11 benefits of multilingual government websites

Written by Nick van de Venn

With the growing number of native languages spoken in the Netherlands, it is increasingly important for government agencies to offer their communications in multiple languages. A multilingual website offers numerous benefits, from improved accessibility to compliance with laws and regulations. Wondering what a multilingual website can do for your organization? In this blog, we list the 11 most important benefits for you!

Did you know that 65% of website visitors want to consume information in their preferred language?It is becoming increasingly important for government agencies to offer their communications in multiple languages. In addition, making your websites accessible and multilingual to a diverse community is not only a desire, but a requirement, as stipulated by the Single Digital Gateway and national legislation. But exactly what benefits come with multilingual government websites? And how much time does it take? In this blog, we tell you all about it!

Benefits of a multilingual government website:

Improved accessibility.
You make your website more accessible to residents who do not speak the standard language, contributing to inclusivity and equality.
Greater accessibility.
Multilingual websites make information and services available to a broader group of residents, including newcomers and expats.
Better communication.
Multilingual websites provide clearer communication and reduce the chance of misunderstandings or misinterpretations.
Better user experience.
By serving residents in their native language, you improve the user experience and ensure better interaction with your services.
Comply with laws and regulations.
Offering multilingual options mandatory. With a multilingual website, you instantly meet these requirements.
Increased engagement. Residents feel more involved in their communities and government agencies when they have access to information in their own language.
Positive reputation.
An inclusive, multilingual approach exudes that your government values diversity and takes everyone seriously.
Increased accessibility for tourists.
Municipalities with many tourists benefit from multilingual information, contributing to a positive image and convenience for visitors.
Cost savings on customer service.
Fewer questions at the counter or over the phone thanks to clear, multilingual online information.
Better crisis management.
In times of crisis, such as pandemics or natural disasters, a multilingual website ensures that crucial information is disseminated quickly and effectively.
Future-proofing.
A multilingual Web site prepares your government for future changes in demographics and language preferences.

The challenges of a multilingual website

Managing a multilingual government Web site presents several challenges. First, it takes a lot of time to manually update and maintain content in multiple languages. On average, this takes about 1FTE per language, per website. It involves not only translating text, but also adhering to strict accessibility guidelines and optimizing for search engines (SEO). With limited resources and expertise, this can be a huge burden for municipalities, water boards and provinces. Added to this is the complexity of ensuring consistency and accuracy across languages, which is essential to maintaining a reliable and inclusive digital presence.

Shift2 x Weglot: the solution for multilingualism

Want a multilingual website, but are dreading the challenges? With Shift2 Weglot you have the solution at your fingertips. Our tool makes it easy to make your website multilingual without requiring in-depth technical knowledge. With support for over 110 languages, Weglot provides accurate, automatic translations that instantly meet accessibility standards.

Moreover, Weglot allows you to easily check and validate translations. This means you can edit texts and correct translations. In addition, we offer guidance and support for the implementation and ongoing optimization of your multilingual website. This way, you save time and resources and minimize complexity, while providing a user-friendly, inclusive online experience to all your residents.

Free sparring?

Wondering how our translation tool can support your organization in easily providing an inclusive, multilingual website that meets all accessibility standards? Then feel free to contact me at nick.vandevenn@shift2.nl or 06 57 69 26 00.