by Katia Ernst | May 18, 2026 | Articles
Linguistic and cultural diversity enrich every awards program. They bring different perspectives, new markets and a reach that extends far beyond your own language community.
But anyone who has organised an international award knows the other side of this equation: details can get lost in translation. A phrase that sounds natural in English can come across as too casual in German. An evaluation criterion that is taken for granted in the Americas may need explaining elsewhere.
The technical foundations for international programs exist today. The real challenge begins after that.
Many platforms advertise multilingual capabilities. But in practice, this often means machine-translated interfaces, limited options for adapting to local conventions and a generic experience that makes entrants quickly realise the software was built for the English-speaking market.
The difference between a translation and genuine localisation is tangible. A platform that is truly multilingual in its thinking allows you to shape content in a culturally appropriate way, not just a linguistically correct one. This applies equally to the wording of submission forms, communications with entrants and the interface for judges.
Award Force’s interface is translated by native speakers, not algorithms, and good multilingual software should be held to that standard.
Anyone evaluating a platform for international competitions should look closely at the following:
Supporting one language per program is not enough. International awards often run in parallel across multiple languages, with the same program active in different markets. The platform must make it possible to manage all language versions centrally, without redundant processes or extra work for the team.
Multilingual programs on Award Force use an average of three languages simultaneously. The most commonly used are English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese, but with over 40 languages supported, programs can reach almost any audience. Just under 10% of all clients actively use the multilingual feature, and that number is growing. Internationalisation is no longer a niche requirement.
Machine translations have improved, but they do not replace human editing, particularly for specialist or sensitive content. Program managers on Award Force can therefore define or adjust common terms such as “judge” or “entry” themselves.
International competitions often involve different fee structures in different currencies. A platform that can only process payments in one currency creates unnecessary barriers for entrants and additional work for the organising team.
Less obvious but equally important: how are amounts displayed? The same USD amount looks like this in English: $1,250.45, and like this in French: 1 250,45 $US. Then there are currency-specific conventions: the Japanese yen has no decimal places, the Bahraini dinar has three.
Award Force has introduced localised currency formatting that displays amounts in the format of each user’s language setting. A small detail that makes a noticeable difference in practice. Entrants see numbers the way they are used to, without any mental conversion.
Judges from different countries have different expectations and ways of working. A good platform makes it possible to configure evaluation processes so they feel intuitive for everyone involved, regardless of the language they work in.
Judging forms, criteria and communications should be adaptable by language without compromising the comparability of results. For a judge’s-eye view of what really matters, 5 things judges wish awards managers knew is worth a read.
Before committing to a solution, the following steps are worth taking:
Test the multilingual functionality in detail. Do not just ask for a list of supported languages—navigate actively through the platform in one of your target languages. Does the interface feel professional and consistent?
Ask about the translation process. How is new content translated? Can you add your own copy? Is there a preview function for all language versions?
Check the configurability of the judging process. Can you adapt judging forms and criteria by language? How are judges introduced and supported in their respective languages?
Clarify currency and payment options. Which currencies are supported? How are different fee structures for different regions handled?
Evaluate the support offering. An international program does not always run in your time zone. How does the customer team respond to technical issues, and in which languages is support available?
Choosing a multilingual award management platform determines how professional your program appears externally, how smoothly things run for your team and how fair and welcoming the experience is for entrants from around the world.
Award Force was built with the ambition to make awards programs of any size and reach professional, secure and configurable. For international programs, that means multilingual functionality that holds up in the details, flexible judging workflows that adapt to your needs and a level of data protection that meets the highest standards.
Excellence in award management starts with the right foundations. A platform that grows with your program and works anywhere in the world is one of them.
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