Localization Manager
Vendor Outsourcing Optimization
Overseeing the team’s $12M OPEX budget, I reviewed the existing vendor alignment and consolidated workstreams that could be most cost-efficiently and effectively performed together. I upskilled the existing Vendor Management team to identify future optimization prospects. The result was $1.4M in OPEX savings year-over-year.
The Opportunity
As localization volumes and project types expanded, collaboration with vendor language services providers grew more complex. While a workstream based on strong individual vendor partnerships had worked well at initial volumes, as operations grew, it was time to evolve to an outsourcing strategy based on pricing and quality more than legacy relationships. The first step was a strategy review focused on reducing cost-per-deliverable and streamlining communication while continuing to meet performance expectations. Demonstrating the team’s ability to expand high-quality localization support as the company grew, without increasing costs, was an urgent necessity.
My Role
I led vendor management for the localization team, leading vendor assessment and selection. As manager of the team’s operational expenditures, I reviewed work assignments across vendors, and began an RFP process to understand capabilities and pricing across existing partners. I recommended proposed process standardization which allowed the team to efficiently identify and outsource work to the most suitable vendor based on cost and quality. I also consolidated workstreams such as marketing localization and multimedia engineering, to optimize efficiency. The result was $1.4M in savings.