Mirela
Today we’re talking about another valuable member of a localization team, someone that acts as a bridge between internal teams and external partners. They’re the ones to coordinate, negotiate, and ensure the quality of the localized content. Who could they be? Read on to learn about an essential but often overlooked role: the localization vendor manager.
Overview:
- What a localization vendor manager is
- What a localization vendor manager does
- What tools localization vendor managers use
- How to become a localization vendor manager
- How POEditor can assist localization vendor managers
What a localization vendor manager is
A localization vendor manager is a member of the localization team that is responsible for managing relationships with external vendors and suppliers who provide localization and translation services. While they don’t do any translation work per se, vendor managers still play a key role in making sure that the content is accurately (and culturally) adapted for foreign markets.
What a localization vendor manager does
The vendor manager will first select and onboard localization vendors, such as translation agencies and freelance linguists, who meet the company’s requirements for quality, cost, and timely delivery. The manager facilitates smooth communication between the company and vendors. They set clear expectations and address any concerns that arise to maintain strong working relationships.
A big part of their job is to monitor performance. They do this by tracking metrics such as quality, turnaround time, and cost-effectiveness. Localization vendor managers implement quality assurance measures, like regular audits and feedback loops, to maintain high localization standards and make necessary improvements.
Another important responsibility is negotiating contracts and pricing with vendors to secure cost-effective localization solutions for their company. Additionally, the vendor manager continuously seeks to optimize localization processes. They leverage industry trends and technologies to improve efficiency while mitigating risks.
What tools localization vendor managers use
Just like any other localization professional, vendor managers use multiple tools in their day-to-day tasks. Specific tools include vendor management systems (VMS), which are used to manage vendor information, contracts, and performance metrics. VMS can assist with onboarding, performance reviews, and payment management.
A translation management system (TMS) is indispensable in the localization process, and managers use it too to track progress and assign projects. This platform also integrates with other tools such as computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and content management systems (CMS), which vendor managers most likely use as well.
CAT tools support the translation process by providing features like translation memory (TM), terminology databases, and real-time quality checks. A CMS is used to manage the creation and modification of digital content.
Vendor managers may also use data analytics and reporting tools to analyze vendor performance data, track costs, and identify areas for improvement. They generate reports on quality, turnaround time, and other metrics, which helps them make informed decisions on their next steps.
How to become a localization vendor manager
To become a successful vendor manager, you need a combination of education, skills, and industry experience. Candidates usually start with a bachelor’s degree in fields like translation, linguistics, international business, or communications. Specialized courses like the one offered by The Localization Academy or certifications in project management, can also help.
One should develop their skills in areas like project management, negotiation, and communication. It’s also important to grow analytical skills in order to evaluate vendor performance and make data-driven decisions.
Those new to the role can build industry experience through entry-level roles to gain hands-on exposure to localization practices. Other ways one can establish a portfolio and build a resume is through freelance work or internships with translation agencies, as well as volunteering on localization projects.
How POEditor can assist localization vendor managers
POEditor is an established translation management system, which—as mentioned earlier—is one of the main tools used by vendor managers. This platform allows localization professionals to track the progress of each language, manage resources more effectively, and ensure consistency in translation quality across projects.
Managers can set up workflows that allow translations to move smoothly from one phase to the next, including review and quality assurance stages, saving time and effort in coordinating tasks. POEditor also includes features for quality checks, such as detecting missing translations or inconsistencies.
To monitor performance and cost-effectiveness, our TMS provides reports on project progress, translation completion, and cost estimation. The data can then be used for vendor performance reviews, budgeting, and process optimization.