We’d like to explore the concept of freedom in localization as it relates to AEM connectors and APIs. If this sounds interesting, sign up and select Beebox integrations and we’ll get in touch. You can get a general overview of our AEM localization solutions here.

Freedom in localization: what do we mean by that?

The AEM marketplace is actually quite full of translation “connectors” or “integrations” that let you connect AEM to service providers or translation tools. We think that one of the most important things to consider when choosing a localization connector is your freedom of choice.

Freedom of choice means that you can work with the translation software, management system, or service provider of your choice. If you want to change providers, there’s no technical barrier to doing so. You aren’t “API-chained” to anybody.

Most of the connectors in the marketplace either connect you with a specific translation software or a specific localization services provider. So you can connect with SDL software for localization, or you can connect with service providers like Lionbridge who will run your translations for you. But what happens when you decide you want to switch software to move onto the cloud? What happens when you meet a new service provider you would like to work with? What happens if you’d like to work with multiple service providers for different language pairs, or different types of content?

You can’t, because you’re locked in. This is an interesting side-effect of the API economy! APIs remove friction in projects and processes, but they create friction for business decisions. So how can you get the best of both worlds?

How our AEM localization integration keeps you free

Wordbee Beebox integrates with AEM like this: AEM content goes in, gets processed against your translation memory, and goes out as a translatable file that any provider, tool, or translator can use (that is, XLIFF). It then comes back to Beebox when translated and gets published via your AEM publication workflow, which you can set up to suit your needs.

This means that you can work with any translation software, any management system, and any service provider you want. And if you want to change your translation software or your provider, this is a business decision that is completely independent of how you integrate with AEM.

Processing in the middle

The term middleware isn’t one that you see all the time. In the age of APIs, the conversation typically revolves around direct connections with particular software.

In the case of Beebox, we’re talking about a true middleware runs in the cloud or on a locally hosted machine. Beebox manages your translation memory and automatically handles pre-translations, so you don’t have to pay for anything that matches something you’ve translated before or was duplicated. This means that you have greater control and transparency with your linguistic assets, rather than passing that control to your service provider, or getting locked in to a translation software.

For more information, you can watch this video or visit this page about AEM localization.

Why getting locked in can be a problem

The stakes are high in the localization industry. Some of the world’s largest companies rely on Adobe AEM, and many of them translate millions of words every year. The corresponding costs for translation and translation software are tremendous.

Unfortunately, not every software relationship works out. Even today, we see cloud technologies in translation pulling ahead, leaving server-based systems behind as they are able to deploy new features much faster than server-based systems. Getting locked in with a software that doesn’t work for you is not only painful: it’s expensive.

Moreover, working with a service provider who is not meeting your needs is comparatively worse. They may be charging too much, or their quality may be insufficient for your needs. If you’re shipping hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to someone who is failing your business, and you feel like this is better than re-integrating your AEM with someone else… that’s a bad place to be!

Translate directly on the website

Wordbee Translator is a cloud-based translation management system that is completely independent of our Beebox AEM integration. We didn’t want to lock anybody in!

It’s worth mentioning, though, that when you combine Beebox with Wordbee Translator, which also features a translation editor, supplier management, financial management and analytics, and customizable workflows, we have built a solution that allows people to see a live preview of your AEM content as it will appear on the website.

This is of course better, and it’s a nice reason to check out Wordbee Translator too. But our AEM Beebox localization connector is completely independent and keeps you completely free. If you want to sign on with Wordbee Translator, please choose to do so because it’s an awesome system, and not because you are stuck!