Cutting localisation turnaround times by four weeks

The challenge 

Limited control, rising costs, and slow delivery

Before implementing a translation management system, Johnson Controls relied heavily on external language service providers. This approach made it difficult for the Translation Centre of Excellence (TCE) to see where work was, track progress, or apply consistent standards across departments.

Without a shared translation memory, the same content was translated multiple times, often with different terminology. Manual handoffs slowed delivery and pushed launch timelines out in key markets.

Reviewers also struggled to assess translations without seeing them in context. This led to misunderstandings, rework, and further delays. Costs continued to rise as external vendors were used for tasks that could not be managed internally.

“We needed to regain control over our assets and localisation processes,”
says Caoimhse McGrath, Translation Center of Excellence Program Manager.

It became clear that the TCE needed a system that would reduce duplication, shorten turnaround times, and give the organisation direct oversight of localisation work.

Why XTRF by XTM

Choosing a platform that gave control back to the business

Johnson Controls needed a way to manage localisation work directly, rather than coordinating through disconnected vendors and manual processes. The TCE required clear ownership of translation memory, terminology, and workflows so that consistency could be maintained across departments.

XTM was chosen because it allowed localisation work to be managed in one place, while still supporting the different needs of HR, product, marketing, technical communications, and other teams. It gave the TCE visibility into progress, quality, and workload without adding extra steps or slowing delivery.

Just as importantly, XTM supported bringing more of the localisation process in-house. This reduced reliance on external providers, lowered costs, and gave the organisation confidence that localisation could scale without losing control.

The solution

Bringing structure and context into everyday localisation work

With XTM's TMS (XTM Cloud) in place, Johnson Controls established a central translation memory that could be shared across departments. Once a phrase or technical term was translated, it could be reused, reducing duplication and improving consistency throughout the organisation.

Review processes changed significantly. Instead of reviewing text in isolation, reviewers could see translations directly in context. This made it easier to spot issues early, reduced back-and-forth revisions, and improved overall accuracy.

Manual handoffs were replaced with automated workflows, shortening project setup and file transfers. Johnson Controls also connected XTM Cloud with its own AI translation tools to further reduce effort where appropriate.

“With visual mode, we solved the problem of context during the review process, improving both speed and accuracy,”
McGrath explains.

These changes removed many of the delays that had previously slowed delivery and made localisation easier to manage at scale.