Healthcare Apps Localization: 4 Reasons You Should Localize
We live in a digital world, where there is an app for everything. The healthcare industry is no exception. Nowadays, there are apps for nutrition and dieting, apps for therapy, apps for women’s healthcare, and so on.
And just like any other app, people prefer a localized version in their mother tongue. That’s why a study found that localizing a mobile app results in 128% more downloads per country. Surely you want the same success for your healthcare app, right?
If you want to know more about healthcare apps localization and why you should localize, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading!
What Are Healthcare Apps Localization?
Healthcare apps localization is the process of adapting a healthcare mobile application to the needs of a target locale in terms of language and software. This means that you translate your entire application into a specific language(s) and you adapt the user interface, text on image, and user experience to suit the new audience.
This can also include adapting date formats, measurement units, medical databases, and so forth. You magically transform your application into one specifically developed for your target country.
Types of Healthcare Apps
Category | Purpose | Examples |
Telemedicine | Connect patients with a doctor remotely. | Doctor On Demand, Teladoc Health. |
Fitness and Wellness Apps | Promotes physical health by providing workouts and dieting routines. | My Fitness Pal, Fitbit. |
Medication Management Apps | Keep track of medication in terms of schedules, dosages, and refills. | Dosecast, Medisafe Medication Management. |
Mental Health Apps | Provide mindfulness exercises, mood tracking, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, and online therapy sessions. | PTSD Coach, Talkspace. |
Women’s Health Apps | Cater to health concerns that are specific to women. | Flo, Glow. |
These categories aren’t exclusive, as healthcare apps is a broad industry, but are some of the most commonly used applications for healthcare.
Now that we’ve taken a look at healthcare apps, let’s take a deeper look at why you need to localize them. Shall we?
4 Reasons You Need Healthcare Apps Localization Services
Alright, there are dozens of healthcare apps, and they’re already a success. Why should you put a budget for localization and go through the hustle, then?
That’s what we’re going to discuss today, let’s go!
1. A Personalized User Experience
Imagine you launched a mental health app in the Middle East that offers online therapy sessions, but all your mental health professionals speak English. How much of the population are you really targeting here?
Or, imagine your audience in China downloading your nutrition app to help them keep track of their calorie intake, but they only find European dishes.
In both examples, the customer is more likely to delete your app and go look for one with a personalized experience. This applies to all different types of healthcare apps, whether you’re trying to keep track of your medications or look for a doctor to consult, you’re not going to go for an app that isn’t made for your locale. Healthcare apps localization allows you to provide a local and personal experience to your users, and that’s exactly what they’re looking for.
2. Localization and Purchasing Behavior
Whether it’s a mobile app or a website, customers are more likely to invest money in a localized service that speaks their native language. According to research, 72.4% of customers are more inclined to buy a product/service that is available in their native language. In addition, 56.2% of customers claim language availability is more important to them than prices.
That’s why, as previously mentioned, localized apps result in 128% more downloads, and about 26% increase in ROI.
Surely you want the same level of success, right? Contact us for a free consultation!
3. Regulatory Compliance
Healthcare apps are different from other mobile apps, as they need to comply with the healthcare regulations of each country the app is released in. This means that there’s a great chance your healthcare won’t get approved if it’s not localized.
For instance, the EU Medical Device regulation necessitates the translation of any medical devices documents into the 24 official languages of the European Union.
This applies to different types of healthcare apps. For example, for telemedicine and mental health apps, healthcare practitioners must have a working license in the target locale and must abide by healthcare regulations such as those restrictions on prescribing medication remotely, patient confidentiality, and informed consent regulations, etc.
Failure to abide by such regulations can lead to banning of your app or legal ramifications.
4. Competitive Advantage
Healthcare apps localization will certainly give you a competitive edge in new markets. Although there are a considerable amount of healthcare apps in English and other European languages, there aren’t enough in Middle Eastern, African, and Asian languages.
By localizing your healthcare into one of those categories, you gain a huge competitive edge against other app developers who don’t provide language availability in these parts of the world.
In countries where competition is fierce, the app that speaks the local language will always win.
Conclusion
With the abundance of services and products, especially in today’s digital age, users have a variety to choose from, and they are less tolerant of mistakes or cultural insensitivities. This is particularly true in the healthcare industry where mistakes are a big deal. That’s why users will always prefer a local version that is particularly tailored for them.
That’s why healthcare apps localization is your way to go, and is the right choice when expanding to a new market.
You might worry about the process, but with Gripon Global you don’t need to. We have the expertise and the right team to localize your healthcare app, beginning to end.
What are you waiting for? Contact us now for a free quote or to receive a free consultation!