Practical AI #2 Breaking linguistic barriers in fashion and apparel

There’s no denying that the introduction of new technologies drastically changed how fashion and apparel brands operate, from fax machines and aircraft to the internet, email and social media.

Technology enabled brands to globalise their operations, and while that was overall a net positive, other issues arose – like linguistic barriers, impacting business operations, decision-making and market expansion efforts.

Fortunately, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are here to serve as a remedy and foster a more inclusive industry.

Using AI and ML to scale

Last time, we talked about the incredible power of our AI-enabled product description generator, however, our journey utilising AI started way before then.

Two years ago, K3’s product team embarked on a language translation project that would drastically expand the solution’s usage globally.

It wasn’t simply a move to test the waters with new technologies but to address the burgeoning needs of the global fashion market. The goal was clear:

Create multilingual environments that transcend geographical and linguistic barriers to empower brands globally.

The operative word here is “globally”.

Microsoft’s CVP of Global Industry Solutions, Shelly Branstein, shared a post recently illuminating a shift in business perceptions of AI.

Businesses are no longer asking whether AI is necessary but how to harness it most effectively.

We opened this piece with “globalisation” for a reason; fashion and apparel are constantly in flux, iterating with each new technological innovation.

From buyers sourcing further away and companies establishing production lines in remote areas to the eCommerce boom, tech continues to alter the fashion landscape on a global scale.

The next wave of change is here and won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

To ensure they aren’t left behind, brands must utilise tools like AI and ML to scale, harnessing technology in the most effective manner right now.

And with that… we’d like to introduce the world to our label translation feature.

What are label translations?

Over the past two years, the K3 Fashion product development team has sought to utilise AI and ML technologies to enable users to convert their D365 environments into their preferred languages.

This is achieved by translating K3 Fashion label files using the Microsoft Translation Service in conjunction with the Custom-trained MT model.

The process includes employing the XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF) for each target language.

XLIFF files are uploaded alongside source language files to a project on Microsoft’s Translation Service’s Lifecycles Services (LCS), ready in approximately 24-48 hours.

Once complete, a new label file is produced in the target language with an updated XLIFF file inclusive of all necessary modifications.

This process at first read may sound daunting, however in practice, it is reasonably straightforward.

The files can be opened in any text editor, but we recommend using a tool like the free Multilingual App Toolkit Editor for the best experience.

The above steps describe a simple and repeatable process for solution users to quickly and accurately translate files without additional costs or time.

This tool offers brands a turnkey route to global expansion, quickly translating product details into new languages, supporting their international need.

Connecting brands with diverse, global markets

We’re eagerly looking forward to the continued development of our label translations, and encourage you to contact us for updates and in practice usage!

Remember: K3 Fashion’s label translation feature doesn’t just translate files; it breaks down barriers.

By tapping into seamless translation, brands facilitate communication and foster a more inclusive and accessible fashion industry.

And that’s it! Short and sweet this time.

We hope you enjoyed our latest Practical AI entry and encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for future editions.

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about K3 Fashion, feel free to drop us a line today.