Idox Case Study
How Idox adds instant multilingual capability with LinguaSkin - without in-house effort or cost
Idox provides specialist software for government and industry. Its products help organisations improve their productivity, understand their information and comply with regulations.
Idox’s Uniform case management software helps local authorities manage their regulatory services, such as planning, building control, environmental health, estates management, land charges, trading standards, licensing and private sector housing. Public Access is a Uniform add-on that allows members of the public to easily submit requests and track applications, appeals and enforcements online.
In Wales, Public Access is used by Newport, Swansea, Cardiff, Powys, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, Neath Port Talbot and Caerphilly councils, and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park Authority.
What Idox needed to achieve
Idox needed to respond to the requirements in the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.
The Measure makes Welsh an official language in Wales that must be treated no less favourably than English. In 2016, the Measure imposed a set of standards on certain publicly funded organisations, including local authorities. One of the standards requires that organisations provide their software interfaces in Welsh so Welsh speakers can access information and submit data in their native language.
Idox needed to add bilingual capability to Public Access so its customers could comply with the Measure.
Key challenges
Idox wanted to help its customers meet their obligations under the Measure. It was also aware that local authorities could include a Welsh language interface in their specification when buying software. To support its customers and remain competitive, Idox would need to provide this.
Therefore, Idox needed language technology that would a) provide bilingual capability, b) include a language selector, and c) give its customers control over the Welsh text they use, critically all without affecting the English language version of Public Access.
To meet this need, Idox had three choices:
- Develop a bilingual capability for Public Access in-house.
- Suggest their customers use machine translation plug-ins.
- Partner with a specialist provider of language technology.
Why Idox chose LinguaSkin
Idox needed to find a solution that required no development time or investment from them and that was:
- ✓ Compatible with its software
- ✓ Reliable
- ✓ Cost-effective
- ✓ Quick and easy to implement
- ✓ Flexible
- ✓ Secure
LinguaSkin stood out as the only product Idox was confident would meet all the criteria. It:
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Came at no cost to Idox
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Avoided the need for expensive redevelopment
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Required no changes to Public Access and minimal input from Idox’s technical team
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Could be implemented quickly: in just a few weeks
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Enabled statutory compliance without compromising control, security, or quality.
Implementation
LinguaSkin is quick and easy to implement. It’s installed as a ‘software proxy’ between the browser and Public Access but on the same secure server. It requires no technical effort from the customer, no changes to Public Access or its configuration and minimal involvement from Idox’s technical team.
All the LinguaSkin team needed was browser access to the target application, in the same way as a normal user. All Idox’s customers needed to do was test and, if necessary, edit the translations before going live.
There was no interruption to service and the existing English language sites are all maintained and operate as normal.
The whole process is very fast and can be done in a few weeks.
How LinguaSkin works
LinguaSkin forwards web requests and responses between a site and a browser. Rather than a translation tool, it’s proxy localisation technology. This means it enhances software to meet the needs of a specific market, such as its language, culture and laws, without needing any changes to the software itself.
First, the English text is scraped and sent to a professional for translation. Before the translations go live, the customer can review them to make sure they fit their style, dialect and terminology. If they prefer, the customer can also do the translations themselves.
When complete, the translations are configured as replacement text and a language selector is added to the site. Finally, the customer tests the translations to make sure they’re correct and work in context.
It’s easy to add new languages and to switch between them. Unlike with automatic online translation technology, translations can be edited at any time and customised to make sure they fit the user interface and are locally, culturally and factually correct.
Support
LinguaSkin is supported by the LinguaSkin team. They respond quickly when Idox changes or upgrades Public Access and are always happy to work with Idox on new developments.
LinguaSkin also provides direct support to Idox’s customers, responding quickly and communicating with them well.
We have an excellent relationship with the LinguaSkin team. They’re so easy to deal with, helpful and accommodating. For example, they’re proactive and always keen to develop and test new things to support our requirements.
Benefits
LinguaSkin are language technology specialists. The add-on they developed gives Idox’s customers immediate bilingual capability for their Public Access software. New languages can easily be added to extend this to multilingual capability, without changing a line of code.
LinguaSkin works with all technologies, including SaaS, cloud-based and third-party products. This flexibility means it can quickly and easily add bi or multilingual capability to any system to make it more accessible and ensure it complies with local language requirements.
LinguaSkin created the Public Access add-on at no cost to Idox. This has given Idox the freedom to offer LinguaSkin as an optional, additional and cost-effective multilingual capability.
LinguaSkin’s benefits at a glance
- ✓ No cost to Idox
- ✓ Seamless integration with no change to the Public Access software
- ✓ Fast to implement: can be up and running in weeks, sometimes days
- ✓ The potential for Idox to access new markets
- ✓ Works with any web-based application
- ✓ Minimal involvement from Idox or its customers
- ✓ Creates multilingual capability with no loss of quality, control or security
- ✓ Assurance that Idox’s customers are meeting their legal obligations
What changed
LinguaSkin means Idox can offer its Public Access customers instant bi or multilingual capability to help them meet their obligations under the Welsh Government’s Measure. Because the add-on is so flexible, more languages can easily be added at any time.
Public Access is only one of Idox’s many products. As LinguaSkin works with any web-based application, Idox now has a quick, easy and proven add-on they can use to enhance their other products.
Key learning
LinguaSkin gives Idox the opportunity to offer its customers something it couldn’t before. This shows the value of working in partnership with another organisation, to benefit from their expertise while continuing to focus on what you do well.
Going forward
Technology, travel and immigration are creating more diverse communities. At the same time, there is a global push to recognise and protect minority languages. This means councils and public sector organisations across the UK are increasingly likely to need multilingual capabilities so people can interact with their services in the language of their choice.
LinguaSkin gives Idox the opportunity to offer this inclusive capability.
What they said
Alistair McKellar, Regional Sales Manager, Idox said:
Working with LinguaSkin has been a seamless and efficient experience. Their responsiveness is outstanding, and we have complete trust in their ability to deliver exceptional support to our customers. We are excited to continue our collaboration as we grow our Public Access services and launch new products, confident that LinguaSkin will be a valuable partner in our ongoing development.