Translation is an area where AI is having a huge impact. The Private Translation Cloud (PTC) software translation tool uses the same AI technology behind the WPML WordPress plugin. The AI translates millions of words into many languages every month. This is where I’m going to explore the standalone PTC tool, especially as an option for this authors of WordPress plugins and themes who want very accurate translations.
Private Translation Cloud Review: Fast Facts
- Private translation cloud is the AI used in both WPML and the standalone software translation tool. However, the focus here is on the standalone localization solution for themes, plugins and applications.
- The platform offers Git integration for automated workflows, API hooks for CI/CD pipelines, manual file uploads, and context-aware translation that maintains consistency of brand voice and terminology across projects.
- PTC has a unique trial period where you can translate up to two languages with 2,500 words to try out its functionality and translation quality.
Private Translation Cloud Review: Pricing
Private Translation Cloud comes at a price how many words you want to translate. It essentially scales more cost-effectively based on how much of your content you pass to PTC.
If you upgrade after your trial, you’ll get access to the same Git integration, API functionality, manual file uploads, built-in word listsand online editing capabilities, but without word or language restrictions. As such, all functionality remains available regardless of your project size or translation volume.
Private Translation Cloud Review: How It Solves Typical Translation Problems
Your international expansion plans can often hit a wall when you need multilingual content. Many machine translation tools produce robotic-sounding results that ultimately damage your brand’s voice and cause you to spend too much time on reviews. Meanwhile, human translators can quote you timelines of weeks with costs that could exceed your budget.
PTC tries to bridge this gap between machine speed and human quality. It analyzes the context of your project and your target audience to apply the correct terminology and maintain the right tone. It is also programmed that way keep placeholders and alert you when translations exceed the length your interface allows. For apps, this may help you make sure your UI doesn’t break.
According to the team developing PTC, their WPML plugin is translated through the PTC platform with every release, which has saved their developers a lot of time and effort.
Private Translation Cloud Review: The Core Technology
Private Translation Cloud is a software localization tool for developer-level translation projects. As mentioned, it is being used context-aware processing and learning when translating. Through the fast installation processupload source files or connect your repository.
The AI engine will use your glossary and site context that you add when setting up the project to ensure that the terminology is consistent whether you are translating a plugin’s error messages or one of many other strings. It’s a solid way to keep your content consistent.
Behind the scenes, the tool addresses a number of technical challenges that can often break machine translation algorithms. For example, the system stores placeholders such as %1$s And {{name}}respects established length limits to prevent translations from damaging your software’s user interface. This means you can translate source files without interrupting any functionality.
Private Translation Cloud Review: The Key Functionality for Your Translation Workflow
Integration is a good start. There are three integration approaches in PTC:
- Manual file uploads for one-off translations or evaluation purposes.
- A API integration that fits custom CI/CD workflows. This is for translation automation without access to the repository.
- There is Git repository integration to help you implement automation.
Private Translation Cloud monitors the latter GitHub, GitLabor Bitbucket repositories for changes to source files, translates updated content, and delivers results via merge requests. A workflow like this allows you to do that maintain local feature branches without needing your input.
There is support for all kinds resource file formats included .po/.pot files for WordPress, JSON for JavaScript frameworks, YAML for Rails applications, .strings/.stringsdict for iOS development and Android series resources. Translation output includes .after, .mo, JEDAnd l10n.php formats for both PHP and React applications.
Remember: you have as much translation memory as you need. Private Translation Cloud’s context engine uses this to deliver translations that match the tone and terminology of your content. It essentially learns your product, site, audience and terminology by scanning your existing content and asking you some simple questions. Context awareness is crucial for any translationso having this ability to address formality issues in languages with formal/informal distinctions is welcome.
Private Translation Cloud Review: Who is this for?
The simple answer to the question of whether Private Translation Cloud is right for you is: if you want to translate your software, yes! I’d say this could also work if you’re a product owner or involved in software translation but I’m not a developer.
This also applies if you work for an employment agency. This is possible at developer level automate translation workflows which typically require manual coordination between teams, not to mention Git integration.
Agencies can even take advantage of both the standalone software and the WPML integration, with the software translation service tackling the development of custom themes and plugins.
Private Translation Cloud Review: Installation and Initial Configuration
Getting started with Private Translation Cloud is a multi-step process that doesn’t require much heavy lifting. As soon as you sign upstart by choosing an integration method:
The resulting steps change based on the option you choose. I’m going for a Git integration here. This will require the details of your Git repository, main branch and the relevant access:
You can then link your existing WPML site if desired:
At this point, Private Translation Cloud will import your dictionary and terminology. On a small site the scan took a few minutes, so yours may take longer.
Add project information
Next is the longest process on the list (for me, anyway): submitting your project information. This goes around a cycle, starting with stating the name of the project, what it does and who it is for.
PTC then takes the information and evaluates it:
I found it confusing at times because of the way Private Translation Cloud wants you to confirm the fields. Below each input field are smaller links asking you to use the original or modified text. It was not easy to recognize when these connections would change because the details are subtle. It meant another round or two of frustrating refinement before we could move on to selecting languages and source files.
Add languages and complete the installation
Fortunately, this was a much easier process. Choose source files is largely automated, as you choose languages from a simple menu:
From here you’ll need to select whether you want PTC to translate your entire project (I’m assuming most will). You can also manage your initial dictionary here, although you can edit it later.
I liked the final confirmation screen for a few reasons. First, you’ll be given a mandatory overview of the source files and strings you need to translate. Second, the wizard gives you clear steps about what will happen next.
Basically, your source files will get a translation, then you’ll have to confirm a merge request with your Git repository (if that’s the option you chose at the beginning):
Completing this will take you to your main dashboard screen, meaning you can get started on the next phase of translation:
I liked the ease of use of the dashboard and its options. It’s not overwhelming and the installation did a lot of the work you need to do. One page of interest is the Translations screen, which allows you to search each string on an individual basis:
👉🏼 If you use WPML, check out our review for a full tutorial on implementing the same machine translation technology on your WordPress website!
Private Translation Cloud Review: Support and Documentation Quality
There is a dedicated PTC microsite that also contains useful information about the standalone documentation pages:
Here you will find numerous articles on all aspects of the translation engine. For example, there are guides on translating source files, developer documentation, and sections on integration and customization. I especially like the collection of posts on how to come good quality translations. In fact, there is a lot of content on how to start using the Private Translation Cloud.
Regarding support, I couldn’t find any information about support options or documented processes. There is a contact form, which I assume is the way to access support. For developers who may need a quick fix, I’d like to see a more robust way to call for help.
Greater clarity about the support a developer can receive will of course give you peace of mind.
Private Translation Cloud Review: My Final Thoughts
Human-quality translations are central to the entire process, so a solution that can achieve this will be top-notch. The context-aware AI technology that Private translation cloud offers, can do the business in my book. If you develop themes and plugins, this platform should address workflow issues that can get in the way of a typical translation process. While there is no doubt about the quality of the translation and technology, I would like to see more clarity when it comes to support.
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Does this Private Translation Cloud review convince you to automate your translation workflow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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