SAP Localisation Built for Scale

How t’works helped NTT DATA Business Solutions prepare SIS simplified for new markets

When SAP solutions are rolled out across markets, localisation quickly becomes a factor that can influence rollout speed, quality, consistency and usability. System strings, XLF structures, character restrictions, existing translations and terminology need to be managed in a controlled workflow to ensure technical compatibility and long-term terminology consistency.

NTT DATA Business Solutions faced precisely these localisation challenges when its customised SIS Simplified solution, based on SAP SLcM, needed to be prepared for Arabic and French-speaking markets, including Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

The project involved more than 150 translatable properties and XLF files, totalling around 340,000 words, with approximately 170,000 repeated strings that had to be managed consistently across the SIS Simplified environment.

As a long-standing SAP Language Service Partner, t’works brought together SAP localisation experience, technical file handling, terminology consistency and scalable language operations. The result was a specialised SAP localisation workflow combining controlled reuse, SAP-specific process know-how and SAP-experienced linguists.

The Challenge: Control at Scale

Large volumes of SIS Simplified content had to be managed across XLF structures, repeated strings, existing language assets and strict character limits without compromising consistency, usability or future reuse.

The critical requirements were:

• XLF files with maxwidth attributes specifying character limits
• Consistent handling of repeated strings across the SIS Simplified environment
• Reuse of existing translations and approved terminology
• SAP-specific terminology and UI language conventions
• Linguistic adaptation for Arabic and French-speaking markets

SAP localisation is not standard translation. It requires SAP-specific technical know-how, linguistic expertise and process discipline.

The Solution: SAP-Aware Localisation and Controlled Reuse

Preparing complex SAP files

t’works prepared the content in a controlled workflow, ensuring that file structures, technical attributes and constraints remained transparent throughout the process.

Managing repetitions intelligently

t’works identified repeated strings and managed them through intelligent reuse. This reduced manual effort while helping ensure that recurring SIS Simplified system texts remained consistent across the environment.

Protecting existing language assets

Existing NTT DATA Business Solutions translations were reviewed and reused where appropriate, maintaining semantic alignment and terminology consistency as the customised SIS Simplified solution evolved.

Combining SAP expertise with linguistic precision

As the strategic language operations partner in the project, t’works combined SAP-specific localisation experience with linguistic precision. The translation work was handled by SAP-experienced linguists who understand both language and system logic. They worked according to SAP’s terminology conventions, UI requirements and character restrictions and within the functional context of SIS Simplified, balancing linguistic accuracy, technical constraints and user experience.

Preparing for SAP system reintegration

Translations were structured with XLF formats and maxwidth restrictions in mind, reducing the likelihood of rework and ensuring smooth reintegration into the SAP environment.

The Results

• Approximately 170,000 repeated words managed through controlled reuse
• Consistent reuse of existing terminology and language assets
• Translations delivered in XLF format and prepared for system reintegration
• Reduced manual effort, freeing linguists up for high-value content
• Scalable foundation for ongoing sprint localisation and additional languages

Business Impact

By combining technical control with SAP-specific linguistic expertise, t’works helped NTT DATA Business Solutions reduce its manual localisation effort, protect existing language assets and transform localisation from a potential rollout bottleneck into a repeatable market-enablement process.

When students, administrators and faculty use SIS Simplified in Arabic or French, the language must feel natural while still reflecting the precision and functional logic of enterprise software. That is where SAP localisation differs from standard translation: it connects language, system logic, terminology and technical constraints into one controlled workflow.

Client Perspective

“t’works understands the specific requirements of SAP-related content, XLF structures and terminology consistency. This was not just translation support, but a specialised localisation workflow.”

_{Kris Steegmans, Senior Solution Expert, Education & Research, NTT DATA Business Solutions}

From Project Delivery to Continuous Localisation

Following the successful initial rollout, the collaboration expanded. As SIS Simplified evolves through regular sprints, t’works continues to support ongoing localisation, including additional languages alongside Arabic and French.

This reflects a key principle: SAP localisation is rarely a one-off task. As products evolve, language assets, terminology and quality expectations must evolve with them.

This turns localisation from a single project into a repeatable language operations capability that can scale with future releases, languages and markets.

Key Takeaway

Successfully localising customised SAP solutions at scale requires more than just translation capacity. It requires a controlled language operations setup connecting SAP system logic, XLF structures, technical constraints, terminology, existing translations and SAP-experienced linguists.

When these elements work together, localisation becomes an enabler of international growth rather than a rollout bottleneck.

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About the Collaboration

NTT DATA Business Solutions and t’works partnered to prepare SIS Simplified, which is based on SAP SLcM, for new Arabic and French-speaking markets.

t’works acted as the strategic owner of the localisation and language operations workflow. This included technical file handling, terminology consistency, SAP-experienced linguists and controlled reuse of existing language assets.

For ongoing sprint localisation, t’works also coordinates with Morphologic, an SAP consulting partner involved in the broader project context, to ensure that localisation workflows and terminology decisions remain aligned with the technical roadmap.

The result is a scalable localisation setup supporting NTT DATA Business Solutions’ continued product development and expansion into international markets.

t’works: where SAP expertise meets language operations

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