Today, localization in China is no longer merely simple language translation—it involves key elements such as compliance adaptation, technology integration, cultural resonance, and user experience.
With the strict implementation of the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and Cyber Security Law (CSL), enterprises must first address compliance challenges related to data storage and content review.Per industry reports, Alipay and WeChat Pay account for over 90% of market share in China’s mobile payment sector, per industry reports, and WeChat and TikTok serve as major traffic entry points, technology integration must align with the local ecosystem. Furthermore, enterprises must embed localized strategies deeply to cater to Chinese users’ cultural preferences, as well as their priorities—such as mobile-first access and Baidu SEO.
China’s Market Potential Is Significant: Multinational Enterprises Must First Overcome Localization Hurdles to Enter the Market
As the world’s second-largest consumer market, China offers enormous investment opportunities and consumption potential. From manufacturing to services, and from stock/bond markets to local economies, multinational corporations are vying to establish a foothold in China. Among their strategies, localizing their websites for the Chinese market has become a critical step for multinational enterprises to deepen their footprint in the Chinese market.
For enterprises that rely on the Sitecore Digital Experience Platform, the need to localize their websites for the Chinese market is particularly urgent. If Sitecore cannot be adapted to China’s unique market environment, even its robust global capabilities will be inaccessible to Chinese users or fail to drive business growth. In this context, localizing Sitecore for Chinese websites becomes a key lever for enterprises to break through bottlenecks. However, this process is fraught with challenges that require comprehensive and meticulous solutions.
As a Sitecore Platinum Partner, QEdge provides in-depth analysis of the four core challenges in Sitecore localization for Chinese websites and the corresponding solutions to these challenges, ensuring the smooth implementation of your Sitecore localization strategy in China.
Four Challenges and Corresponding Solutions for Sitecore Localization for Chinese Websites
1.Regulatory and Compliance Challenges
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance and Data Privacy
Challenge: China enforces strict data privacy and security laws. During Sitecore website localization, enterprises must ensure full compliance with these regulations across all stages, from personal user information collection, storage, and transmission to utilization.
Solution: Enterprises should establish a robust data privacy and security management system, and prominently display a privacy policy on the website. Adopt encryption technology to securely store users’ sensitive information, and conduct regular data security audits to ensure regulatory compliance.
Content Compliance Review
Challenge: China has strict review standards for online content, and the publication of content containing sensitive information is prohibited by law. During Sitecore website localization, enterprises must ensure all content aligns with China’s content compliance requirements.
Solution: Enterprises should establish a content compliance review mechanism, conduct thorough manual reviews prior to content publication, and use keyword filtering technology to assist in screening sensitive information. Monitor updates to China’s policies and regulations, and adjust content review standards promptly.
2.Language and Cultural Adaptation Challenges
Language Translation Difficulties
Challenge: The Sitecore platform contains diverse content, and accurately translating this content into Chinese is no easy task. It requires not only grammatical accuracy but also alignment with Chinese users’ language habits. Furthermore, the Chinese language encompasses a wealth of idioms, colloquial expressions, and trending phrases—and skillfully incorporating these elements to enhance content relevance to Chinese audiences is a major challenge for enterprises.
Solution: Engage a professional localization translation team with relevant industry background and extensive language translation experience. Establish a strict content review mechanism to ensure translation quality.
Cultural Adaptation Challenges
Challenge: Chinese culture is unique, with significant differences from other countries in terms of colors, images, and festivals. During Sitecore website localization, directly reusing original design elements and content themes may fail to resonate with Chinese users. Traditional Chinese festivals (e.g., the Spring Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival) are key marketing nodes that must be fully reflected on the website.
Solution: Conduct in-depth cultural research to understand the characteristics and taboos of Chinese culture. Integrate traditional Chinese elements into website design, align content creation with Chinese festivals and cultural customs, and develop relevant marketing campaigns and content.
3.Technology Integration and Performance Optimization Challenges
System Compatibility Issues
Challenge: Sitecore needs to integrate with local platforms, such as payment systems, social media platforms, and data analysis tools. These platforms have unique API specifications and technical standards, making seamless integration difficult. Moreover, as technology continues to evolve, enterprises must ensure that Sitecore remains compatible with these platforms.
Solution: Before integration, conduct in-depth research on the interface documents of each platform and define an integration plan. Regularly monitor update information from technology providers, and adjust and optimize the integrated components promptly to ensure compatibility.
Website Performance Optimization Difficulties
Challenge: Chinese internet users have high requirements for website loading speed and stability. If a Sitecore website is hosted outside Mainland China, network latency will lead to slow loading speeds—ultimately undermining user experience. Additionally, large volumes of multimedia resources (e.g., images, videos) on the website can exacerbate performance issues.
Solution: Deploy servers within Mainland China to leverage high-quality local network infrastructure and node distribution, thereby improving website access speed. Optimize multimedia resources (e.g., use image compression technology, transcode videos) and refine page code to enhance page loading efficiency.
Inadequate Mobile Optimization
Challenge: Chinese users predominantly access the internet via mobile devices. However, some websites lack optimization for mobile screens, leading to slow loading or poor interactivity.
Solution: Ensure the Sitecore website is optimized for mobile performance, adopting a responsive design to maintain consistent display across different devices. Ensure the first-screen loading time is under three seconds.
4.User Experience and Digital Marketing Challenges
Design Adaptation to Chinese User Habits
Challenge: Chinese users prefer information-rich page layouts and are accustomed to clear, hierarchical navigation bars. The original global minimalist design style of some websites may fail to meet these needs, impairing user experience.
Solution: Understand the usage habits and preferences of Chinese users. In website design, adopt layouts suitable for Chinese users, optimize navigation, and enhance the visibility of search functions to align with Chinese users’ information access habits.
Personalized Content Recommendation
Challenge: China’s user market is large, and personalized content recommendations are critical for improving user engagement and conversion rates. Sitecore needs to integrate Chinese users’ behavioral data and preference data to deliver personalized recommendations. However, collecting and analyzing this data poses challenges such as data quality and integration difficulties.
Solution: Leverage Sitecore’s personalization engine and integrate third-party data analysis tools to comprehensively collect users’ on-site behavioral data. Establish user profile models through data cleaning and preprocessing, segment users, and implement personalized content recommendations.
Ineffective SEO Strategies
Challenge: Baidu dominates China’s search engine market, with an algorithm that differs significantly from Google’s, prioritizing original content and mobile-friendliness.
Solution: Adjust keyword strategies to align with Baidu’s algorithm, leveraging long-tail keywords to improve search rankings. Publish high-quality original content regularly (avoiding scraped or low-quality content) and ensure technical adaptation for Baidu.
For the four core challenges of Sitecore localization for Chinese websites—regulatory compliance, language and culture, technology integration, and user experience—QEdge leverages its Sitecore implementation experience and local service capabilities to develop a customized Sitecore China solution. From needs analysis to implementation optimization, QEdge provides end-to-end support for your Sitecore website localization, freeing your enterprise from localization worries in China.
QEdge’s Sitecore China Solution: Empowering Your Brand’s Successful Launch in China
Based in the Asia-Pacific region and serving the global market, QEdge is a Sitecore-certified Platinum Partner, with development experience spanning versions from Sitecore 5.0 to 10.4. With in-depth knowledge of China’s complex legal environment, QEdge ensures that your Sitecore China solution aligns with your group’s overall digital vision, builds a market-appropriate digital presence in China, and drives long-term Sitecore business success.
For your business, QEdge allocates all necessary resources and expertise to your selected Sitecore services, including Sitecore MVPs, dedicated project managers, business analysts, UI/UX designers, Sitecore developers, QA engineers, DevOps engineers, and SEO specialists. For over a decade, QEdge has delivered professional services to numerous Fortune 500 companies, industry leaders, renowned brands, and government agencies, including Cochlear, United Imaging Healthcare, SUEZ, Shangri-La, Brother, and more.
Combining mature practices with Sitecore’s powerful capabilities, QEdge creates visually impactful, culturally relevant website content tailored to multinational enterprises in China. Familiar with China’s local technology ecosystem, QEdge enables seamless integration with major local platforms, facilitates the rapid resolution of system compatibility issues, and ensures full compliance with China’s regulations throughout data collection processes and in privacy policies. QEdge helps your enterprise attract Chinese target audiences, thereby supporting the steady growth of your global business.
Get Your Customized Sitecore China Localization Solution
Whether you are in the preparation stage of Sitecore localization or have encountered challenges such as technology integration or compliance review, you can contact QEdge. Our professional consultants will connect with you promptly to provide needs diagnosis and solution planning, helping you quickly capture opportunities in the Chinese market.
