Was the release of your project ever delayed when localization problems were found too late? Or worst, delayed subsequent products because of this delay? Or the fact that UI specifications quickly get out of date, leaving us with very poor quality testing by localization testing vendors. In most projects localization is still done in “waterfall” mode. Localization teams are typically involved at a very late stage of the development cycle. We have lived through many of these problems, and we believe that Localization and Agile software development were born to be together

1. Agile LocalizationAgile Localization
as a competitiveas a competitive
businessbusiness
advantageadvantage
June 5th, XP2013, @duarte_vascoJune 5th, XP2013, @duarte_vasco

2. What is localization?
• Also known as L10N and it’s cousin
Internationalization (I18N)
• Means of adapting computer software to
different languages, regional differences
and technical requirements of a target
market.
• The activities include: translation, adaptation,
testing

3. The project
Agile Localization
http://Agile-Localization.com
Luis Goncalves
@lgoncalves1979
Vasco Duarte
@duarte_vasco

4. What about today?
1. Horror stories of Localization
2. Why aren’t we agile yet?
3. What would Agile Localization look like?
4. Take aways, actionable next steps

5. Before we go forward...
What are your expectations for this
session?

7. Gingerbread
Lebkuchen
Latte
+ =

8. Source:
http://blog.dakwak.com/2012/12/translation-and-localization-mistakes-lead-to-lost-profits/
No 20%
Yes 80%
Loss due to translation and localization issues

9. • Further, 40% of the respondents stated they
have had to delay product launches
because of mistranslations
• 7% claimed they had received fines by local
governments for non-compliance as a
result of translation errors.
Source:
http://blog.dakwak.com/2012/12/translation-and-localization-mistakes-lead-to-lost-profits/

10. The extremes
Every product is a
localization in itself
Take it or leave it,
we know better...

11. The company thatThe company that
was always late...was always late...

12. ?

13. The
company
that was
always
slow

14. The story that matters...
SuperSoft

15. The story that matters...
• Your company just entered new markets
(Europe)...
• You have the technical advantage, but...
• Your competitors can introduce their product
in the new markets faster
• Your localized product is losing market share...
• The market you are in is growing, but you are
not...

16. Exercise 1: What is keeping SuperSoft
back?
• The teams use Agile, but Localization process does
not. Why is that?
• Based on your real life experience, what are the
obstacles?
People Technology
ProcessCosts

17. Exercise 2: Your job now is to help
SuperSoft...
• How would an Agile Localization process look
like?
– What would you change?
– What steps would it include?
– What are the enablers?
– How would it fit into Scrum?
– How would it fit into Kanban?
– How would it fit into XP?

18. Exercise 2: Your job now is to help
SuperSoft...
• What is the Business goal that SuperSoft is
trying to achieve?
• Design the Localization process to meet that
goal
• Consider that these are new markets for
SuperSoft

19. Final Exercise: ideas to try at work...

20. Don’t forget...
• Your name can appear in the book if you leave
us your name
• You can receive a copy of the book if you
leave us your email

21. SuperSoft