Choose an intelligent approach backed by technical expertise from an SAP Language Services Partner. Simply opting for word-based translation pricing may not deliver optimal results for your SAP project.
Consider ASAP Globalizers—an alliance of SAP-certified Language Services Partners offering comprehensive SAP language services and training through a single point of contact.
Picture this common scenario: You have software or master data that needs implementing across 10 subsidiaries, each speaking a different language. Add an international customer base and eight potential new markets to address in their native languages. While the need for translation is clear, understanding the 'why' and 'for whom' only informs your overall strategy, language selection, and tooling choices. The real challenge lies in translation management.
Or perhaps you need to translate a customisation, plug-in or app within tight budget constraints, and you're uncertain about the best approach.
The fundamental questions are 'what needs translating?' and 'which environment suits the translation?' This can occur within the SAP system (yes, SE63 is possible!) or by extracting strings to Excel or other formats.
Whilst each approach has its merits and drawbacks, the ideal solution depends heavily on your project's specific circumstances, always keeping cost-efficiency in mind.
Volume and repeatability are crucial factors: larger volumes make direct SAP system translation more efficient and cost-effective. For smaller projects or app translations, exporting content to Excel or working directly with property files might be more sensible.
Why does the translation environment matter so significantly? It requires distinct skill sets that few LSPs can provide. ASAP Globalizers operates across 18 countries and 25 languages, offering services through Certified SAP Language Services Partners and technical consultancy both within and outside the SAP system—all at competitive rates.
While translating within the SAP environment may seem daunting (it's not a widely-known specialisation), partnering with experienced providers makes it highly cost-effective. We can prepare your translation environment, potentially in a non-productive system, and provide skilled linguists who thoroughly understand SAP translation. They're versed in specific terminology, understand domains and collections, can execute QA processes, and crucially, won't misapply SAP ERP language to app translations.
Most importantly, we offer precise project scoping, providing transparent cost estimates throughout—even in dynamic environments where development runs parallel to translation. From the outset, you'll have clear cost visibility based on required objects and collections, excluding irrelevant items or those that can remain in English (such as technical collections).
In-system SAP translation offers versatility and effectiveness, with built-in translation memory and tools that enhance efficiency whilst preventing costly import errors. This approach typically reduces translation costs by 15-30%, delivering excellent results without haggling over per-word pricing.
Whilst many major clients embrace this approach, we offer alternatives. Exporting files from the system may require more administration on your part but could prove optimal for smaller projects. File-based translation estimates use word-count pricing, adjusted for matches against existing content. This approach particularly suits scenarios with existing translation memory to leverage.
Even here, you'll need highly skilled translators familiar with SAP terminology, capable of running QA processes to ensure seamless integration with existing SAP systems. While pricing is word-based, costs adjust based on matches identified during pre-analysis. Larger, more relevant translation memories lead to greater cost savings, though this approach requires more input from your team.
Regarding the SAP Translation Hub: what is it, and does it suit your needs?
Developed for SAP S/4HANA application developers, it offers instant translation of reused SAP strings through a repository integrated with machine translation and based on legacy translations.
However, it's not designed for linguists and lacks translation memory functionality. Post-editing changes to strings aren't automatically updated across identical sources or the repository, nor do they carry forward between releases. This necessitates substantial versioning and change tracking effort, whether managed by your team or ours, affecting cost-effectiveness.
We find the SAP Translation Hub excellent for quick property file translations or small apps. However, as volume increases, promised savings are often offset by higher administrative costs required to maintain consistency across translations and releases.
Should you use it? As with all translation scenarios, it depends on your specific needs. ASAP Globalizers, as your comprehensive SAP Language Services provider, can offer unbiased advice on the best solution for your specific aims, strategy and expectations—always considering the crucial WHY, FOR WHOM and HOW questions that shape your approach.
Check this Infographic to understand the added value of ASAP Globalizers.
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