When you think about mobile app localization testing, what comes to mind first? Probably translations, currencies, date formats… And you’d be correct in tending to these aspects. But that doesn’t do justice to the impact of these tests.
Thoughtful localization testing creates a home. A home where everything is familiar and cozy. A home which you keep in your memories and always want to come back to. That’s the feel your mobile app will have with these localization testing insights.
Let’s be honest. When it comes to mobile apps, people are used to having a lot of options and jumping from one product to another. And where there’s demand, there’s supply. Businesses follow trends. They pay attention to customer wants. And they make great projects.
But how many of those projects do consumers actually care for?
Well, you need to make them care first. And localization testing can do this for you. It can turn another user visit into a fulfilling experience. Because a product that makes people feel like everything in it was created with them in mind pulls on their heartstrings. And that’s something quite a few companies undervalue.
Localization testing services have mighty effects on your product. According to the research, it can:
And you should treat it with great care. So, let’s discuss everything you need to know for mobile localization testing to be your virtue, not “a product check you should run.”
Localization testing for mobile apps is commonly divided into two parts, so to speak: language and locale. The main reasons for this separation are:
So, what’s the difference between language and locale?
Language refers to the specific linguistic content of an app:
Language localization involves translating this content into different tongues to make the app accessible to users who speak them.
Locale, on the other hand, refers to the cultural and regional settings of a user’s device:
Locale localization focuses on adapting the app to these regional settings to ensure that it aligns with users’ cultural expectations.
So, language localization is about:
Locale localization, however, is about:
When you work with or hire a QA team for localization, make sure they are well-versed in the culture specifics and languages you plan to include. As seemingly tiny inaccuracies can stir the users and chip away at your reputation.
For example, Apple Maps once misplaced an entire Australian city. At that time, it was a huge blow to the company’s status.
With localization testing, there’s no room for mistakes. So, be sure to collaborate with specialized mobile application testing services that think ahead and perform remarkably.
Now, let’s summarize the above. What does app localization testing as a whole cover? In short – elements that are affected by local differences. Ergo, not only textual content, dates, and currencies, but also seemingly little things. For instance, you might change the theme of your app so that it feels more familiar, switch images for authenticity, etc.
Translating all of your app’s text will be one of the biggest tasks. You need to verify that not only the headers, instructions, and textual content have been taken care of. You also must check:
To make this process simpler and faster, make sure that your QA services provider and translators collaborate closely. They will be able to help each other out, come up with the most fitting solutions, and exchange insights.
Beyond text, ensure that other content, such as images, videos, and audio, is also localized appropriately. For example, for Saudi Arabia, visuals should follow their culture, such as portraying women in appropriate attire. Displaying Italian people for a page meant for, say, India also wouldn’t be a smart move.
If you’re not sure how to adapt something, create content from scratch. In 2012, IKEA’s catalog for Saudi Arabia removed all women from promotional pictures, infuriating the Swedish community.
So, it’s better to put in some extra work than risk people despising your product.
Make sure the app correctly displays dates and times according to the users’ locale. This includes:
It’s a very tiny detail. But if you don’t have it, customers may feel confused or even insulted, thinking that you didn’t consider this simple thing.
Ensure that the app correctly handles currency conversions and shows proper symbols. When it comes to money, people are very particular. And if anything seems off, they’re most likely to leave.
Consider a scenario where one mishap can wreak havoc.
What do we want to say with this? Don’t underestimate the impact of high-quality localization testing. Even if the aspects the QA team works on seem almost insignificant.
Similar to the above, your app should accurately adapt locale-specific formatting, such as:
Users will get frustrated if they see unfamiliar terms. For example, a European won’t understand what “1 stone” means (1 stone = 6.4 kilos). So, make sure everything is localized, easy to understand, and if in doubt, sprinkle in some explanatory text.
Verify that the app correctly reads location information, such as for:
As is, there are already plenty of cases of missing deliveries, dubious rain predictions, etc. With poor localization testing, such instances will multiply. And your users won’t trust your app to do its job.
Be extremely careful with UI elements, such as buttons, menus, and labels. As you translate the text, the spacing or orientation might change. And you will have to work with designers to accommodate any modifications.
For example, imagine you have a “Shop Now” button. In Spanish, it would be “Compra ahora” (7 letters vs 11). To deal with such occasions, you could look for textual alternatives (like “Compra Ja”) or make your buttons purposely a bit larger to accommodate localization.
Don’t forget that there are also left-to-right scripts, such as Hebrew or Arabic. Hence, you’d need to change your app’s grid to look natural.
Verify that the app supports the input methods commonly used in the target locales:
Even Apple’s Siri had troubles with some elements of localization. It couldn’t grasp the Australian accent. It was fixed since then (and made a lot of funny videos on the web).
We’ll never get tired of talking about digital accessibility. Your app should be enjoyable for all users, no matter their physical or mental abilities. And when it comes to mobile app localization testing, you ought to focus on accessibility standards and legal compliance.
As making your app accessible but not fitting for certain regions and their guidelines would call for more time and effort. So, consider this early on.
Test that the app is culturally sensitive and does not contain content that may be offensive or inappropriate in some regions. Pay particular attention to:
Overall, make sure your team is familiar with the peculiarities of the region you’re running localization testing for.
And don’t forget about the regulations governing the use and distribution of mobile apps in diverse countries. Check that the app complies with all legal requirements in the target locales, including:
We often discuss specific challenges a product might encounter. And that’s not because we want to make you doubt your app. It’s always to highlight the importance of high-level QA expertise and what troubles it helps you overcome.
With mobile localization testing, potentially the biggest issue is companies thinking of it as something to be done later. While any QA engineer who’s run localization will tell you that it shouldn’t be put off. Here are a few reasons why.
Every word, every letter, and every abbreviation will have to be translated. On its own, it takes quite a while. Then, you need to review the appropriateness of the text. Check how it influences the app’s design and configurations. And you can always expect some back and forth here.
Depending on the languages you work with, this entire process can get more complicated. As some tongues have complex grammar rules, character sets, or writing systems. That’s why cooperating with actual professionals is beyond pivotal. They’ll save you time, money, and nerves.
Different cultures have different norms and values. And your team needs to be aware of the details that make up these cultures. Finding a team proficient in regional specifics will take a hot minute. But don’t be discouraged. It’ll be worth it in the end. As you’ll be able to avoid hesitation that pauses the project and mistakes that damage its reputation.
Even within the same language, there can be significant regional variations in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. For instance, Sweden has around 200 dialects. While Papua New Guinea speaks 840 tongues. Testing for these variations can be time-consuming, to speak humbly.
Many regions have divergent technical requirements or infrastructure. For pleasant UX, you’d need to establish a feature that automatically adjusts your app to certain “deviations”:
You can’t assume that everyone using your app has state-of-the-art tech that supports your product’s ideal performance. So, you ought to think ahead about users relying on mediocre connectivity, lower-quality videos, or text-only modes.
The Android ecosystem, in particular, is known for its device fragmentation. It has thousands of devices with diverse screen sizes, resolutions, and capabilities. And if you run app localization testing for multiple OSs, well, you can imagine the time and effort needed to do it properly. So, for this issue in particular, you should consider test automation services.
Navigating through the myriad of localization tools and resources can be overwhelming. Each tool may offer different features. And these features may be not enough or too much for your product.
With testing tools, it’s all about balance. You need to find an option suitable for your app exactly. You don’t want to overpay for functions you won’t use or employ a program that covers half of your needs.
Another “bonus” for this challenge is finding a team already proficient in the tools you’d like to use. As a QA company, we’d recommend looking for specialists who have prior experience with the software you wish to rely on. You’ll avoid extra expenses and pauses needed to educate QA engineers about the tools.
With so many aspects to consider, you’ll think about automation right away. But here, automated testing (AT) is a double-edged sword.
AT, without a doubt, is an efficiency boost. But you ought to examine why and where you need it and apply it in areas that will actually reap benefits. And never disregard manual testing services. Because for localization especially, they are the strongest point of influence on your app’s quality.
To make your app localization testing result-driven, know your OS’s peculiarities. You wouldn’t want your perfect testing strategy to be disrupted by distinctions in operating systems. Plus, by including these aspects in your plan, you’ll see:
Now, let’s focus on the biggest differences between these two giants.
For Android, you’ll need extensive compatibility testing. We’ve already touched on the subject previously. But that’s because dealing with Android’s device fragmentation is an uphill battle.
Without QA experts who know how to efficiently test each configuration, you run the risk of being stuck at this stage of the testing process.
iOS devices, on the other hand, are more uniform in terms of screen size, resolution, and capabilities. Localization testing for iOS is generally more straightforward, as there are fewer variations to account for.
Both OSs offer a variety of tools for localization testing.
But, overall, Android’s resources are more abundant.
There’re also a few oddities involved with iOS.
So, review these contrasts between Android and iOS before mobile app localization testing and include them in your QA strategy.
Don’t feel overwhelmed with all this info. Its purpose is to make your localization testing for mobile apps easier. Informed means armed, right?
This section summarizes the core testing scenarios so it’s more digestible. Get to know what you should watch out for and save this checklist for later.
Well, we’ve covered everything you need to know for respectable localization. You can stop here. But if you want to double your localization tests’ value, check out these insights from a QA company with over a decade of experience.
Localization isn’t about “dubbing” your app. So, don’t focus too much on your product’s original form. It’ll limit your ability to recognize small details that can have a great impact on the users’ perception. It might be helpful to think about localization as creating another product. The base is the same. The “filling” is something else entirely.
The user interface UI is now everything. While user-friendliness and intuitiveness take the crown, don’t forget to assess how the big picture looks for different regions. For example, Japanese websites are known for cluttered designs. People are used to this. More importantly, it’s familiar and pleasant for them.
Remember: the point of localization testing for mobile applications is to make them feel like they belong.
Beyond text and UI, pay attention to other elements that might change their meaning in diverse locations. For example:
There’s a ton of little things like this. But they make all the difference.
While automation can help streamline the testing process, manual testing takes the crown for localization.
It doesn’t mean that automation testing services are off the table. Just use them wisely, as a helping, not the guiding hand.
Your choice of tools should align with your specific requirements. Consider factors such as the supported:
Also, ensure that the tools integrate with your existing workflows. And be prepared to use a combination of localization software, as is often the case.
Native speakers and local testers can offer insightful feedback on the app’s localization, including:
Their comments will also work as an outside perspective, which you can use to further polish your product. So, try to involve regional expertise in the testing process.
And, of course, listen to the actual CEOs of your business – customers. Once the app is launched, monitor user feedback and iterate based on their suggestions and complaints. Localization is an ongoing process. And you should continue to refine the app based on consumer feedback.
High-quality localization is about the mindset. You want your clients to feel like they’ve just stepped into their own home, not a well-furnished stranger’s house. And where do you think they’d like to stay? So, brace yourself for the journey of app localization testing. And get yourself a QA team that creates not just good products, but memorable experiences.
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