- AI Media Solutions' H1 2025 results show a 40% increase in SaaS revenue, indicating a strategic shift from services to subscriptions.
- Phrase has been named a "Leader" in the Forrester Wave™: Language Service Platforms, Q3 2025 report.
- Nimdzi has released its new Language Technology Radar report, offering a comprehensive overview of the current loc-tech landscape.
- Jose Palomares advocates for shifting the industry's focus from "localization" to the more holistic concept of "global experiences."
- Mistral AI is gaining prominence as a significant competitor to OpenAI, with a focus on open-source models that could impact the AI tools used in localization.
- The Elia Association is examining how to preserve the value of human translation services and define fair pricing in the age of AI.
- Diego Cresceri of Creative Words highlights the critical need for high-quality human translation in specialized and high-stakes fields.
- Comactiva discusses the evolution of LSPs from service providers to "solution integrators" who offer strategic and technological partnership.
- Pangeanic shared news that the EU has confirmed the effectiveness of its machine translation service for multilingual public sector communication.
- Smartling provides advice for localization managers on how to effectively secure budget by demonstrating ROI.
- Lokalise published a blog post analyzing the "emoji translation gap" and the risks of emoji misinterpretation across cultures.
- Localazy is debunking common localization myths held by software developers to promote better workflow integration.
- KTV Kennisnet is offering a new course on "Co-translator/AI" to upskill translators on working effectively with artificial intelligence.
- Robert Wilton shares a personal account on the complexities and duties involved in translating suppressed historical literature.
- Stefan Huyghe emphasizes that the strength of localization is its ability to manage diversity and inclusion by adapting to cultural norms.
- Andrew Smart notes the continued trend of investment and M&A activity within the language industry.
- Community networking continues with events like LocLunch and LocDrinks, highlighted by J. Hinrichs.
- Brenda Baquerizo shared a recap from a recent Association of Language Companies (ALC) event, focusing on industry collaboration.
- Comactiva is hosting a webinar on achieving global growth through a combination of language technology and strategic expertise.
- YoLocalizo stresses the importance of localization for businesses looking to expand into emerging markets.
- Discussions on the complexities of specific languages, such as Japanese, continue to be a key focus for achieving high-quality localization.
Starting with company performance, AI Media Solutions has released its half-year 2025 financial results, showing a strategic pivot in action. While overall revenue saw a slight dip, the company reported a significant 40% increase in its Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, revenue. This highlights a deliberate transition from traditional services to a subscription-based model, aligning with their 'media-next' strategy and reflecting a broader trend in the industry towards recurring revenue streams.
In major platform news, Phrase has been officially recognized as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™ report for Language Service Platforms for the third quarter of 2025. This placement within a major independent research firm's analysis is a significant acknowledgment of Phrase's platform capabilities and market presence, affirming its position among the top solutions available to global businesses.
Shifting to industry reports and market analysis, Nimdzi has unveiled its latest Language Technology Radar report. This research provides a valuable snapshot of the current technology landscape, helping companies navigate the ecosystem by categorizing tools and platforms based on their market adoption and maturity.
On the technology front, the European Union has reaffirmed the effectiveness and utility of its machine translation service, as highlighted by Pangeanic. This continued governmental support for MT underscores its critical role in facilitating multilingual communication across diverse public sectors. In the broader AI landscape, French company Mistral AI is solidifying its position as a serious competitor to OpenAI. Its focus on more open-source models presents a different approach that could have wide-ranging implications for the development and integration of AI within localization workflows.
This evolving technological environment is also driving conversations about value and skill development. The Elia Association is addressing this directly, exploring how to preserve the value of professional translation services in the age of AI, focusing on the real price of entry into the market. In a similar vein, KTV Kennisnet is now offering a course focused on the "Co-translator/AI" relationship, designed to upskill language professionals in areas like prompt engineering and AI-assisted workflows, demonstrating a clear need for continuous education.
Several industry leaders are also pushing for a strategic evolution in how we approach our work. Jose Palomares is advocating for a move away from the term "localization" towards "global experiences." This concept reframes the goal as creating holistic, seamless user journeys on a global scale, integrating localization into a broader business transformation strategy. Similarly, Comactiva is discussing the shift for LSPs from being mere service providers to becoming "solution integrators," partners who offer strategic guidance and deep technology integration.
From a practical standpoint, several companies are providing resources to improve localization processes. Smartling has offered guidance for localization managers on how to successfully win budget conversations by demonstrating ROI and aligning with core business objectives. Localazy published a piece aimed at software developers, debunking common localization myths to foster better integration with engineering teams from the start. And looking at specific challenges, Lokalise has published an analysis on the "emoji translation gap," highlighting the cross-cultural risks and nuances of using emojis in global content.
The human element of translation remains a vital topic of discussion. Diego Cresceri of Creative Words published an article emphasizing the critical importance of high-quality, precise human translation in specialized fields, from safety warnings to seismic discoveries. This sentiment is echoed in a personal reflection by Robert Wilton, who wrote about the profound responsibility and challenge of translating his grandfather’s suppressed Albanian memoir, a task that goes far beyond words to encompass history, voice, and political nuance. Stefan Huyghe also shared insights on how the true strength of localization lies in its ability to manage diversity and inclusion, adapting content to cultural norms and values.
Finally, the localization community continues to thrive through connection and collaboration. Updates from J. Hinrichs on LocLunch and LocDrinks events and a recap of an Association of Language Companies event from Brenda Baquerizo show the ongoing importance of networking and shared learning within the industry.
That's a wrap for today's news. We've seen how companies like AI Media Solutions are adapting their business models for the future and how platforms like Phrase are setting the standard for excellence. The conversation is shifting, with thought leaders like Jose Palomares urging us to think bigger with "global experiences." From market reports and AI developments to community events, the localization industry is constantly moving. Thank you for reading LOCANUCU, your source for actionable insights in the world of localization.