How do you sell localization to a skeptical executive?
There is a very nice movement that has originated on LinkedIn called #LocLunch in which people from the Localization industry come together to have lunch. And we have people spread all over the world!
How could it be otherwise! we are a very multicultural group, and we show it with #LocLunch that are happening in Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Prague, Moscow, The Hague, Hamburg, Genova ... it's so coooool!
I think it’s a great initiative! I knew about them through Yuka Nakasone and Jan Hinrichs (thanks for moving it guys!)
My post this week came from a conversation during the lunch
HOW DO YOU "SELL" LOCALIZATION TO A SKEPTICAL EXECUTIVE?
I prepared a white paper HERE as the topic is deep. But if your are busy have a look and the infographic and this summary to get a rough idea.
Idea in Brief
Traditionally, it has always been difficult to "sell" the importance of activities related to Globalization in the product development cycle and get budget par Localization activities
The reason
Localization department perceived as a cost center instead of a profit center
Localization team members not having a seat in the decision-making table
A not clear understanding of the impact of a proper Globalization strategy
The solution
Continuous evangelization is the key to get C-Suite buy-in, however contrary at what we could imagine Evangelization should not only be an upwards effort to get the funds we need to craft our Localization strategy. The combination of horizontal/vertical evangelization combined with different specific actions can provide the desired output
Hope you find this info useful, comment below if you have further tips to evangelize G-localizartion and until next #LocLunch!!
@yolocalizo

This feels like a pivotal moment. Localization teams are being asked to support more markets, move faster, use AI responsibly, and show impact, not just output. Expectations are higher than ever, but many teams are still trained mainly for execution. We are strong at delivering localization work, yet we often struggle to move from output to outcome and to clearly explain the impact of what we do.