Business supplies and services: Scheduling software for localisation providers
Scheduling software for localisation providers that aligns language teams, reviewers and each client's release window, so every language is ready when the software ships.
What makes scheduling hard for localisation providers.
Localisation providers do not plan on a fixed working week but on clients' release windows, which keep moving. The string freeze slips a few days, but the release date does not. A translator for a smaller language has limited time available, and a reviewer has to wait until translation is done. Meanwhile releases from several clients land in the same week. When the schedule lives in a spreadsheet per client, nobody sees that the same translator is on three releases at once, or that a slipping freeze halves review time for every language.
Scheduling software for localisation providers
Example- 1
Record work per language and role
DoneEach release is broken into translation, review and screen testing per language, with an estimate based on volume and number of screens.
- 2
Lay availability against windows
In progressThe planner sees per language which translators and reviewers are available between freeze and release.
- 3
Confirm delivery per language
NextWhen every step fits, the project manager confirms a delivery date per language to the client.
From job to confirmed appointment.
Record work per language and role
Each release is broken into translation, review and screen testing per language, with an estimate based on volume and number of screens. Each step states which role does the work and what qualifications are needed, such as experience with the product or knowledge of a particular subject area.
Lay availability against windows
The planner sees per language which translators and reviewers are available between freeze and release. When releases from different clients overlap, it shows where the same people are double booked. If a freeze slips, the schedule recalculates the available time and shows which steps get squeezed.
Confirm delivery per language
When every step fits, the project manager confirms a delivery date per language to the client. If a language does not fit, they can propose delivering it later or adding capacity. The client sees what is achievable per language rather than one date that does not hold for some of them.
Alongside your calendar and your team.
Localisation providers often work with a network of freelance translators who share availability by email, and a translation environment where tasks are assigned. The schedule brings that availability together without replacing the translation environment, where tasks are still assigned. The client owns the release date and the freeze; you own the allocation of translators and reviewers and the delivery date per language.
Fixed translator per product or rotating
A fixed translator per product and language knows the terminology and interface and delivers more consistent work. Rotating translators give flexibility when someone is unavailable but need more review. Many agencies use a fixed translator and a fixed backup per language, and the schedule shows when the backup is needed.
Review straight after or in one block
Reviewing in parts straight after translation catches errors earlier and spreads the work. Reviewing in one block at the end is more efficient for the reviewer but leaves little room if much needs changing. With tight release windows, staged review works better; with generous windows, one block is fine.
All languages at once or in waves
Many clients want every language at release. For smaller languages with limited translator capacity, that is sometimes only possible by cutting review. Delivering in waves, key markets first, can protect quality. The schedule shows per language what is achievable, so the client can make an informed choice.
What we set up in the schedule.
Releases split into steps per language, availability of translators and reviewers, overlap between clients and confirmed delivery dates per language: that is how the planning is ready at the start. Together we replay an ordinary release for a regular client, and a release where the freeze slips a few days while the release date stays put. An availability link for freelancers and task statuses from the translation environment can be added later.
View pricingSupport and updatesGood to know.
Explore pricing and optionsHow do we account for freelancers in other time zones?
Each translator has a time zone and usual working hours. The schedule works with their available days rather than hours in your own time zone, so you can see that a translator given a task today may only deliver it by your morning tomorrow.
What happens when string freeze slips?
The schedule adjusts the period between freeze and release and shows per language whether translation, review and screen testing still fit. If a language gets squeezed, the project manager is alerted and can discuss a later delivery or extra capacity with the client.
Can clients see the schedule per language?
In the customer portal they see the planned delivery date and status per language, not which translator is working on it. A product manager knows what to expect without looking into internal allocation. If a delivery date changes, they see it with the reason.
How do we schedule urgent changes just before release?
An urgent change becomes a small extra task per language with its own deadline. The schedule shows which translators are available and whether other work slips as a result. The project manager decides whether the change fits or moves to the next release, and records that choice.
What often connects to this.
- Digital job cards for localisation providersDigital job cards for localisation providers: a string package with version reference that records translation, review and screen testing per language, so every delivery traces back to a release.
- Website for localisation providersA website for localisation providers that explains how software, apps and help content are translated and tested per release, so a product team knows what to supply and when.
- Enquiry form for localisation providersAn enquiry form for localisation providers that gathers source strings, screen context and release details, so the language team knows where every string appears before translation starts.
A schedule that works in practice.
Start with a short intake. Then we schedule a call to show the software with your services, team and way of working.
WhatsAppinfo@vorlyo.com Scheduling software for localisation providers: translators and reviewers per language planned around string freeze and release window, changes visible.
- Record work per language and role
- Lay availability against windows
- Confirm delivery per language