The importance of multilingual UX design in enterprise software, preventing language barriers, and reducing workplace accidents.
Today’s workforce is global – bringing diverse skillsets, backgrounds, and ways of understanding. With language being perhaps the most straightforward example of how understanding differs between users.
Languages beautifully demonstrate why instruction communication requires careful consideration – workers need to understand what’s being asked of them.
However, monolingual speakers may underestimate localization’s importance – OSHA reports 25% of workplace accidents involve language barriers.
Whether within EHS or beyond, multilingual UX design is key to enterprise software success – and countless organizations suffer without it.
The Impact of Language Barriers on EHS Programs
As discussed, the most obvious reason for multilingual UX design is ensuring all users understand what they’re doing. Statistics support the need for workers whose first language differs from their organization’s primary language.
The Center for Construction Research found workplace fatalities decreased 20% overall, but increased 35% for Hispanic non-English-speaking workers. Additionally, Hispanic construction workers had the highest fatal workplace injury rate at 27.7% across all ethnic groups.
Research finds what may have already been assumed: non-English speakers often have trouble understanding safety manuals, on-site warning labels, and material Safety Data Sheets provided by an organization. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how perfect the usability and user experience of an enterprise EHS tool is if the users can’t understand the language it’s provided in. As such, reporting issues and raising questions becomes infinitely more difficult for employees, which inevitably contributes to missed actions, poor data, and a holistic lacking within the EHS process.
Additionally, some may not be aware that overcoming the language barrier is actually a regulatory requirement by OSHA. While enterprise organizations are not obligated to offer safety training and protection in employees’ native languages, in 2010, OSHA mandated compliance investigators to check whether companies provide safety training to their staff in a language they could comprehend, stating: “Employee training required by OSHA standards must be presented in a manner that employees can understand”.
Benefits of Considering Languages Within UX Design for EHS Programs
Given the issues that can befall an organization that hasn’t considered languages within their UX design – it will come as no surprise that the benefits are varied and plentiful.
For example, it’s been proven that effective engagement with an EHS program builds trust between workers and their organization. Imagine how much more effective that program would be if workers could choose which language they’re accessing it with. Not only this, but enabling individuals to access key tools via multiple languages increases an organization’s hiring pool considerably – not to mention promotes inclusivity within competitive fields.
A study by Texas A&M found that providing EHS training in an employee’s native language was not only significantly more effective, but reduced time and resources spent on training in totality, enabling a more cost-efficient approach to training. When EHS training is quicker and more effective, organizations can expect fewer costs associated with injuries and legal liabilities, savings on associated downtime – and protection from compliance breaches.
These factors not only have a real-time impact on an organization’s bottom line, but can have a significant impact on their overall reputation; becoming an organization that values worker safety, inclusion, and a wider sense of accessibility.
Check out the eBook Mastering the Art of Communication: The EHS Professional’s Communication Guide to learn more about effective company-wide communication strategies.
Considerations & Barriers to Implementing Successful Multilingual UX Design
It’s clear that multilingual UX design is key to enterprise software, organizations, and their users, but what are the unique barriers to this type of implementation?
Technical Implementation
Technical implementation is completely plausible – organizations use out-of-the-box languages and Google Translate API for multilingual EHS workflows. However – the ability to access multiple languages depends on your EHS software provider, and the technical ability to implement these solutions is only the first step.
For example – while tools such as Google Translate are ideal for faster implementation and the ability to move quickly, the accuracy of translations are rarely perfect. Additionally, the ability to localize content and adapt individual translations can be difficult to implement on a large scale. For example, providing Spanish may seem simple, but South American and European users have differences that can cause misunderstandings.
Successful User Adoption
Just like any new feature or tool, organizations need to ensure that their users understand what is available to them. The successful adoption of a tool is ultimately the success of the tool itself. This adoption isn’t purely user-driven – if managers don’t know tools can cater to diverse groups, they’ll never reach intended users.
Scalability
Finally, consider any software’s ability to grow and scale with evolving needs. The EHS and ESG world is vast – organizations starting with one aspect need only address linguistic requirements for that specific process. However, as organizational needs develop and new workflows emerge, language requirements must evolve too. It’s not just about scaling, either.
Software providers consistently update tools – so organizations investing in multilingual workflows must review updates to ensure changes remain intact. As with most aspects of UX design – these jobs aren’t one-and-done.
So, is multilingual UX design key to enterprise software?
The short answer is yes – but the how depends on organizational requirements and the specific enterprise software. For example, Cority provides both out-of-the-box language support and APIs to assist with multilingual UX design. However, Cority makes it easy to adjust language within individual fields and modules – administrators can quickly localize tools.
There are dozens of benefits to be found in adopting a multilingual UX design approach for enterprise software. Within EHS, it starts and ends with ensuring every user understands expectations and stays safe.
