When you’re building a global e-commerce platform using Magento 2, localization is key. Localization is the process of adapting content and language to fit the cultural and language differences of your target market, and you need to do it right if you want to succeed. In this article, we’ll review some of the best practices for localization in Magento 2, on the administrative side.
Table of Contents
Understanding Localization in Magento 2
Before we dive into the details, let’s take a step back and make sure we understand what localization is in Magento 2. Localization is the act of adapting a store’s language, currency, formatting, and even product offerings to fit the needs of specific countries or regions. When you implement a new language, you also need to adapt your product listings, meta tags, and other content to fit that language’s idioms, culture, and regional variations.
In Magento 2, there are two primary elements of localization to focus on: the backend/administrative side, which is what we’ll discuss in this article; and the frontend/customer-facing side, which requires its own set of considerations.
As an administrator, your primary goals are to make it easy for customers to finalize transactions on your website, and to ensure that search engines can index your site properly in multiple languages.
Installing Language Packs
The first step in any localization effort is to install the relevant language packs. Magento 2 supports dozens of languages, so make sure you have the language packs installed for each country or region you intend to serve.
To install a language pack, go to System > Web Setup Wizard > Component Manager in your Magento 2 admin panel. Then, click on the "Language Packages" tab and select the desired language. If the language is not available, you will need to download a package from Magento Marketplace or a third-party developer.
Creating Translations
Once you have the language pack installed, you will need to translate all of your product descriptions, category names, meta tags, and other content. You can do this using the Magento 2 translation system.
Magento 2 Translation System allows you to create translations for any text bloc in the store. To translate a block of text, navigate to Stores > Configuration > General > Locale Options and select the desired language in the “Locale” field. Then, click on the “Export” button to download a CSV file containing all the text blocks in the store.
The CSV file has two columns: one for the original text in English, and one for the translated text. You can fill in the translated text, and then re-upload the CSV file to complete the translation.
Formatting Prices and Dates for Localization
Formatting prices and dates is another critical aspect of localization. Different countries have different standards for how they format prices and dates, so you need to take these preferences into consideration if you want to build a successful global e-commerce platform.
To format prices, navigate to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Currency and select the desired currency for each country your store services. Make sure you have the correct symbol and prices are formatted correctly.
To format dates, go to Stores > Configuration > General > Locale Options and change the format to the preference of the region.
Enabling Multiple Countries and Languages
To enable multiple countries and languages on your Magento 2 store, go to Stores > Configuration > General > Store Information. Under the "Store Information" page, you can add new languages by clicking on the “Create Store View” button and selecting the language you want to add.
Make sure the website view and store view have the corresponding fields for the language and country you are adding.
Setting up Multiple Domain Names
If you want to host multiple country-specific domains on your Magento 2 store, you can set up multiple domain names for your website. Go to Stores > Configuration > General > Web and click on “Add Store” to create a new store view. Then, enter the domain name for the language or country you want to add.
Conclusion
Magento 2 is an excellent platform for building a global e-commerce store, but the localization process is essential to its success. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can ensure that your e-commerce platform is ready to serve customers in multiple languages and countries.
Install language packs, create translations, format prices and dates correctly, enable multiple languages and countries, and set up multiple domain names. These are all critical steps that administrators need to take to create a truly localized Magento 2 store.