Localization QA

Smart localization drives global success. Through expert testing with real devices and native speakers SHIFT ensures language and UI/UX feel native. The result: stronger trust, higher engagement, and faster growth.

SHIFT is a Localization Expert

The #1 testing company in Japan, SHIFT provides robust localization solutions for clients aiming to enter the Japanese market and other local markets worldwide.

testing company in Japan*

20+

years of industry experience

2,000+

clients

10,000+

engineers

*Among the four software testing companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, SHIFT has the largest market capitalization at 392 billion yen and the highest sales revenue at 111 billion yen. In comparison, the other three companies—TSE:3657, 3676, and 4442—have market capitalizations of 14.5, 23.4, and 9.8 billion yen, with corresponding sales revenues of 52.2, 40, and 10.8 billion yen, respectively (market capitalizations are as of September 10, 2025, and sales revenues are based on each company’s latest fiscal year).

Why Localization Matters

Untranslated or badly translated content on a brand website

26%

of visitors would be less likely to purchase*

*Croud International Localization report (2022)

Do not overestimate the impact of automatic localization

58%*

of apps that use automatic localization contained UI/UX errors

*IEEE ICSME 2020: i18n Collateral Changes and Bugs in Android Apps

Effective localization is essential not only for clear communication but also for building customer trust and protecting business performance. For many languages, the quality of machine translation is still at a developing stage. In addition, poor translation can also break the UI/UX, leading to user frustration and loss of trust. Therefore, it is not advisable to rely solely on machines for localization. The above data reveals the real risks related to localization.

This is what happens without proper localization

Consumers

I'm leaving this website, it seems unreliable...

This app doesn't look trustworthy...

I can't type in Japanese ...

All leads to decline

Conversion rate

Engagement rate

Brand reputation

Our 3-Step Localization
QA solution

SHIFT's localization QA isn't just about language — it's about delivering a global product experience that works, reads, and feels right in every local market. We provide a structured workflow that spans from Planning and execution to final reporting, delivering consistency, and reliability at every stage.

STEP 01 : Planning

Structured test planning

We create comprehensive test cases based on your UI/UX components, user flows, and multilingual content structure. Our design phase ensures coverage across all screens, devices, and languages — preventing common oversights in UI/UX, layout, or content mismatches.

STEP 02 : Execution

Native-speaker testing across real devices

Native-speaking testers validate both linguistic and functional quality within the actual product UI/UX. Testing is conducted on real devices, browsers, and platforms to catch layout issues, character corruption, text overflows, and interaction errors.
CAT tools are used to ensure consistency, speed, and traceability.

STEP 03 : Evaluation

Clear, actionable insights for global release

We provide detailed bug reports with severity levels, annotated screenshots, and reproduction steps. Final testing evaluations are delivered using scorecards and KPIs, helping teams make global release decisions with confidence.
Issue tracking can be integrated with your workflow or handled via SHIFT-managed dashboards.

Case Study

Numerous defects were identified, preventing risks, delivering high ROI, and extending into a long-term partnership.

A Fortune 500 global software client had been conducting localization testing in-house but continued to face persistent issues that limited product adoption in the Japanese market.
By engaging SHIFT for an eight-week Proof of Concept (PoC), supported by four CCJK* specialists, the client achieved dramatic improvements in defect detection and overall product quality. The team uncovered numerous defects, helped the client avoid potential future issues, and ultimately delivered an exceptionally high ROI.
CCJK languages are double-byte character sets, which frequently cause technical issues and unexpected bugs during localization. Many software vendors struggle with these challenges, making CCJK testing a critical area of focus.

*CCJK: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean

Client:

A global software company(Fortune 500 listed)

** ROI calculated using the Japanese government cost-of-defect model, based on total defect impact cost divided by the project fee.

ROI**

11.5x

** ROI calculated using the Japanese government cost-of-defect model, based on total defect impact cost divided by the project fee.

Why SHIFT?

Comprehensive QA, Not Just Localization QA

SHIFT goes beyond simple linguistic checks. We combine localization testing with functional QA to ensure your product works — not just reads — correctly in every language.

Structured Test Design Prevents Oversights

Our testing starts with a standardized framework that ensures uniform coverage across all languages and screens — reducing the risk of missed bugs or inconsistent UI/UX elements.

Real-Device, Real-User Execution

We conduct testing on actual devices with native speakers, identifying language and UI/UX issues that emulators or machine reviews often miss.

Smart Use of CAT Tools for Efficiency

Our use of Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools improves testing speed and consistency, helping reduce time-to-market without sacrificing quality.

Clear Reporting and Actionable Results

We deliver detailed bug reports and final quality assessments that let you quickly identify root causes, prioritize fixes, and ship with confidence.

We offer free resources for download

Frequently Asked Questions

We support a wide range of digital products, including mobile apps, SaaS platforms, e-commerce sites, games, and more — across multiple languages and devices.

Unlike traditional LQA services that focus only on translation checks, SHIFT combines localization testing with software QA. We evaluate language, functionality, UI/UX behavior, and more — all in one streamlined process.

No. SHIFT is not a translation vendor. We specialize in localization testing, which focuses on verifying the accuracy, fluency, and functionality of already translated content within your actual product. While translation companies focus on producing language content, we ensure that content is delivered correctly — both linguistically and technically — across devices, platforms, and regions. In fact, we often work alongside translation vendors to provide an added layer of QA before launch.

Yes. We manage and assign native-speaking testers to ensure your product feels natural and appropriate in each target market.

Absolutely. We test across real mobile devices, browsers, and OS combinations to detect issues that emulators or machine-only testing might miss.

We deliver detailed bug reports with screenshots, reproduction steps, and severity levels, along with a final quality assessment for each language tested.

We provide both. SHIFT can design test scenarios based on your UI/UX and content structure, or execute using your existing test cases — flexibly adapting to your workflow.

We can test in over 20 languages, including Japanese, Chinese (simplified/traditional), Korean, French, Spanish, German, and more. Custom languages can also be arranged.

Yes. In addition to localization QA, SHIFT can support overseas SaaS and digital product companies looking to enter the Japanese market. This includes advising on local customer expectations, reviewing marketing and UX for cultural fit, and even helping identify or evaluate potential resellers or local distribution partners. With deep understanding of Japan’s business environment and user behavior, we bridge the gap between technical quality and commercial success.

About Us

Company Name

SHIFT USA Inc.

Headquarters

425 Page Mill Rd Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Director/CEO

Hidetaka Kojima

Business Activities

September 2005

Overseas Business Support Services
M&A Execution, Investment Management,
and Post-Merger Integration (PMI)
Discovery and Research of New Technologies
Other Related Business Operations

Business Activities

Software quality assurance and testing

Shareholder

SHIFT Inc. (100%)

Learn More

SHIFT specializes in software quality assurance, offering comprehensive IT services that include digital transformation.

Our main focus is on ensuring software quality and testing, delivering IT solutions that cater to the ever-evolving demands of the digital era.

SHIFT's strength lies in our commitment to our clients' business growth through a client-centric approach, extensive expertise, and robust execution.

With our innovative mindset, we continuously create new value and contribute to meaningful social change.