4 different ways to offer multilingual support in e-commerce

Cross-border e-commerce is growing rapidly, offering businesses new global opportunities. But this expansion also brings the challenge of communicating with customers who speak different languages. Multilingual support is crucial for bridging this gap, ensuring international customers feel valued and understood.

We explore the importance of multilingual support and give you practical strategies to implement it successfully. Discover how to create a flawless, inclusive experience for all your customers.

Why multilingual support is a must-have for cross-border e-commerce

Multilingual support means providing customer service in multiple languages. It's about more than just translating your website; it's about ensuring that every touchpoint, from product descriptions to customer service interactions, is accessible in the customer's preferred language.

This approach can significantly improve  the customer experience, making it easier for them to navigate your site, understand your products, and resolve any issues they might encounter. In a world where cross-border e-commerce is booming, with the global market value expected to reach $4.8 trillion by 2026, offering multilingual support isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a necessity.

Customers are more likely to purchase from a site that speaks their language, and they're more likely to return if they feel understood and valued. Especially when 67% of customers even state that they’d switch stores if they experience poor customer service.

4 effective ways to offer multilingual support for e-commerce success

Now you know it’s important to invest in international support to grow your e-commerce business, let’s have a look at how you can offer support in different languages.

1. AI-powered virtual agents and chatbots

AI-powered virtual agents and chatbots can be a game-changer for providing multilingual support. These solutions can use company information and employee input to offer answer suggestions in different languages. 

Unlike generic AI chatbots, virtual agents like Neople, are tailored to your business, ensuring that their responses are accurate and aligned with your brand's voice. Imagine having a virtual agent that can handle customer inquiries in Spanish, French, or Mandarin, all while maintaining the same level of quality and consistency. 

This not only speeds up response times but also ensures that your customers receive high-quality support, no matter where they are in the world. It's like having a multilingual customer service team at your fingertips, ready to assist at any time.

2. Translation plugins and tools

Translation plugins and tools are another effective way to offer multilingual support. Tools like WPML and Weglot can automatically translate your website content into multiple languages, making it accessible to a global audience. 

These tools are easy to integrate and can handle everything from product descriptions to blog posts, ensuring that your entire site is available in the customer's preferred language. While automated translation tools can be incredibly useful, it's important to remember that they may not always capture the nuances of your brand's voice. 

That's why it's essential to review and refine the translations to ensure they align with your brand's tone and messaging. This extra step can make a significant difference in how your customers perceive your brand and their overall experience on your site.

3. Human translators and native customer support teams

Employing native speakers for your customer service team can provide a level of empathy and understanding that automated tools often can't match. Native speakers can work with cultural nuances and provide personalized support that makes customers feel truly valued.

Having a team of human translators can also ensure that your website content is accurate and culturally appropriate. They can help you avoid common translation pitfalls and ensure that your messaging resonates with your target audience. 

This approach can be particularly beneficial for complex or high-stakes interactions, where a nuanced understanding of the language and culture is essential. There’s one downside of this option, the fact it’s quite expensive and hard to scale as customer inquiry volumes fluctuate.

4. Localized content and self-service

Localized content goes beyond translation; it's about adapting your content to fit the cultural context of your target audience. This can include everything from using local idioms and expressions to adjusting your marketing strategies to align with local customs and preferences. 

By creating content that feels familiar and relevant, you can build stronger connections with your international customers.Self-service options, such as FAQs and knowledge bases, can also be incredibly valuable for providing multilingual support. 

By offering different resources in multiple languages, you empower your customers to find answers to their questions quickly and easily, without needing to contact customer support. This not only improves the customer experience but also reduces the workload on your support team.

What are the challenges of offering multilingual support?

Offering multilingual support comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is ensuring the accuracy and consistency of translations. Automated tools can help, but they may not always capture the nuances of your brand's voice. Human translators can provide more accurate translations, but they can be costly and time-consuming.

Another challenge is maintaining the quality of customer support across different languages. Training your support team to handle inquiries in multiple languages can be difficult, especially if they are not native speakers. This is where AI-powered virtual agents can be particularly useful, as they can provide consistent, high-quality support in multiple languages without the need for extensive training.

How to implement multilingual support in e-commerce with Neople

Implementing multi-language support in e-commerce can be a complex process, but it doesn't have to be. With Neople's AI-powered virtual agents, you can provide high-quality multilingual support without the need for extensive training or costly human translators. 

These digital colleagues are trained on your company's data, information, and culture, allowing them to offer accurate and consistent support in multiple languages. Neople's co-workers are more than just chatbots; they're fully integrated into your way of working, talking, and behaving. 

This ensures that their responses are aligned with your brand's voice and messaging, providing a seamless and personalized customer experience. Whether you're new to using AI in support or looking to improve your existing solutions, Neople's managed services can help you achieve your goals.

Neople's AI-powered virtual agents are designed to provide high-quality multilingual support, helping you connect with your international customers and improve their overall experience. Ready to see how Neople can help your business? Book a demo today and discover the difference Neople can make for your e-commerce support.