Japanese translation and localization project for e-learning content

HubSpot, Inc. Company Overview

・Established: June 2006

・Number of Employees: 7,400 worldwide (as of November 2023)

・Business Contents: Development, sales, and related services for a CRM platform
(https://www.hubspot.com)

Services Utilized

・Japanese translation and localization projects for e-learning content

Project Background

- What are the main business activities and software products offered by HubSpot?

HubSpot: HubSpot is a SaaS company that operates globally and was founded in 2006. Our headquarters is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
We have offices all over the world and our business mainly focuses on providing the customer platform "HubSpot".
This platform integrates marketing, sales, content management, and customer service tools to provide a seamless service.
Currently, our software "HubSpot" is used by over 190,000 customers in more than 100 countries.

- Is Japan an important market for HubSpot?

HubSpot: Yes, the Japanese market is very important.
We have a specialized team for Japan and special staff involved in creating content for the Japanese market.

- Can you tell me about the overview of the project? What kind of content and translation will be outsourced to external vendors?

HubSpot: Typically, we outsource various types of materials such as marketing materials to external vendors. Specifically, these include website and blog content, text for webinars, presentation materials, emails, etc. In addition, we also outsource legal content, knowledge base content, developer content, and even e-learning content that was created in collaboration with Human Science.
E-learning is primarily used for training sales representatives and customer success representatives on optimal sales techniques and customer engagement practices with HubSpot.
Learning in one's native language makes it easier to understand. Therefore, translation into multiple languages is very important. In particular, readability is especially important for Japanese.
We have been outsourcing translation projects for marketing localization to Human Science for several years. With a proven track record within our company, they were chosen for this project.

Project Challenges

Translation of e-learning content with no experience - Selection of vendors who can handle tight deadlines and large amounts of content is necessary

- Were there any specific challenges before starting the translation project?

HubSpot: We had never translated e-learning before and the tools we were using were not suitable for e-learning translation.
Furthermore, the amount of content to be translated was enormous and the deadline was tight. In this difficult situation, we had to find a reliable vendor who could understand the scope of the project and deliver high-quality results within the deadline.
With the right vendor, we didn't have to ask too many questions.

- It means that "schedule" and "e-learning translation experience" were important elements.

HubSpot: Yes, they were very important.

Reasons for Choosing Human Science

Achievements with prominent companies and translation testing conducted

- May I ask why HubSpot chose Human Science?
Before the e-learning translation project, Human Science was chosen as a localization vendor in Japan and has been handling marketing localization projects for several years.
Do you know how you first contacted Human Science?

HubSpot: One of my Japanese colleagues first told us about Human Science, which they said was a suitable vendor for the project. We contacted Human Science through their website.
We found out that they specialize in the type of work we need and have also worked with well-known companies.

- Have you conducted any initial test translations when considering a request for a marketing localization project?

HubSpot: Yes, we usually have vendors take translation tests. During that time, we compared quality and responsiveness.
The quality standards for the test were very high, so we were unsure if Human Science would meet them, but the team at Human Science went above and beyond to meet our expectations.
Flexibility and responsiveness were ultimately the deciding factors in choosing Human Science.

Evaluation of Human Science Co., Ltd.

Smooth communication, smooth progress according to schedule

- How about the evaluation of Human Science? Is Human Science meeting HubSpot's expectations in terms of schedule, quality, and experience?

HubSpot: Yes. The project is progressing as planned and the Project Manager has asked appropriate questions at the right timing.
In particular, for projects with many videos, the handling was crucial. We also appreciate the DTP support, where PowerPoint files, DOC files, images, etc. were properly formatted and everything was returned smoothly. Additional services other than translation are also provided.
We are very satisfied with the support from Human Science. The cooperation with the Project Manager has been good and there have been no major issues so far, making the overall progress smooth.

Future Outlook

- Can you tell us about your future plans and goals? Please let us know if you have any plans or goals for the localization project.

HubSpot: We plan to continue working on the same type of content in the future.
Localization is constantly evolving and we are exploring new technology options such as AI and machine translation. However, our main focus will continue to be on marketing content.