Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. is one of the world’s largest securities brokerages. Offering a multitude of services, from ​​online trading to asset management, Daiwa Securities Group boasts both corporate and institutional clients around the globe. Recently, we sat down with Kazuki Hiroshima, to learn more about how Daiwa Securities is accelerating digitalization and leveraging DeepL’s AI translation to expand internationally. Within Daiwa Securities Group Inc., I belong to the Digital Promotion Department, which was established in October of 2023. Created with a strong desire to accelerate digitalization, this department is under the direct supervision of the CEO. Daiwa Securitie’s main areas of business are investment and financial services, with security at its core. Lately, we’ve been expanding our business not only in Japan but also in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. As for my own career, after having worked as a project manager at a foreign-owned IT company, I joined Daiwa Securities in 2016. During my previous career, I worked on projects with overseas stakeholders implementing and integrating systems in various countries, such as Europe, the U.S., and Asian countries. Because of this background, bringing Japan to the level of efficiency of such countries has become my mission and main area of research. Thanks in part to my overseas experience, when I joined Daiwa Securities, I was involved in global regulatory projects. I’ve also been involved in the field of risk management, as well as corporate systems, such as human resources and finance. Most recently, I’ve been involved in a wide range of advanced technologies and business reforms in digital transformation. Since October 2023, I have been a member of the Digital Promotion Department. A few months have passed, and while some things feel the same as they did at the beginning, there are other aspects that feel different now. I had assumed that the Digital Transformation initiative was mainly about IT technology. But as I started this new role, I began to feel that the initiative was more of a push-back against existing culture and history. Most IT technology originates in Silicon Valley and other cutting-edge places around the world. So, what we as Japanese companies need to do is to take the technology that has been created or is being created and apply it to our own operations. In doing so, we need to consider which parts of our business we deliver impact for, how we deliver impact, and how we make decisions. This is where I feel we often face the barriers of the unique Japanese culture, for better or worse. One of the characteristics of Japanese companies, in terms of employment, is a culture of collective hiring of new graduates and generalist training. There’s also a high degree of difficulty in adjusting the payroll. Thus, IT functions are often outsourced rather than done in-house. There’s still a mindset of buying IT functions rather than creating them ourselves. I also sense that Japanese companies have a distinct way of thinking about quality. This is largely due to the fact that Japan's postwar recovery was centered on the manufacturing industry. Japanese manufacturing has thrived thanks to a culture that places an overwhelming emphasis on the "Q" (quality) and "C" (cost) of QCD (Quality, Cost, Delivery). However, it doesn’t place much importance on speed of delivery. That makes sense in manufacturing, since many things are related to safety. On the other hand, in software, the "D", or speed of delivery, is important. I think it’s necessary to increase the number of people who understand the importance of speed. Many employees feel that the world is moving toward digital technology and that it’s appropriate to move in this direction. This department has been set up with the support of the CEO and the management team. Nevertheless, we are a regulated industry, and we’re not in a position to change anything for our own interests. We need to think about how we can use digital technology to be competitive within the scope of existing regulations and are constantly working to improve this issue. Currently, we’re also making moves to focus on specific areas, for example, translation and speech-to-text. This is something we’re thinking about every day—looking at both the big picture and specific activities. Few IT and business companies can talk about technology without talking about generative AI. When I was in Silicon Valley last year, every IT company talked about generative AI—even if we didn't ask for it. I felt this was definitely the center of the technology trend. In terms of how to use it, while we currently have generative AI as a core technology, the scope of its use is still limited with its current functionality. We’re working on how to utilize the functionality of generative AI as it continues to develop by linking it with our internal and external data as it grows. We cannot say that all of them use it, but we have created an environment where they can use it. The reality is that some people use it frequently and others do not—depending on the nature of their work. About 10% of our employees use it at least once a day. As an example, when planning a project, you can ask ChatGPT questions such as, "I want to take this kind of initiative, but what is the approach we should use?” I also asked, “what aspects should we consider to streamline our digital transformation work?” It gave me about five answers, including organizational structure and technology. I was impressed. Also, since we are a financial institution, programming is done onsite. We use it for coding, and it works well. When we do data analysis, we give ChatGPT instructions like, "I want to cleanse the data, so write the code.” Since our company is expanding internationally, we have a lot of communication with our overseas offices. Even within Japan, for example, there are wealthy Chinese customers, and the company has sales staff who deal with them. To communicate, we have to overcome language barriers. There have been translation tools available to translate words and sentences, but with DeepL, I can translate whole document files. I find great value in that, as it’s led to a considerable increase in my own productivity. There are two main reasons. The first (and most overwhelming) reason is the ability to translate on a file-by-file basis. The other is the glossary feature. In terms of being able to do both of those things, DeepL was the best choice we could find. We also compare tool accuracy. It’s a qualitative point, but we often hear within the company: "DeepL is highly accurate and easy to use." DeepL has directly contributed to improved productivity. For example, when we need to publish Investor Relations (IR) materials in both English and Japanese at the end of our business year, the effort to publish the English version has been reduced. As a result, ‌speed has also increased. After releasing IR materials, we need to post the Q&A sessions we had with investors and analysts on our website. We use DeepL to create Japanese and English versions simultaneously, which has helped speed up this workflow. Before using DeepL, there were cases where we had to outsource the work to a contractor. The introduction of DeepL has enabled us to produce the work in-house, which, I heard, has reduced our workload, including costs. The ability to translate files is by far the best and the translations are highly accurate. Also, the ability to set up glossaries is very practical. The future outlook is also very good, as DeepL is planning to expand into the audio domain. If your company needs language support for its own global expansion, you can chat with our Sales team for more information on DeepL's AI translation solution. We’re thrilled to share some exciting new improvements to DeepL’s document translation features: edit mode for web, Excel for desktop apps, and file translation on mobile apps. Each of these updates enhances the document translation experience and provides our users with more control and flexibility. To learn more about our document translation improvements and the additional value they provide, read on. Edit mode is a straightforward addition to the document translation experience. For the most part, the process remains unchanged. However, with edit mode, you now have the option to edit your translation before downloading it. To use edit mode, follow these simple steps: From here, a new window will open—displaying your file’s original text on the left side and the translation on the right. To edit your translation, simply apply any changes directly to the text field on the right side. After you’ve finished editing your translation, click Done at the bottom of the window to download your edited file translation. If you’d rather download your translated document without edits, you can do that, too. Simply click on the arrow next to the Done button and a menu will appear with two options: To download without any of the changes you made, choose “Download without edits.” That’s a great question! When using edit mode, you can also use the following features: To experience the full flexibility of edit mode, be sure to test out these handy features and further customize your translated files. Edit mode is available for DeepL Pro subscribers (Starter, Advanced, and Ultimate) with files that contain less than 50,000 characters. Additionally, edit mode currently supports .docx, .pptx, .pdf, .html, .txt, and .XLIFF files. We’re working hard to improve and expand edit mode’s capabilities, and we’ll provide updates when anything changes. For a more detailed look on how you can edit translations, check out our Help Center article: “Edit mode for document translation”. With edit mode, our document translation experience has reached new heights. Not only does it allow you and your team greater control over your translated documents, but it also helps save time and resources on translations. Instead of having to download files and then make changes to the translated text elsewhere, you can edit your translated files directly in our web interface—making DeepL a one-stop shop for high-quality document translation. Offering increased customization and flexibility, edit mode makes it easier than ever to translate documents with accuracy and speed while respecting your company's distinct, individual needs. Excel joined the DeepL document translation lineup last November and has since become a user favorite. Now, DeepL Pro Advanced and Ultimate subscribers can translate Excel files within our Mac and Windows desktop apps. With this update, Advanced and Ultimate subscribers can work with a wider range of content types—all without ever leaving the DeepL desktop app. For a deeper look, check out our Help Center article: “Translating Excel files”. With file translation now available on our iOS and Android apps, all DeepL users can easily scan text and translate it into their desired target language. Currently, ‌supported file formats include HTML, PDF, and TXT files. This update allows all mobile app users to translate files on the go, enhancing the mobile app experience. If you’re keen to boost your team’s productivity and enhance your DeepL experience, give our latest document translation improvements a try today. And if you’re a Free user who’s interested in edit mode or translating Excel docs on our desktop apps, consider leveling up to a DeepL Pro subscription.* *Edit mode is currently available for all DeepL Pro subscribers (Starter, Advanced, and Ultimate). Excel support on desktop apps is only available for Advanced and Ultimate subscribers. Words matter. This is the belief on which DeepL is built and the reason we’re launching Write Pro. Language is the lifeblood that runs through your business. Done well, it can inspire investors, help teams align, and cut through the noise. Done poorly, it costs businesses precious time and resources. Office workers spend an estimated 20% of their time at work typing. How can companies make sure that time is well-spent? How much of your work day do you spend on written communication? And what kind of impact do your words have on your business? Whether you’re composing emails, messages, or reports, every word takes time. Language may be your business’ most valuable currency. We’ve all experienced the struggle of searching for the perfect word or the hesitation before hitting “send” on an important email. In moments like these, your team needs more than a spell-check. They need a fast, efficient way of finding the right expression that can help them craft the perfect tone. And that’s exactly what DeepL Write Pro is here to help you do. Powered by generative Language AI, Write Pro is a one-stop shop for developing better ideas, crafting better content, and improving business communication. Integrated wherever you work—from Gmail to Microsoft Word—Write Pro’s real-time corrections, suggested alternatives, and writing style and tone options will help your team take their writing and creativity to the next level. As of today, DeepL Write is officially available for purchase in all the countries where DeepL Pro is available. Our AI writing companion can inspire your teams to think—and communicate—differently. Keep reading to explore Write Pro’s exciting features and benefits. Heard all you need to hear? Jump in and give DeepL Write Pro a try now. DeepL Write Pro is an AI assistant that helps businesses improve communication, increase productivity, and save costs. Powered by advanced neural networks, this is AI fit for business: providing the accuracy known to hundreds of millions of DeepL users and always adhering to the highest privacy and security standards. Write Pro is already available in English and German, with more languages on the horizon. Currently, Write Pro is available via our web browser, desktop and mobile apps, browser extensions, and many integrations, including: With Write Pro, your company can cut down on editing time, improve writing quality, and increase overall productivity. It’s time to make language your team’s competitive advantage. Thanks to various generative AI-powered word and sentence alternatives, Write Pro helps your teams adjust their writing so they can say exactly what they mean—and avoid frustrating and costly misunderstandings. With real-time corrections for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, Write Pro makes your team’s writing clearer and more precise. This, in turn, ensures consistency and polish across your organization’s internal and external content. Your team can also fine-tune their writing by choosing from our writing styles, which currently include: And tones: By tailoring your written communication to any situation, your business benefits from more impactful writing. DeepL Write Pro helps your teams communicate with greater clarity, which leads to better collaboration. DeepL Write Pro’s automatic improvements save teams time and resources. Unlimited real-time corrections and suggested alternatives save hours of manual proofreading and editing, boosting your teams’ productivity and allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks. And with Write Pro’s integration with major applications, including Gmail, Microsoft Word, and the Google Suite, it’s easier than ever for your teams to improve their writing wherever they work. Let’s face it: your teams may already be using generative AI in their work. But by using non-compliant providers, they can expose the business to data breaches. One non-compliant event can cost your business an average of 5.37 million Euros (5.87 million USD) and the cost to your reputation can stretch much further. Just like DeepL’s Translator subscriptions, DeepL Write Pro protects your company’s data with strict privacy and security standards. Write Pro includes: Data protection and privacy are vital for security-conscious companies. DeepL’s dedication to world-class security is one of the key reasons for businesses to choose DeepL Write Pro. DeepL Write Pro empowers business professionals everywhere to think differently and write with full confidence. From everyday interactions to high-stakes work scenarios, DeepL Write Pro elevates your writing—boosting the quality and efficiency of your business communications globally. Ready to communicate with impact, clarity, and confidence? Try DeepL Write Pro today. In the evolving landscape of technology and communication, individuals like Yukiko Yamakura are at the forefront of facilitating connections across cultural and linguistic divides. As a Strategic Sales Development Representative (SSDR) on DeepL’s Revenue team in Japan, Yukiko joined DeepL in April 2023—and her journey is a testament to the transformative power of language and empathy. In this conversation, Yukiko shares insights into her role, the supportive culture at DeepL, and her personal achievements that highlight her contribution to the company's mission. Yes, absolutely. I'm Yukiko, part of the Revenue team in Japan. I stepped into the role of SSDR in April 2023, coming from a background as an Account Executive at HubSpot. The SSDR position at DeepL is pivotal, as it involves identifying strategic sales opportunities and serving as the initial touchpoint for target companies. It's a role that places me right at the intersection of marketing and sales, allowing me to contribute to DeepL's mission in a collaborative environment. I was born and raised in Tokyo, in a multi-cultural family with a Japanese-Brazilian father and a half-Korean mother. Growing up in such a diverse environment, I developed a passion for experiencing different cultures. This led me to study abroad and travel extensively during my college years. Overcoming language barriers has been challenging, but the joy of mutual understanding is immeasurable. These experiences have deeply influenced my belief in the power of language to foster empathy and understanding—regardless of cultural differences. That was also the moment I fell in love with DeepL! I really admire that DeepL's culture is transparent, humble, and empathetic—placing a high value on both the team and the individual. I especially enjoy the sense of unity among my team and other SDRs, regardless of geographic location. Getting together with colleagues at company events, even if only a few times a year, keeps me motivated and makes me feel like we are all part of the same team. At the same time, I feel valued as a contributor, which ultimately creates the bond between me and my team. At DeepL, we understand and embrace that everyone is unique, with diverse circumstances and backgrounds—bringing their own perspectives, thoughts, feelings, strengths, and weaknesses to the table. We value this diversity and recognize the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates individuality. That diversity is what makes us strong. It's why we can support each other, come up with fresh ideas, and ultimately thrive together. The differences among us aren't just important—they're critical to our collective success. That's why it's so important to embrace our diverse backgrounds and experiences. At DeepL, the option for remote work and flexible schedules means we can choose to work in whatever setting suits us best each day, without being constrained by location or strict office hours. However, this flexibility comes with the understanding that we coordinate with our entire team across locations and time zones to ensure smooth, efficient collaboration. What's more, DeepL encourages us to explore any role we're passionate about, no matter our age or gender. I especially appreciate how supportive management is, offering Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and other resources tailored to my personal growth and development. This supportive environment motivates me to strive for excellence in my career. Oh yes, absolutely! One of my proudest moments was receiving the Culture Award at the 2023 Company Event in Dresden and being named Top SSDR at the winter SKO in Berlin. These moments were not just a recognition of my efforts but highlighted the collaborative spirit between the Marketing team and Account Executive members. It underscored the importance of teamwork in achieving success. For me, DeepL is definitely a great place to work! Joining DeepL has been a truly enriching journey for me, especially because I deeply connect with the mission the company stands for and have a genuine passion for languages and exploring diverse cultures. It's a place where being a self-starter is highly valued and we find joy in taking the initiative to make things better—even when faced with challenges. Experiencing the thrill of creating something from scratch has been incredibly rewarding. What stands out most, though, is the team spirit—everyone here is cooperative, humble, empathetic, and simply wonderful. It's not just a workplace; it's a community where you're supported and encouraged to grow. Yukiko's story is a powerful reminder of the role empathy and cultural understanding play in today's global landscape. Through her dedication and the supportive work environment at DeepL, she exemplifies how technology can be a force for good—connecting people across the globe and uniting them under a larger purpose. Yukiko's journey illustrates that overcoming barriers, whether linguistic or cultural, begins with empathy and a shared commitment to understanding. And if you’re looking for a new opportunity at a company that values diversity, empathy, and growth, check out our open job positions. Globalization, market expansion, multinational growth—no matter what you call it, it’s something no retailer can escape. To stay competitive in today’s high-pressure retail industry, companies need to expand into new markets efficiently. And that requires localization at scale. Why? To truly connect with potential customers, retailers have to speak their language. From websites to customer service chats to social media, there’s so much communication between retailers and customers—and each touch point matters. According to DeepL’s own research, 75% of marketers agree that localized content significantly boosts customer engagement. And it pays off—96% reported a positive ROI (return on investment) from localization efforts.* Clearly, localization can boost companies’ globalization efforts, but how do you find the right localization solution for your business—one that balances accuracy, efficiency, and costs? This is where an AI-powered translation tool can help. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what to consider when choosing an AI translation tool to support your retail company’s localization efforts. We’ll also share some lessons learned from our own research and explore how DeepL has helped international retailers with their bottom line. To see how DeepL can support your retail company’s localization efforts, check out our DeepL for retail page. Based on our own industry research, we identified some important evaluation criteria for retailers to consider when selecting a machine translation service. Consider the following questions when making your choice: This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s a great place to start when exploring and evaluating available machine translation solutions. Selecting the right machine translation tool for your business will involve many people. However, there are a few roles that should always be involved: Different teams use AI translation for different reasons. But, ultimately, AI translation tools help retailers reach global customers with localized content. Let’s explore a few use cases from DeepL’s own research. Team: Marketing Products: DeepL Translator and DeepL Write Many companies use DeepL to localize their promotional materials and assets for global marketing campaigns, allowing them to better connect with their target audiences. DeepL’s document translation feature is especially useful here. Team: IT Product: DeepL API Many businesses use DeepL API to integrate our AI translation directly into their websites and customer support platforms—helping increase efficiency and scale localization efforts. Teams: E-commerce, IT Product: DeepL API and DeepL Translator Many use DeepL API and DeepL Translator to translate product names, descriptions, and pricing for their websites, allowing them to speak to customers in their own language. Team: Customer Service, IT Product: DeepL API and DeepL Translator Using both the API and DeepL Translator, retailers can enhance communication in all customer interactions, from phone calls to ticketing systems to emails. When choosing a machine translation vendor, retailers should be looking for tools that provide a positive ROI and make their localization efforts more efficient. Recently, DeepL commissioned a Total Economic Impact™ study from Forrester Consulting, which analyzed global enterprises as a composite organization to measure the impact of DeepL’s technology. This 2024 study found that DeepL delivered a 345% ROI and €2.8 million in efficiency savings. Additionally, DeepL reduced internal translation time by 90% and translation workloads by 50%. In short, DeepL supported prompt, easy translation that inspired such confidence, the interviewed businesses spent less time reviewing their results. Based on these findings, it’s clear that DeepL enhanced decision-making processes and served as a strategic investment. Selecting the right machine translation tool for your business isn’t easy. From ease of use to dependability to accuracy—there are plenty of boxes you need to tick before making your choice. DeepL’s AI translation tool supports accurate, reliable localization at scale. To learn more about how DeepL Pro can help your business streamline global localization, check out our DeepL for retail page. ________________________________________________________________________ *With Regina Corso Consulting, DeepL surveyed marketers in the United States, France, Germany, and Japan—specifically targeting those responsible for translation and localization. At the heart of DeepL's success lies a secret ingredient that goes beyond cutting-edge technology and breakthrough innovation: the power of its people. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mara, Mehdi, Lynn, Christopher, and Ryo—five remarkable individuals whose stories are not just narratives of personal achievement, but vibrant illustrations of DeepL's core values in action. Together, they embody a culture where empathy flows, strategic thinking leads, actions speak louder than words, humility is the foundation, and teamwork drives—transforming DeepL’s ethos into the lifeblood of daily interactions. Dive into their journey and discover the human heartbeat of DeepL, where values are not mere words but the very pillars of our collective story. Mara is the kind of person who lights up a room, not just with her presence, but with her genuine care for those around her. In her Sales Enablement role, she doesn't just focus on numbers—she focuses on people. "Whenever I hear concerns or sense a certain vibe, I try to be present and actively listen," she says, underscoring her commitment to creating a supportive environment. Her approach is strongly influenced by leaders who embody gratitude and openness. "Be open about your struggles—you might be surprised how much that resonates with others!" Mara advises, a reminder of the power of vulnerability in forging deeper connections. When asked how she plans to continue fostering a culture where everyone at DeepL feels cared for, Mara says, "We all do our best when we're challenged in a respectful and kind way. Paying attention to what's on our teammates' minds not only makes us work better together, but also helps our company grow in a healthy way.” Mehdi has the rare ability to see both the forest and the trees. As he guides new customers through DeepL's offerings, he's always thinking about how to scale quality and vision for the long term. "I make progress in phases and include opportunities for colleagues to share their feedback. This is an essential part of the process and allows you to achieve initial impact faster and then adapt the project through various iterations to unlock even more value," he explains, illustrating his methodical approach to expanding capabilities. His curiosity and forward-thinking nature are contagious, inspiring those around him to constantly seek improvement and innovation. "Every little bit helps! The path to scale, quality, and future-proofing isn't just about big changes or brand-new processes. It's often the little things that add up to make a big difference for our teams and our customers," says Mehdi, underscoring his belief in the incremental benefits of small, consistent actions. Lynn's story is one of clarity and purpose. She has transformed Customer Success Operations with decisive action and a deep sense of ownership. Reflecting on a significant change she implemented, Lynn shares, "When I joined, the CSMs were fielding requests for customer introductions through various Slack channels, DMs, casually during a call, and we weren't able to track these conversations. I decided to streamline them into a request form that would be reviewed weekly by the Customer Success leadership team and then prioritized and routed to the CSMs for customer outreach. With that one decision, we were able to reduce the noise for the CSMs," demonstrating her ability to cut through complexity to find effective solutions. Her guiding principle? "How much positive impact can a decision have vs. how much risk/cost will there be in making it," a balance that underpins her thoughtful yet decisive leadership style. Christopher's approach to teamwork resembles a perfectly orchestrated symphony, where every element contributes to a unified and pleasing outcome. He’s generous in sharing knowledge and recognizes the team's joint efforts as the cornerstone of their success. "Being part of a team that values collaboration is rewarding, and it's a true case of what you contribute, you receive in return," he says, capturing the spirit of reciprocal support and open teamwork. When asked about the source of his collaborative ethos and any advice he can offer for fostering effective teamwork, Christopher emphasizes, “The principle of psychological safety plays a pivotal role in team dynamics—ensuring that every team member feels confident to express their thoughts without fear of judgment is crucial. I attribute our ability to cultivate such an environment to our team leader, Lewis Fowler!” Ryo's narrative weaves together all of DeepL's values, creating a rich tapestry that showcases the interconnectedness of these principles. "For me, DeepL's values extend beyond the workplace and are applicable to everyday life. The principles of caring for others, seeing the big picture, making quick decisions, valuing teamwork, and humility guide my daily choices and important decisions. They also influence how I build and strengthen relationships, not only within the team, but also outside of work” he shares. “Building trust is critical because it affects both work outcomes and the overall atmosphere at work. These values provide reliable support when facing new challenges or unfamiliar situations," he observes, emphasizing the universality of these guiding principles. When asked what advice or insights he would share with team members on how to incorporate these values into their daily lives, Ryo suggests, "While all values are important, I personally prioritize proactive collaboration. DeepL's diversity enriches creativity and innovation through the exchange of new knowledge and perspectives. “I believe that continuous learning is essential for skill enhancement and career growth, with intellectual curiosity serving as a powerful motivator. I also think learning and understanding more at work fosters personal growth and collectively improves our expertise.” These narratives showcase the essence of DeepL, proving that the heart of any organization is its people—those who live out its fundamental values every day. Through their stories, Mara, Mehdi, Lynn, Christopher, and Ryo demonstrate the critical role that our values—such as thoughtful planning, impactful decision-making, humility, and open collaboration—play in the workplace. These are the true drivers of meaningful change. Interested in seeing how we put our values into action? Follow us on LinkedIn to dive deeper into the lives of our team. Through their personal experiences, you'll get a glimpse of how empathy, strategic foresight, decisive actions, humility, and collaboration aren't just concepts but active practices that inform our work culture daily. Language AI leader DeepL recognized by Forbes as a top innovator in the field as it revolutionizes communication for 100,000 businesses globally Global leader in Language AI, DeepL, has been named to the Forbes AI 50 list for 2024. This year’s list shines particular light on the companies powering higher productivity for both enterprises and consumers. Companies across the globe are rapidly adopting the latest AI technology to supercharge their operations and to scale their growth. DeepL’s recognition further cements its place in the AI landscape as a trusted and indispensable partner for over 100,000 global businesses to communicate across borders. The annual Forbes AI 50 list is a benchmark of the current state of AI. The unprecedented growth of AI is transforming productivity at scale while substantially reducing costs for enterprises. DeepL's suite of Language AI products accomplishes precisely this: businesses can communicate accurately across languages and borders—reducing the barriers to market entry that once stood in their way. For established global enterprises, accurate AI translation allows them to solidify their market hold, grow their customer base, and further secure brand recognition and loyalty. Coming on the heels of its 2023 Forbes Cloud 100 list inclusion, DeepL continues to push the boundaries of AI technology. The inclusion of DeepL in this year's AI 50 list reinforces its fundamental growth trajectory as well as the innovative path it has forged as a pioneer in the AI space. DeepL trains its AI models on high-quality data, while incorporating human editors that further curate the quality of its products—which are powered by DeepL Mercury, the world’s 34th fastest supercomputer. The company’s unique approach combines the expertise of world-class researchers and engineers with that of leading linguists to achieve top-notch translation accuracy that outclasses the major tech giants. DeepL is empowering companies to establish a global footprint—quickly becoming the AI of choice for global businesses across verticals. Its enterprise-level security further differentiates it from the competition, as the company owns its own tech stack and operates within a rigorous security framework, making it a trusted partner for businesses to protect their data. To find out more about how DeepL can revolutionize your team’s communication, visit www.deepl.com. From post-pandemic shifts to economic pressures to the rise of AI, retailers are dealing with countless challenges. To not just survive but thrive in today’s retail environment, companies need to be faster and more competitive than ever before. They need to go global. So, how does a company speed up global expansion and enhance customer experience in one go? They localize their content. According to a recent study from Weglot, “nearly 73% of customers prefer to purchase a product or service from a site that offers information in their own language.” Another 40% stated that they wouldn’t buy products from websites in other languages. What’s more, according to FTI Consulting’s survey, U.S. online retail sales were projected to reach $1.14 trillion in 2023—a 10% increase from 2022. Without a doubt, the retail industry is growing—and localization is the key to success. In fact, our own localization research found that 96% of respondents reported a positive ROI from localization efforts. 65% reported an ROI of 3X or greater. But, like any worthwhile business strategy, localization takes time. That’s where DeepL’s AI translation comes in. With DeepL, retailers can localize content at scale and speak to customers in their own language—for a faster, more streamlined localization process. This allows retailers to prioritize high-impact, high-growth regions. To further explore why DeepL is the best choice for retailers with ambitious international expansion plans, keep reading or visit our DeepL for retail page. Entering a new market is a heavy lift for localization teams. From product descriptions to customer reviews to marketing materials, there’s so much content retailers need to localize. Add in the fact that this content is often dynamic and changing, and it’s understandable why some localization teams struggle to keep up. What’s more, localization can be a tricky process. It’s not just about translating text from one language to another, but adapting to different markets’ cultural and linguistic differences to really resonate with your target audience. Basically, translation is a part of the more complex localization process—and that’s where DeepL makes a big difference. Using DeepL’s AI translations as a jumping-off point for localization allows retailers to increase efficiency, save time, enhance quality, and improve alignment. In fact, according to a recent study DeepL commissioned from Forrester Consulting, DeepL decreased translation time by 90%. This led to a 345% ROI and €2.79 million in efficiency savings over three years.* The same study found that DeepL reduced translation workloads by 50% and resulted in process cost reductions of €227,430. This study clearly highlighted DeepL as a strategic investment for the interviewed organizations. What could your teams do with all that extra time? When taking your retail company global, it’s vital to prioritize: Let's take a look at how DeepL stacks up. With DeepL’s glossary, you can easily keep your brand- and product-specific terms consistent across languages. For international retailers, it’s important to standardize brand names, technical jargon, and product documentation. That way, when you expand to new markets and languages, you know everyone is on the same page. Our glossaries also help retailers reduce costs and save time on manual editing. And with shared glossaries, it’s even easier to ensure consistency for teams and companies across international markets. Accuracy is everything when localizing content. High-quality translations are critical for earning customer trust, complying with regulatory requirements, and improving multilingual communication. According to blind tests, DeepL is over 3x more accurate than its closest competitors. This is in large part due to DeepL’s cutting-edge neural networks and Language AI models, which allow for more nuanced, natural-sounding translations. A successful market expansion strategy requires localization to keep pace, and DeepL allows retailers to translate content at scale. Instead of translating everything from scratch, retailers can use DeepL’s AI translations to get a head start. This, in turn, allows retail organizations to speed up time-to-market—accelerating global growth and keeping up with the competitive industry landscape. Many retailers are already using DeepL to enter new markets and expand globally. Among them are big-time retail companies like Alza and Kazar. Dubbed the “Czech Amazon”, Alza is an e-commerce company with markets all over Europe. After expanding to the U.K. and Central Europe, Alza needed high-quality translations that wouldn’t overburden its localization team. Enter DeepL. With DeepL API, Alza was able to translate large volumes of user reviews. This gave ‌customers quality assurance while shopping online and significantly increased its conversion rate. According to Jakub Kalina, Alza’s Head of Localization, DeepL has helped the retailer increase output volume, saying: Kazar, a Polish online fashion brand, had a goal to expand to new European markets, such as Greece, the U.K., and Bulgaria. Here, Kazar recognized the need for a robust translation API that could quickly localize its product feed. After testing multiple translation options, Kazar determined that DeepL had the highest quality. According to Radomir Kiepas, Kazar’s B2B Development Partner and Marketplace Project Leader, DeepL API allowed the retailer to launch in new marketplaces and increase European order volume. When asked what he’d say to other companies considering machine translation, Kiepas stated: Accelerating market expansion while providing a consistently high-quality customer experience isn’t easy. But using transformative AI translation tools like DeepL to streamline localization helps retailers navigate global markets with greater ease. To learn more about how DeepL Pro can help your company reach new customers and scale more efficiently, check out our DeepL for retail page. *Data from a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of DeepL in 2024. Are you getting ready for a DeepL interview or simply curious about our interview process? Either way, you're in good hands. I'm Nathan, and I'll be your guide through this journey. As one of DeepL's Talent Acquisition Specialists, I'm dedicated to finding the best talent for our Account Executive roles across EMEA. With over 8 ½ years of experience in the fast-paced world of B2B SaaS sales, I’ve supported a number of organizations at different stages of their business journeys, navigating complex hiring challenges and processes. Join me as I walk you through the different stages of our interview process, sharing insights and insider tips I've gathered over the years. At DeepL, our interview process is designed to ensure that both the candidate and the company are a perfect fit for each other. Let's break down the process into four distinct stages: The initial stage of our interview process is the recruiter screen, which serves as an opportunity for us to evaluate if you’d be an initial good fit for DeepL. However, it’s equally important that DeepL is the right fit for you. Every stage of our recruitment process is reciprocal. During this stage, as a recruiter, I look to understand a candidate's motivations for considering DeepL. I consider whether you’re actively looking, what your expectations and ambitions are—just as we have criteria for what we’re looking for, you should, too. I also ask some general “housekeeping” HR questions to get a broader understanding of your background, experience, successes, and responsibilities. All of this ties together to see if there’s an initial cultural fit. For me, it’s quite simple. Are you a kind, approachable, easy-to-talk-to person? Someone I feel comfortable putting in front of the wider DeepL team? Finally, it’s just as important that you come prepared with insightful, meaningful questions for me—which I’m always happy to answer. So, we see an initial mutual fit—great! Next up is a one-on-one meeting with your potential manager. This is a great opportunity to see if you can work with and report to this person. It’s also a chance to see if your manager thinks you’ll be a good fit within their team. The goal of this stage is to delve beneath the surface of some areas covered in the first interview. For example: The third round often requires the most candidate preparation. This stage typically consists of a 60-minute interview split into two sections. In the first half, you'll present and conduct a role play, usually with the hiring manager, followed by feedback. In the second half, another member of management will ask self-reflective questions based on our company values. Our final interview is an opportunity to meet with a future peer within the team. This provides a chance to understand what it means to be an Account Executive at DeepL. Similar to previous stages, our goal is to ensure you feel comfortable and happy with the people you meet—as they’ll play an integral role in your day-to-day work. It’s also important that our current employees feel excited for you to join us. By structuring our interview process in these stages, we aim to thoroughly evaluate candidates while providing a transparent and engaging experience. The duration of an interview process can often depend on multiple factors, but we are a fast-moving company. On average, the process takes two weeks from start to finish. Now that you have a clear understanding of the interview stages, let's discuss some tips to help you navigate the process effectively. Successfully navigating the interview process requires more than just technical expertise; it's about showcasing your character and commitment. Here are some practical tips to help you excel: In conclusion, our recruitment process is reciprocal. It's not just about you being the best fit for DeepL, but also about us being the best fit for your next career move. Each interview stage gives you an opportunity to meet different members of our Revenue/Sales organization, allowing you to understand expectations. It also helps us align what you expect of us with what we expect of you. As you prepare for your journey with DeepL, remember to do your research, come well-prepared for each interview, and ask insightful questions that demonstrate your enthusiasm for joining us on our incredible mission to break down language barriers. If you're ready to take the next step in your career journey, we invite you to explore our current job openings on our careers page. We look forward to welcoming exceptional talent to our team at DeepL! Ever wondered how AI translation impacts global business growth? Or what kind of cost savings and ROI an AI translation tool like DeepL has produced? Thanks to “The Total Economic Impact™ of DeepL”, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting in 2024 on behalf of DeepL, we have plenty of insights to share. The TEI methodology assesses investment value with four components—cost, benefits, flexibility, and risk—and illustrates the ROI of a technology's product and services. For over 20 years, it has been considered the gold standard for evaluating business impact. For DeepL’s study, Forrester interviewed four organizations with experience using DeepL from the energy, financial services (Big 4), legal services, and pharmaceutical industries to create a single composite organization. The study explains how reduced translation time impacted efficiency savings for internal and external business communications, while our blog post will explore some highlights from the study itself. Ready to jump straight to DeepL’s TEI study? Download the full TEI study. According to DeepL’s TEI study, one of its key benefits was the 90% decrease in internal document translation time. This translated to significant time and cost savings for the interviewed organizations—which, in turn, helped them navigate global markets with greater ease and efficiency. In fact, the interviewed organizations reported efficiency savings of €2.79 million over a period of three years. This figure shows the true value of DeepL as a strategic investment, having helped transform multilingual communication. Forrester Consulting also found that DeepL had an ROI of 345% and reduced translation workloads by 50%. This provided the interviewed composite organization with significant cost savings while maintaining high-quality, trustworthy translations. Over three years, this amounted to €227,430 in workflow and process cost reduction. With DeepL's Language AI, the interviewed composite organization could streamline their translation processes, ‌which allowed them to allocate resources more efficiently. Just consider this quote from one of our interviewed organizations’ employees, a Software Applications Manager at an energy company: DeepL’s goal has always been to empower translators to do their best work. In our TEI study, Forrester Consulting discovered that DeepL reduced the document flow to translation service teams by 50%. This, in turn, allowed the interviewed organization’s in-house staff to manage translations more efficiently. According to a Product Manager in legal services, “DeepL really adds value in terms of reducing the number of translations that we have to do with other companies.” This shift also helped translation professionals ‌focus on more complex, nuanced aspects of language and cultural interpretation—letting their expertise truly shine. Based on these results, it’s clear that DeepL enhanced decision-making processes by providing: To learn more about what made DeepL a strategic investment for global businesses, read the entire TEI study today.