Selecting the right Translation Management System (TMS) can be a little overwhelming given the large number of options available.
To help simplify this process, we've put together an easy-to-use, 5-step TMS evaluation template that helps teams make informed decisions about translation and localization.
An easy-to-use evaluation template that's vendor-agnostic and fully cuztomizable.
Using metrics and measurable outcomes, you can shift the process from subjective to objective, engaging stakeholders at the right times, and providing clear guidance to maximize efficiency.
This evaluation template is for experienced and first-time TMS buyers. If you are new to TMS software and need tips on the selection process, including business and technical considerations, check out our blog post on how to choose the best translation management system for your team and company.
Translation Management System (TMS) tools facilitate the management of localization and translation processes. Picking the right TMS is crucial for leveraging translation memory, owning translation workflows, reporting on translation cost and quality, and managing vendor queries. A strong TMS also ensures a smooth localization process, integrating translation into your broader content strategy, and supporting consistency across languages.
The main benefits of using a TMS tool are:
These benefits make it easier for you deliver larger volumes of translations in more languages, so you can ship products and campaigns to new markets faster.
The purpose of a TMS evaluation is to objectively assess the compatibility of the TMS tool with your organization's requirements.
A good evaluation will give you a comprehensive understanding of how well potential TMS tools integrate with your current systems and processes and help you identify potential compatibility issues with your existing translation workflows and/or tech stack, as well as estimate translation costs.
Another crucial aspect of your evaluation process should be assessing the scalability of the TMS tool.
You need a tool that can scale with you. By evaluating scalability, you can ensure that the chosen TMS tool can handle increasing volumes of content without compromising on quality or performance.
Additionally, an organized evaluation method will help you gauge the ease of use and user interface of the TMS tool. This is essential because it enables seamless adoption by all stakeholders. A user-friendly interface enables employees with varying levels of technical expertise to navigate the tool easily and work productively.
Choosing the right localization platform can be overwhelming. So we've put togethers an easy-to-use evaluation template that's vendor-agnostic and fully customizable.
Our TMS Evaluation Template tool is a and customizable spreadsheet where you define the features and score each one. Just make a copy and start evaluating your options.
TMS evaluation is comprised of five steps and an optional preparation step:
(Optional preparation: problem statement)
A step-by-step guide to TMS evaluation
Making an informed decision about the best TMS for your organization is a worthwhile investment.
With Lokalise’s TMS Evaluation Template, you can confidently assess various solutions and arm yourself with metrics and measurable outcomes to guide your decision-making process.
By using this template, you'll not only save time and resources but also ensure that you select the TMS tool that best aligns with your needs and goals. Don't miss the opportunity to streamline your translation workflows and maximize efficiency. Create your own copy of the template now.
Discover how to evaluate all your TMS options the easy way, in 5 simple steps.
Yes and no. The template does not have any pre-filled or predefined features to consider because every team’s considerations will be different. However, it does suggest some general features to consider to help you brainstorm features you need.
Yes. All sheets of the tool can be edited except for the cells on the About sheet, which is locked to accredit the tool’s creators and explain what the tool is.
No. The tool is vendor agnostic. Other than prefilling vendor #1’s name with Lokalise, it has no implicit biases. Lokalise can be removed from the sheet.
Author
Eric joined Lokalise in 2022 after managing projects for a language service provider. His journey into language tech started back in Boulder, Colorado, where he studied Linguistics at CU Boulder and graduated in 2015. After college and a three-year adventure with the Peace Corps, he added a Spanish-to-English translation certificate from UCSD Extension in 2020 (staying productive during "The Global Science Experiment That Went Viral"). In 2024, he earned his master’s degree in Translation and Localization Project Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
As Eric dug deeper into the translation industry, he realized that language technology is where his skills and passions align best. Now at Lokalise, he’s thrilled to help prospective and current users evaluate, adopt, and optimize their use of Lokalise’s capabilities. Since joining, he’s expanded his focus to computer science, specializing in custom integrations and workflows that help users automate and streamline their work. His mantra? Automate, automate, automate!
Eric shares his insights and side projects on his Substack blog, where he dives into topics like using LLMs to enhance machine translation output. In his favorite project so far, he used Lokalise, OpenAI, DeepL, and a quality estimation engine from Hugging Face to explore how automated source-language editing can boost translation quality. He breaks down the process and results in a video for those curious to learn more.
Outside work, you’ll find Eric enjoying the outdoors, music, and sports. He keeps active but admits to a bit of a gaming habit on the side.
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