SKF Launches 60 Localized Websites in 37 Languages, in just 12 months with SDL Web Content Management and Language Technologies

MAIDENHEAD, U.K. & WAKEFIELD, Mass. – March 8, 2016 – SDL (LSE: SDL) today announced that the SKF Group is using SDL Web and SDL’s translation management solution to deliver local, digital experiences to customers across the globe. For over 100 years, SKF has led the way as a global provider of technology. Representing 40 industries across 32 countries – from motoring to marine, railways and aerospace to medical, metals and food – the company needed a single, global online face to engage with its diverse customer base. 

With the help of SDL Web for centralized web content management and SDL’s translation management solution for localization, SKF went from having 10 main websites to one streamlined online experience in just 18 months. Engineers, customers and prospects can now easily find the information they need, in their own language, across a range of over 300,000 products. 

“The SDL solutions make it inherently easy to deliver a consistent web presence in different languages, straight out of the box,” said Gerard Schram, Web Strategy and Operations Manager, SKF Group. “We were pleasantly surprised at the speed of the implementation. SDL’s tools integrate well with all of our existing solutions, which was a key requirement for building the comprehensive digital ecosystem we need.” 

SDL technology now forms the backbone of a robust digital ecosystem which has delivered a number of achievements for SKF, including: 

• 15 percent more website visits and customer inquiries per year 
• 20 percent to 70 percent jump in total local site traffic 
• Launched 60 localized sites in 37 languages in just 12 months – six months faster than expected 
• Translation of 250,000 words on average per month 
• Translation memory enables reuse of 50 percent of translated content
• 250 content managers now work from one centralized web content master 
• All site visits and customer inquiries automatically route to a CRM system, helping SKF to capitalize on the uptick they’ve seen in web traffic 

SDL Web seamlessly connects with the SDL translation management solution, giving SKF greater control of its localized content while reducing cost. Local SKF websites that were previously not translated or only partially translated, now mirror the look and feel of the corporate site, allowing SKF to build deeper relationships with its customers in local markets. Additionally, new advanced search capabilities and integration to SKF’s Product Information Management (PIM) system let visitors drill down into the specific products and details they’re looking for, enabling SKF to save costs on catalogs while providing visitors with a first-class digital experience. 

“Today’s global brands must meet the digital demands of their customers, regardless of language, location or industry,” said Allan Hall, EVP of GCT Sales & Operations Worldwide at SDL. “SKF recognized the need to streamline content and translation management so that each individual user has a seamless and personalized experience. We are honored to partner with SKF on this initiative, as they continue to extend their global footprint and drive customer engagement and satisfaction around the world.” 

SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2015 were SEK 75 997 million and the number of employees was 48,593. www.skf.com.