Product testing
Description
Product testing is the final safeguard before a global launch. It goes beyond basic bug checking to assess the holistic experience of the user. In a localization context, this involves two main layers: Functional testing and Linguistic testing.
Functional testing ensures that the software or device works as intended – that buttons click, forms submit and currencies calculate correctly, regardless of the language setting. It also checks for issues caused by text expansion or character encoding errors. Linguistic testing focuses on the content itself, verifying that translations are accurate in context, culturally appropriate and consistent with the brand voice. RWS combines these disciplines into a comprehensive testing strategy. Using a mix of automated tools and in-market human testers, we simulate real-world usage scenarios to catch issues that automated scripts might miss. This ensures that whether a user is in Tokyo, Berlin or São Paulo, they experience a product that feels robust, native and high-quality.
Example use cases
- Launches: Validating navigation flows and information architecture across multilingual sites.
- Localization: Testing mobile interfaces to ensure buttons and menus remain usable after translation.
- Ecommerce: Observing how users in different markets interact with checkout flows.
- Accessibility: Verifying that digital products are usable by people with disabilities.
- Evaluation: Testing early design concepts with representative user groups to refine features.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
At RWS, we view product testing as an essential component of Strategic localization. We believe that a product isn't truly localized until it has been tested by the people it was built for.
Our approach combines Human + Technology. We use advanced automation to check for functional stability and layout issues across thousands of device and browser combinations. However, we pair this with in-market human testers – native speakers and Subject-matter experts (SMEs) – who evaluate the nuance of the experience. Whether validating a software interface, a digital marketing campaign or a complex eLearning content module, RWS integrates testing into the content lifecycle. This ensures that accessibility, culture and usability are not afterthoughts, but foundational elements of your global presence.