPIs and want to know what work is completed, how much it costs and how this compares to initial budgets.
With OOONA’s Integrated platform, teams have a better oversight of live projects and spend less time managing files thanks to automation in task assignment. The popular ‘split tasks’ functionality also allows using multiple resources simultaneously, reducing time to market and helping teams boost overall efficiency without sacrificing quality. OOONA’s robust reporting capabilities also put an end to manual Excel trackers and email chains. With customized dashboards, exporting insights from collected data becomes easier than ever, providing management teams with an immediate overview of expenditure and profit and loss information per project or per client.
Maintaining consistent quality across different languages and regions can be challenging. TMS platforms offer built-in quality control tools, such as the use of glossaries and collaborative review workflows, ensuring that localized content meets the highest standards of quality.
OOONA’s Timed Text Tools provide comprehensive quality control features, the use of customer templates and the ability to QC multiple files simultaneously, enabling users to ensure that all localized content is accurate, consistent, and meets the technical constraints of timed text as well as the particular specifications of each client.
Localization can be an expensive process, especially when done manually. By automating tasks and introducing language technologies such as speech recognition and machine translation, companies can significantly reduce costs. Additionally, a centralized platform eliminates the need for multiple tools and systems, further reducing expenses.
OOONA’s Integrated platform is a complete ecosystem addressing all the needs of media localization projects, allowing companies to optimize their localization budgets without compromising on quality.
TMS platforms facilitate collaboration by allowing teams, vendors, and clients to work together in real-time. This is particularly important for global organizations with team members spread across different locations. Collaboration tools ensure that everyone is on the same page, improving communication and reducing delays.
OOONA’s cloud-based platform enables seamless collaboration through dashboards, automatic notifications and sophisticated review and quality assurance tools, making it easier for global teams to work together on localization projects.
As businesses grow, their localization needs expand. A scalable TMS can handle increased demand, whether it’s additional languages, more content, or more complex workflows. Flexibility is also essential, allowing for different workflows to fit each project needs, as companies may need to adapt their localization processes to meet changing market conditions.
OOONA’s localization software is designed to scale with your business, providing the flexibility needed to handle growing localization requirements. The platform is hosted on AWS and uses advanced cloud technologies to accommodate any business need, supporting fluctuating volume requirements and automatically saving work.
Arguably one of the most important features of TMS platforms is the peace of mind they offer with respect to security. The best TMS will include comprehensive security features such as single-sign-on functionality and the ability to manage user permissions, data encryption and communication protection, in order to safeguard content from data breaches and unauthorised access. Data security is a top-of-the-mind concern for all business executives, more so in the media and entertainment sector where piracy is rampant.
OOONA is a pioneer when it comes to data security. The company showcases a deep understanding of the potential damage clients may incur via content leaks. It has implemented a Digital Rights Management (DRM) solution in its platform, where all work is performed ιn a browser without the need to send or download video assets, multi-factor authentication is a standard feature, as is video watermarking, and it even provides security against cyberattacks. The company has also implemented a continuous penetration testing policy and holds multiple security certifications, such as ISO 27001 and the TPN Gold Shield for cloud security, has passed numerous audits by major Hollywood studios and streaming platforms, and offers 24/7/365 technical support.
When selecting a content localization management system, it’s important to consider your specific needs. Here are a few key factors to think about:
If your localization projects involve multiple languages, regions, or complex workflows, you’ll need a system that can handle the complexity. Look for a TMS that offers robust project management features, workflow automation, strong reporting capabilities and multi-language support.
Ensure that the system you choose provides powerful and secure API connectivity to your existing tools, such as CMSs, as well as all the language technology tools your production teams will require to complete their work. Seamless integration will streamline your workflows and reduce the need for manual data entry.
Even the most intuitive systems require some level of training and support. Make sure your TMS provider offers comprehensive training resources, tutorials, and customer support to help your team get the most out of the platform.
Aside from training support when onboarding new customers and detailed help files, OOONA regularly hosts free webinars to showcase its platform features, address user queries and make users aware of new functionality that it has developed.
Consider the pricing structure of the TMS, including the cost of licensing, additional users, and tool integrations. Weigh the cost against the features offered to ensure you are getting good value for your investment.
OOONA’s platform comes with flexible pricing and tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes, making it an excellent choice for organizations looking to optimize their localization efforts.
As businesses continue to expand into new markets, the demand for efficient and scalable translation management systems will only grow. TMS platforms provide the tools and features necessary to manage complex localization projects, ensuring high-quality, accurate and culturally relevant content that resonates with global audiences.
OOONA’s comprehensive localization solutions offer everything from automated workflows to multi-language support, enabling businesses to streamline their localization processes and scale their global reach. Trusted by numerous language service providers and content owners across the globe, from individual freelancers and small family-owned businesses to large multinational enterprises, OOONA is the market leader in the media localization space.
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