If European software developers neglect to capitalise on their cultural expertise by publishing packages that will capture local market share, the demand for culturally-specific products stands to benefit Europe’s burgeoning software localisation industry, which rewrites foreign-language software in the local language. Already, Ireland is fast becoming a centre for the activity, with approximately 40% of all European personal computer software produced there, according to the Irish Trade Board. International Translation & Publishing Ltd, in Bray, is a perfect example. We’re being asked to do more in the localisation process and in less time, said the company’s Finbarr Power. Often, the product isn’t even written, we have to start with the alpha version and our system has to cope with getting updates. So many software companies are driven by Wall Street parameters that they have to ship at the end of a quarter to get the effect on their revenues. As a result, we often say that we’re at the tail end of the crocodile and when he sneezes, guess who gets thrown? he quipped. Nonetheless, International Translation & Publishing seems to be quite comfortable riding the croc: it has doubled in size every year to 50 full-time engineers in Europe and between 600 and 700 contract translators and engineers. Last year we did $10m, this year we’ll probably do some $25m to $30m, Power said.
