Translation Management System (TMS) consulting and implementation
The right translation management system (or TMS) can transform how your team handles translation – unlocking faster turnaround times, better content consistency and stronger localization at scale. But with so many options out there, finding one that fits your processes and tech stack can quickly become overwhelming.
We help outdoor brands cut through the noise, select the best-fit solution and set up their TMS in a way that aligns with their people, platforms and workflows; for both where they are and where they’re going.
What is a translation management system?
A translation management system (TMS) is software that helps you coordinate the people, content and tools involved in your localization workflows by overseeing the process and automating much of its functionality. It brings structure to your operations and reduces the back-and-forth by centralizing everything in one place.
Instead of juggling multiple files, email threads and spreadsheets, a TMS helps you manage multilingual content more efficiently – with automation, integration and collaboration built in. It also gives your internal and in-market stakeholders a single hub to review, approve and collaborate on translations – no more chasing feedback across Teams threads, PDFs or five different tools. The result? Less manual work, fewer errors, more consistency and better user experiences – plus, a setup that can grow with your team.
Choosing the right translation management system
If you're reading this, you may already be considering finding a better way to manage translations. But knowing you need a TMS and knowing which one is right for your team are two very different things.
Every brand is different – and so is every tech stack. Your TMS needs to be able to adapt to the platforms, processes and priorities you already have in place. But with so many tools on the market – each offering different features, levels of complexity and integration options – it’s not always clear where to start. Without the right guidance, it’s easy to make a decision that won’t support your workflows long term. And since your translation management system will be the backbone of your translation strategy, it’s a decision you want to get right.
Smart TMS integration for your tech stack
Making sure your TMS integrates properly with the rest of your systems is one of the most important – and complex – parts of selecting and implementing the right solution. Most TMS platforms come with out-of-the-box connectors or API capabilities, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll work with your unique setup.
We help you connect the dots across your CMS, DAM and internal platforms, ensuring that your localization workflows run smoothly and scale with your business.
Expert guidance for the right TMS
Unlike single-platform vendors, we’re technology-agnostic, so we can help you evaluate the best TMS options based on your specific needs.
We specialize in helping outdoor and action sports brands implement and fine-tune everything from lightweight translation tech to complex enterprise systems, so our recommendations are grounded in hands-on experience and built around your infrastructure, goals and internal workflows. Need to integrate your TMS with your CMS, DAM, e-commerce or PIM infrastructure? We’ve seen that, been there and done it all.
Each TMS on the market is built for different (and sometimes overlapping) use cases. What works for a fast-moving e-commerce team might be unsuitable for a brand managing apps and user interfaces across dozens of markets.
Here’s how we help outdoor brands find the translation platform that best suits their needs:
- First, we get to know your goals and challenges
- Then, we research your options, compare vendors and help you test workflows before making a decision
- Once you choose a TMS, we handle setup, integration with your CMS or other tools and team training
- As we work, we customize features to fit your needs, ensuring a smooth migration from your old system
- Finally, we provide ongoing support to keep everything running smoothly as you grow
Or, if you'd prefer a fully integrated service and don’t want to go through the process of selecting, implementing and maintaining a TMS, we can set you up with our in-house translation technology as part of our specialized sports translation services. It's built into our offering with no extra licensing or implementation fees.
FAQs
What should we look out for when choosing the right TMS?
There’s no single right solution – only the best fit for your goals, team and tech stack. For example, if you need to localize your Shopify store, your Klaviyo emails or your Salesforce Commerce Cloud setup, you’ll need a very different solution than if you're localizing software or apps.
We look at how different platforms handle content types, integrations, workflows and feedback processes to help you make the right call. If you want a sneak peek at the main platforms available on the market today, check out our TMS guide.
How do I know which integrations to prioritize when setting up a TMS?
It depends on how your content is created, where it’s stored and how your teams work. For some brands, that means connecting the TMS to a CMS first. For others, it might involve syncing product data, code repositories or internal workflows. We’ll help you figure out what’s essential, what’s nice to have and what can wait – so you don’t over-engineer your setup from the start.
What if no TMS offers a connector to part of our tech stack?
That’s a common challenge. Some TMS platforms offer native connectors, but they don’t always support every tool – or work the way your setup demands. In those cases, we explore API-based solutions, middleware or creative workarounds. Our team of localization engineers and solution architects can build a custom integration for you to ensure everything connects the way you need it to.
Is it better to use a vendor-specific proprietary TMS or a vendor-agnostic platform?
Vendor-specific TMS solutions can offer convenience and tighter integration with localization services, but they come with vendor lock-in. If you outgrow their offering – or they don’t deliver as promised – switching can be difficult, especially if they own your translation memories or limit data access. Some even make it deliberately hard to migrate your assets.
Standalone TMS platforms, on the other hand, are purpose-built and not tied to any one provider. This is also their core business, so they tend to offer stronger features, better support and more consistent development. That means you stay in full control of your vendors, workflows and linguistic assets. We’ll help you weigh the trade-offs based on how much flexibility, independence and long-term control your brand needs.
How much does a typical TMS setup cost?
That depends on several factors – like how much content you need to translate and how often; how many users need access to the system; and which integrations are required. Some connectors may exist out of the box (though they don’t always work with your specific setup), but others might require customization through APIs, which means an added cost.
If you work with us, access to our translation technology is already included in our offering (consulting, setup and integration support are billed separately). We help you define your needs clearly so you can forego unnecessary features and get a real understanding of your investment – both upfront and in the long term.
Ready to choose the right TMS for your outdoor brand?
Finding, setting up and managing a TMS doesn’t have to feel complicated — or like a drain on your internal resources. Whether you’re looking for expert guidance, hands-on support or both, we’ll help you avoid missteps and land on a setup that centralizes your content, speeds up delivery and creates better experiences for your customers in every market.
Drop us a line, and our team will be in touch shortly.