4 Software translation tools for your toolkit

If you’re going to do software localization the right way, you need the proper tools. Software translation tools turn your content into something that is understood by everyone, everywhere. If you’re wondering what these tools are and what exactly is it that they do, keep reading.

Machine translation engines

Machine translation (MT) engines use deep learning to generate highly fluent and increasingly context-aware translations. If you have projects with large volumes of content, where human translation would be cost-prohibitive (or too slow to meet release timelines), you can greatly benefit from MT.

It’s not flawless just yes, but MT gives you a pretty solid foundation that human linguists can polish through post-editing. Many systems now allow for customization, which means you can “train” engines on their own linguistic data to improve accuracy in specific industries or brand contexts.

Translation management systems

Working with human translators, machine translation systems, or both? You definitely need a translation management system (TMS), a tool that helps localization professionals handle the process at scale. A TMS acts as a central hub, orchestrating the entire translation workflow. It brings together developers, linguists, reviewers, project managers, and anyone else involved in localization in a single environment.

A TMS separates content from code, and translators work on the text without interfering with the structure of the application. It also preserves previously translated material through what’s known as a translation memory, which is a database of past translations that can be reused to maintain consistency and reduce repetition. Glossaries and style guides are also embedded in most systems; they guide translators to use terminology and tone aligned with the product’s voice.

TMS platforms are tightly integrated with development tools and version control systems, which makes continuous localization possible. As code is updated, new strings are automatically flagged, routed to translators or machine engines, and reintegrated into the product. This requires minimal manual intervention. Such level of automation supports agile localization.

Computer-Assisted Translation tools

Not to be confused with machine translation, CAT tools are designed to assist human translators, increasing their efficiency and consistency. They include features like translation memory, terminology management systems, QA features, and support for various file formats.

A CAT tool breaks down the source text into smaller, manageable units called “segments,” which are typically sentences or phrases. The translator then works on these segments one by one in a side-by-side view, with the source text on one side and the target translation on the other. So it’s an entire ecosystem that empowers a translator to work more intelligently, consistently, and quickly.

Localization file format converters

Now let’s move on to one of those software translation tools that are probably not that obvious: file format converters. They are used to convert files from one structure to another without losing the meaning, metadata, or formatting that your application depend on. A good converter copies text from one format to another and (this is very important) understands the structure of translation files. It preserves placeholders, plural rules, context tags, and language codes.

Bottom line

Successful software localization needs smart tooling. We’ve gone through the main software translation tools that make sure your product or service can connect with anyone regardless of where they’re at, efficiently and accurately. As time passes, these tools will undoubtedly become even more intelligent and integrated, paving the way for an even more seamless global experience.