Localisation and translation services for websites, software and video games

Localisation and translation agency

Dotwords is the localisation and translation agency in Milan. We adapt digital content to new markets with an approach that goes beyond simple translation: we adapt the language, register, cultural conventions and visual elements, because every market has its own expectations, and only by meeting them can you achieve tangible results.

From website localisation to business software, from video games to online training courses: we manage the entire process with native-speaking teams, translation memory technologies and dedicated project managers.

What is linguistic localisation?

The difference between translation and localisation is substantial. Translation means converting a text from a source language into a target language while preserving its meaning. Localisation goes a step further: it means adapting content to the cultural, social and communication context of the target market, taking into account cultural references, units of measurement, date formats, typographic conventions, tone of voice and, where necessary, even images, icons and graphics.
The translation and localisation process we follow at Dotwords consists of specific stages:

Analysis of the target market and target audience
Creation or updating of the project terminology glossary
Translation by native speakers living in the target country
Review by a second specialist
Final consistency check against the brand guidelines.

The translation memory is updated with every project, reducing costs and turnaround times for future revisions while ensuring terminological consistency across all of the client’s assets.

This structured approach is what sets a company offering professional localisation and translation services apart from generic translation: it is not just about who translates the content, but how the entire process is managed.

What applications do our linguistic localisation services cover?

Software and website localisation

Website and software localisation is one of the most requested services from companies entering new markets, and it is also one of the most complex to execute correctly. It is not simply a matter of translating existing pages: it means building a digital presence and user experience, particularly when it comes to office software localisation, that works in another language, on another search engine, for another audience with potentially different expectations.

The point where SEO, localisation and translation intersect is critical. A localised page must be optimised for the keywords actually searched for in the target market, which may not correspond to a literal translation of the Italian keywords. Our native-speaking copywriters conduct market-specific keyword research for each target market and rewrite content with local search intent as the starting point, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

The website translation and localisation process at Dotwords includes:

Keyword analysis in the target market
Content adaptation for each page with appropriate terminology density
localisation of meta tags, URLs, slugs and image alt text
review of the internal linking structure
where necessary, adaptation of visual elements such as product images, icons and infographics containing text.

We work directly with the main CMS platforms: WordPress, Shopify, Magento, HubSpot and Drupal, and integrate the workflow with leading multilingual management plugins such as WPML and Polylang.
For companies running international Google Ads campaigns, consistency between the ad and the landing page in the target market’s language directly affects Quality Score and conversion rates: this is also part of the software and website localisation services we offer.

Video game localisation in Milan and throughout Italy

Dotwords is a video game localisation agency in Milan with experience across titles of different genres and scales, from indie games to larger productions, and from mobile apps to PC and console titles. Our end-to-end service covers every element of the project:

Narrative texts
Dubbed and Subtitled Dialogue
Interfaces and Menus
Instructions and Tutorials
Marketing Materials
Store Listings (App Store, Steam, Google Play)
Graphics Containing Integrated Text.

Software localisation and translation for gaming requires skills that go beyond language proficiency. Translators must understand genre conventions, the register expected by players in the target market, established technical terminology within the relevant community, and cultural specificities that can make certain references either understandable or confusing.
That is why Dotwords works with native-speaking translators specialised in specific gaming verticals, rather than generalist translators adapted to the sector.

The method we use for video game localisation includes a preliminary study of the title: gameplay, lore, characters and narrative tone.
Before translating a single line, the team creates a project glossary containing the game’s key terms, proper names and shared stylistic choices. This stage is essential to ensure consistency across all files, particularly for titles with large volumes of text or branching dialogue.

Among the video game localisation companies operating in Italy, Dotwords stands out for its ability to manage multilingual projects in parallel: multiple markets, multiple languages and a single point of contact, with timely updates at every milestone. Whether it is a launch in a single market or simultaneous localisation into ten languages, the project structure remains the same: a dedicated team, shared glossary, native-language review and delivery within the agreed deadlines.

Localisation of training and e-learning courses

The localisation of text for e-learning and training more generally goes far beyond translating slides or text modules. An effective training course works because learners feel engaged, recognise the context of the examples, and understand the regulatory or professional references being cited.
When these elements are not localised, or are localised mechanically, the course loses its training effectiveness even if the translation is linguistically correct.

Dotwords’ linguistic localisation service for e-learning includes:

Adaptation of text in every module and slide
Localisation of the LMS platform interface
Review of icons and images containing text or culturally specific visual references
Adaptation of practical examples to the regulatory and professional context of the target country
Adaptation and synchronisation of audio and video narration.

We work with standard platforms such as Moodle, Docebo, Cornerstone and TalentLMS, as well as content created using authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate and iSpring. The localisation and translation of web-based training content requires a workflow that preserves the structure of the original course. We therefore also handle the extraction and reinsertion of files in XLIFF, CSV and XML formats, so the client does not have to deal with the technical side.

Dotwords manages e-learning localisation projects across every sector:

Professional Training
Corporate Training
Soft Skills
Certified Technical Courses
Mandatory Training

and in every language combination.

The starting point is always a quote based on the actual content volume and the technical complexity of the format.

How we manage software, multimedia and digital content localisation

The localisation of software and multimedia content requires structured management from the analysis stage onward. Before assigning any files to a translator, the Dotwords team assesses the project: content type and volume, target languages, technical formats involved, text-length constraints within the interface (which are particularly important for software localisation), deadlines and specific client requirements.

Based on this assessment, a dedicated team is assembled: one or more native-speaking localisation specialists with specific experience in the project’s sector, an independent reviewer to assess translation quality, and a project manager who coordinates the entire workflow and serves as the client’s single point of contact. For software localisation and translation of interfaces, the process also includes linguistic testing: texts are checked in the actual interface to identify truncation, overlapping elements, rendering errors or inconsistencies between the text and the function it refers to.

For audiovisual translation and localisation of video content: dialogue, narration, subtitles and voice-over. The workflow includes adapting text to timing and on-screen space constraints, reviewing it for naturalness in the target language, and coordinating with the audio production team where necessary. Lip synchronisation (lip sync) for dubbed dialogue is available upon request.

The benefits of software localisation

Working with a linguistic localisation agency ensures a very high standard of translation, which is essential when dealing with software and multimedia products. In addition, localisation increases customer satisfaction, making customers feel more welcomed and better served.

Software localisation makes it possible to expand your potential market, reaching new audiences and countries that would otherwise remain inaccessible. At the same time, localisation helps improve the brand’s reputation and image, as well as that of the company or product, by demonstrating care for customers, professionalism and expertise in addressing cultural differences.

Software localisation prevents errors and cultural misunderstandings that could cause offence or lead to confusion between people from different cultures or religions.
For companies with recurring needs, the economic benefits increase over time: dedicated translation memories accumulate previously translated and approved content, which is automatically reused in every new project.
The result is a progressive reduction in the cost per word and turnaround times for updates and new versions.