Globalization Insider

For almost 20 years the Globalization Insider has provided news and discussion concerning the localization and globalization industries as well on important technologies, standards, business developments, and trends in international business. The Globalization Insider is provided as a service to LISA members and is also available by subscription to other interested parties. We welcome submissions on topics of interest and importance to the globalization community.

Recent Articles

Why China? Dragons and Tigers (But No Bears)

Caitlin Carroll (LISA International Studies Intern)

At LISA we are constantly being asked we we have placed such an emphasis on China in recent years. We’re going to be in China twice this year (in Chengdu and in Suzhou), and we keep going back. Quite frankly, we’re always a little surprised by this question since, from our vantage point, the answer is obvious. Asia represents the future of our industry, both in terms of the new markets that multinational companies want to capture, and in terms of where localization production is going. This is not to say that our traditional centers of business, such as Germany, Ireland, and Silicon Valley are fading away, but they are increasingly becoming the front end for work that is carried out elsewhere, in China, in India, and increasingly in Thailand and other areas in Asia. As Asian companies that provide these services cultivate their skills they are increasingly able and willing to contract directly with international clients by offering them compelling packages of skills and services at fantastic rates. China is and will continue to be the portal to take advantage of what Asia is offering. LISA has been leading the globalization industry for twenty years and we would be failing in our duty if we did not address this major shift in our industry. In the following article, Caitlin Carrol, an International Business intern at LISA, outlines the major shifts that we see taking place. [Read more…]

The Year of Standards?

Arle Lommel (Director of Standards, Localization Industry Standards Association)

At the LISA Forum Asia CHINA FOCUS 2009 in Beijing, Paula Shannon of Lionbridge stated that she felt that 2010 would be the “year of standards.” We applaud this pronouncement and are encouraged by the public support for standards from an industry luminary like Paula Shannon. While there was vigorous debate at the Forum about what the Year of Standards would mean in practical terms, I think everyone was in agreement that we need to see more use of standards across the entire globalization supply chain. [Read more…]

“Mapping the Uncharted Territory of the Language Industry in Europe” Needs a Map of Its Own

Adriane Rinsche (Managing Director, Language Technology Centre)

In December we published an article about research on the size of the localization industry in Europe. We thank Dr. Andriane Rische, the author of the research report (around which a European Union conference was organized), for taking the time to write to us and set the record straight concerning the conference and the significance of her business research and data. We encourage all interested parties to download the report, free of charge. [Read more…]