Acolad Navigates the Future of Enterprise Localization with AI

As one of the leading events in the industry, SlatorCon attracts top executives and decision-makers in the language and technology sectors as well as leading professionals from the industry itself. That fact, combined with the strategic location of Silicon Valley - the hub for all things innovation, tech and multimedia - were key drivers in our decision to sponsor the event as a Panel Partner, which gave us important exposure to a highly relevant audience and enabled our brand to be closely related with the event’s leading discussions and insights. 

These events align with our goals of increasing brand visibility and establishing thought leadership throughout the industry. Leading the panel on "Enterprise Growth in the Age of AI" reasserts Acolad as an industry authority and allows us to influence industry perspectives - establishing ourselves as a forward-thinking leader in the presence of a very tech-oriented audience.

Acolad's Expertise on Display

Acolad's Head of Global Solutions, Pavel Soukenik, guided the panel, alongside Nitin Singhal (VP of Engineering at SnapLogic) and Agustín Da Fieno Delucchi (Director of International Data & Applied Science at Microsoft), on critical aspects of enterprise localization.

Build vs. Buy

6 strategic factors were highlighted to consider when deciding whether to build internal localization solutions or partner with specialized providers:

• Market Landscape: Understanding whether specialized companies are offering state-of-the-art solutions that meet the specific needs.
• Company Capabilities: Assessing whether the internal capabilities and resources are suitable for building the solution in-house.
• Cost Considerations: Evaluating the total cost of ownership and the potential return on investment of both building and buying.
• Strategic Fit: Considering whether building or buying aligns better with the company’s long-term strategic goals.
• Risk Analysis: Analyzing the risks associated with each option, including technological risks and the potential for not meeting project timelines or specifications.
• Interoperability and Integration: Considering how well the new system will integrate with existing systems and workflows.

System Integration

The importance of seamless data exchange and compliance across global systems was stressed, emphasizing the need for an approach that ensures smooth tech stack integration. 

AI in Localization

LThe panel explored the evolving role of AI in localization, emphasizing the need for continuous quality assessment of AI models to ensure they meet the necessary standards for adequacy and appropriateness across languages and content types.

Thought Leadership - Key Takeaways

Maximizing flexibility and making pragmatic choices in the context of the "build vs. buy" decision in enterprise localization are key, while partnerships remain a viable third option.

Interoperability is of critical importance in system integration, likening the role to that of a "data plumber" who ensures seamless data exchange and regulatory compliance across global systems guaranteeing tech stack integration runs smoothly, enhancing functionality and user experience.

Continuously assessing quality, cost, and performance of AI models, especially from an international perspective, is vital. Ensure models meet criteria for adequacy—making sure the content is semantically accurate and appropriate for the target audience. He also remarked on the significance of adapting quality assessments to different languages, content types, and user scenarios. The complexity of these factors makes it crucial to tailor AQE systems to specific needs, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.