1. Dr. Dirk Metzger Translation Manager SAP Language Services
Organizing Large Scale Localization Projects: Experiences and Challenges
Dr. Dirk Metzger Translation Manager
SAP Language Services

2. Contents Organization of the translation@SAP Text types and tools
Experiences and Challenges
Questions & Discussion

3. Organisation of translation@SAP - overview
≈ 80 people EMEA
≈ 80 people thereof 20 in APA
supports
>400 people
coordinates
Key
There are different cooperation models for different regions. Terminology is either created in Walldorf (e.g. ES), by SLS staff in the subsidiaries (e.g. DA), or by Vendors (e.g. SL). There are also mixed models in place.
SAP usually has long term relationships to mostly Single Language Vendors
SLS Walldorf
≈15 people
≈130 people
Non SAP world wide
SAP Subsidiary
SAP Walldorf

4. Organization: Project management – General Planning
Preparation phase
Based on the yearly budget planning
Costs of translation are generally passed on to Development
In special cases, passed on to subsidiaries

5. Organization: Project Management – Service Plan Meetings
Preparation Phase
Half-yearly
Agreed with Development, countries and infrastructure
Rough cost planning
Rough deadline planning

6. Organization: Project Management
Execution Phase
Project system
Controlling
Controlling
Projects broken down according to language and product
Language: cost center
Per product: internal order
Time registration to internal orders
Distribution of overhead costs proportional to internal orders
Costs forwarded on to customers (GBU/IBU)
Regular reports to management
Project System
Process control of translation projects
Central reporting for participants
Capacity planning (need vs. actual)
Regular status report by those responsible for each step
Only online at the moment – Enhancements for all projects planned
Regular reports to management

7. Organization: Project Management – Detail planning
Execution phase
Resource Planning
Executed by the Language Management Teams
At translator level
Confirmation in the project system

8. Organization: Project Management
Preparation phase
Execution phase
General Planning
Service Plan Meetings
Project Management
Detail Planning
Based on the yearly budget planning
Costs of translation is generally passed on to Development
In special cases, passed on to subsidiaries
Half-yearly
Agreed with Development, countries and infrastructure
Rough cost planning
Rough deadline planning
Resource Planning
Executed by the Language Management Teams
At translator level
Confirmation in the project system
Project system
Controlling
Controlling
Projects broken down according to language and product
Language: cost center
Per product: internal order
Time registration to internal orders
Distribution of overhead costs proportional to internal orders
Costs forwarded on to customers (GBU/IBU)
Regular reports to management
Project System
Process control of translation projects
Central reporting for participants
Capacity planning (need vs. actual)
Regular status report by those responsible for each step
Only online at the moment – Enhancements for all projects planned
Regular reports to management

9. Financial Figures

10. SAP Major Text Types and Tools
System Short Texts / System Long Texts
Short texts
Mostly UI
Menue paths, Error messages, etc.
Approximately 3 words per line
Translated into up to 30 languages
Long Texts
Texts not directly visible by the user
F1 help, Implementation Guide, etc.
Approximately 7 words per line
Translated into 8 languages
Proprietary translation tools
Translators work online
Notes
Solutions to problems reported by customers
Information for customers
Translated into DE as system long texts
Translated into EN, JA: MT/TM offline solution
Documentation and Training
Translated into 10 languages from source EN
MT/TM offline solution for ES, FR, PT, RU
Countries are classified into A,B, or C countries according to the revenue they generate. The translation level depends on this classification.
Not all products are translated into all languages.

11. Translation Volume by Text Type

12. Translating Short Texts I

13. Translating Short texts II
Automatic Distribution
The Proposal Pool remembers translations and offers them to translators the next time the same source text reappears. (no fuzzy matching)
Translations can be flagged for Automatic Distribution. During the next worklist run, these translations are copied automatically. Automatic distribution can save up to 30% of the translation volume.
There are links to SAPterm and the glossary
There is an extensive set of administration functions (statistics, authorization concept, etc)
Proposal Pool

14. Translating Short texts III
Working with Worklists

15. SAPterm - The Heart of All Terminology Tools
Maintenance/
reference
SAP System Documentation Tool (SE61)
SAP System
Translation Tool (SE63)
Reference
Download
In development
SKATE
SAPterm Terminology Management
System
SAP System
Translation Proposal Pool (STMP)
Online Text Repository
TerminologyMining
TerminologyChecking
Trados Translators Workbench® / MultiTerm®
SAP Knowledge Warehouse (Glossary)
Machine Translation Tools
SAPterm
on CD
SAPterm in
SAPNet
In SAPterm there are Normal users, Super Users (within application), Terminology Standardization Group (cross application)
Terms can have the status 1 (new), 2 (changed), 3 (released/approved), 4 (obsolete)
Terminology statistics are published (database) on a regular basis as part of our set of KPIs.
Docu CD
(Glossary)

16. SAPterm - Term Concept Display

17. Translating Long Texts
IMG Texts
(Impl. Guide)
Klick

18. Translating Long Texts/Notes online
Vendors exclusively translate notes

19. NTS Client – The Translator’s Viewpoint
Fully customizable list of Notes
sort by any attribute
filter by owner, status, application area
Enables mass processing
4 basic functions:
Pre-edit
Start Word, prepare & open Note(s)
Translate
Submit Note(s) to Comprendium (including memories)
Post-edit
Start Word, re-open translated Note(s)
Return to R/3
Create memory, return Note(s) to CS*
MT servers (Comprendium) in the vendor’s office
Note(s) are locked during processing by owner
Various options for
customizing the list view

20. MT & TM Working Together
Translation job is submitted to MT with the name of the translation memory that matches the note number
This memory does not have to exist
If no memory is found, the entire job is submitted to the MT system
If it does exist, 100% matches are extracted and the remaining segments are submitted to the MT system for translation
Matched sentences are coloured differently in the final document

21. Translating SAP Documentation & Training Courses

22. Tools: Machine Translation
Updated Translation Memory
Results
Import Deltas
First Analysis
Source Files
Prerequisites
Trados
Translation Memory
Post-Editing
using Trados Tools
Last Analysis
Translation Workflow
Translate Deltas using Logos/PROMT
Extract Deltas

23. Human vs. Machine Translation: KW Documentation
: 12,811,000
: 980,000
:310,000
:570,000
:2,460,000

24. Experiences with our translation world today
Online solution
Central terminology database
No synchronization problems
Always consistent terminology
Central administration
Tools
Features of tools generally satisfy translators (some 20 man-years development time)
Translators can work simultaneously with developers (sim-ship of all languages)
Integration with SAPterm and glossary
Deadlines are always met
Translators can work directly in customer system
Central administration also with respect to intellectual property issues
Machine translation
Translators are satisfied with output quality of MT
Moderate cost savings
Proprietary tools
Direct influence on translation tool development
Good integration

25. Challenges for SAP’s translation world tomorrow
Online solution
Less flexibility when working together with vendors
Time to market
Problems with subcontractors and freelancers working for SAP vendors
Line connections different (prices, availability) in different countries
Sometimes performance and line problems
Long texts: Outdated tools (no TM, old fashioned editor)
No spellchecker, no context
Complicated way to ship translation corrections
Proprietary tools
Conflict of interests between internal and external customers
Constant need to modernize
Higher education efforts for (new) vendors
XML for training courses and (probably) documentation
Ongoing discussion about an online translation solution for all text types
Partner management
Partner support (terminology, product know how) in all major countries
Standardized global model
Big steamers don’t turn esaily

26. Questions, Discussion