“We don't need translators any longer, as we have ChatGPT and Google Translate to do the job” – is that really the case?
At Readdle, we found a way to build a multilingual presence around the globe by collaborating with translators from different locations, proving that even in an age of advanced technology, the human touch remains irreplaceable.
From Readdle apps lovers to dedicated translators
Readdle's localization journey began more than a decade ago when enthusiastic users of our apps started reaching out to our support team, expressing their wish to see our products in their native languages.
As dedicated enthusiasts of our products, they volunteered to localize the apps for free. Recognizing their passion and commitment, which align perfectly with Readdle's values, we offered them contracts as localization specialists. Ultimately, who could be more suited for the role than native speakers who are not only fluent in the language but also deeply in love with the apps and want to make them better?
Today, we have a solid team of 19 translators and 5 world-class productivity apps (PDF Expert, Spark, Documents, Calendars, and Scanner Pro) that support 10 languages (English, German, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Ukrainian, Chinese Simplified, Japanese, and Vietnamese) and are used by millions of people around the globe.
Technology as a partner
Though our translators bring machine suggestions into play, their primary tool is an extensive thesaurus they have developed over the years while localizing our apps. This approach ensures that translators always remain deeply in the development context. They remember previous versions of the apps and are aware of future plans. This enables them to produce translations that are linguistically accurate, contextually relevant, and consistent with our company’s vision and goals.
Obviously, our translators use ChatGPT and Deepl as supplementary tools to enhance their work, speeding up tasks by proposing versions that are 70-80% correct. This efficiency allows them to focus on refining these versions, ensuring linguistic accuracy and cultural relevance. However, human intervention remains crucial. We view technology as a friend, not a foe. This collaboration ensures our localized products meet the highest standards for our global audience.
Localization goes beyond translation
Localization involves more than just translation. It includes making linguistic and cultural choices, often requiring collaboration with other teams.
Often, our translators wear multiple hats: technical, marketing, and design. They conduct design reviews, provide feedback on the relevancy of the content for the market, search the code for pesky mistakes, check the functionality of new features, test new products on several platforms, navigate code repositories, chat with engineers in their own terms,... you name it.
For instance, our German translator, Antonius, consistently offers sharp observations about our apps’ logic. His keen eye for detail and profound understanding of user experience help the QA team address issues before they become problems. Meanwhile, Eusebio, our Spanish proofreader, is famous for his meticulous accuracy in HTML and web development:
When it comes to challenges…
The importance of having a dedicated team of translators was underscored on the morning of February 24, 2022, when the war in Ukraine began. While in Odesa and Kyiv, we realized we might lose contact with our distant translation team. Unlike us, our translators are scattered worldwide. We appointed one of them to monitor localization tasks coming from the engineering team abroad. And this actually ensured that our localization processes remained uninterrupted and unaffected.
A further instance occurred when our task management tool ceased notifying our translators about their assigned tasks. While we were searching for an alternative, our Spanish translator quickly developed a temporary tool that allowed everyone to monitor the list of open tasks efficiently. This scenario showcases how our translators go beyond their assigned tasks, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving skills that significantly benefit our operations.
Raison d'être
We've been in the localization game for more than 10 years, with our products used by more than 200 million people worldwide. Throughout this time, we've translated our various apps into multiple languages. Products have come and gone, but one thing remained unchanged — the community we've built around them.
And a few lessons we've learned along the way…
- Relationships matter. Stay on the same wavelength with your translators, exploring together the products you’re translating. Use team chats on social networks to discuss new features or tech news – build the bridges.
- Context is key. Translators who use the products they translate daily bring a contextual understanding that is hard to match.
- Embrace technology. The real magic comes from the interaction between the human mind and the machines.
Our story is a testament to how we’ve turned our passionate users into our great assets, witnessing our products live and in the hands of millions worldwide when done right by trained professionals.
Max Cherkasov 
