The hidden cost of monolingual software
Software localization delivers an average 345% ROI over three years, yet most SaaS companies leave billions on the table by ignoring the 75% of internet users who prefer native-language products. Research from 6,452 SaaS companies reveals that while cosmetic localization alone drives 40% growth, only one in five companies successfully capture these gains—the rest hemorrhage revenue through poor execution or, worse, by not localizing at all. The true cost of maintaining English-only software extends far beyond missed opportunities: companies face $60,000-$800,000 retrofit costs, 20-40% higher customer acquisition costs, and surrender entire markets to competitors who moved first. This report synthesizes 2023-2025 data from CSA Research, Forrester, and leading SaaS companies to demonstrate why localization isn't an expense—it's the difference between regional player and global leader.