BigCommerce multilingual magic with Weglot and Askly

Ever wondered how to make your BigCommerce store speak your customers’ language? Whether you’re targeting international markets or serving a diverse local audience, implementing multilingual capabilities is a game-changer for e-commerce success.

Does BigCommerce support multiple languages?

BigCommerce offers limited native multilingual capabilities, primarily focusing on checkout translations for supported languages like English, French, German, and others. However, for a truly multilingual store experience, you’ll need to implement additional solutions.

The platform provides two main approaches to multilingual functionality:

1. Multi-storefront feature: Create separate stores for different languages with localized product listings, currency conversions, and regional shipping configurations.

2. Third-party integrations: Implement specialized apps like Weglot and Askly for comprehensive translation management, SEO optimization, and real-time customer support.

While you could attempt to manually code translations using BigCommerce’s Handlebars templates, this approach requires significant technical expertise and ongoing maintenance. For most businesses, third-party solutions offer a far more efficient path to multilingual success.

Why your BigCommerce store needs multilingual capabilities

The benefits of implementing multilingual support extend far beyond just translation:

• Expanded market reach: Target non-English-speaking demographics in global markets
• Higher conversions: Studies show up to 70% increased conversion rates for non-native English speakers when multilingual support is available
• Competitive differentiation: Offering localized experiences enhances brand loyalty
• SEO advantages: Rank in local search results with properly optimized multilingual content

As highlighted in research on the benefits of multi language websites, businesses that invest in multilingual capabilities typically see significant improvements in engagement metrics and conversion rates.

Think of multilingual support as not just a feature but a bridge connecting your brand to new audiences. A German shopper might browse your English site but will feel much more confident making a purchase when they can read product details, shipping information, and return policies in their native language.

Weglot: Complete website translation for BigCommerce

Weglot stands out as a premier solution for translating your entire BigCommerce store. With over 50,000 users globally, it offers a streamlined approach to multilingual e-commerce.

Key features:

• 100+ languages: Instant translation with both automatic and human-editable options
• SEO compliance: Clean source code and dedicated URLs for translated pages
• No coding required: Compatible with all BigCommerce themes and plugins
• Team collaboration: Invite team members to manage translations

Implementation process:

1. Install Weglot via the BigCommerce App Store
2. Select your target languages and enable automatic translation
3. Refine machine-translated content or order professional services
4. Monitor SEO performance via Google Search Console

Weglot excels in translating entire websites, including product pages, blogs, and category descriptions, making it ideal for businesses looking to create a comprehensive multilingual experience.

The platform functions like a layer over your existing store, automatically detecting and translating content while maintaining your site’s design and functionality. This approach means you maintain a single source of content rather than managing multiple separate sites — when you update a product description in your primary language, translations update accordingly.

Askly: Real-time multilingual customer support

While Weglot handles your website content, Askly’s multilingual customer support chatbot addresses the critical customer service component. This powerful combination ensures that customers can not only browse your store in their preferred language but also receive support in that same language.

Key features:

• Real-time chat translation: Break language barriers with instant translation
• AI chatbots: Handle routine inquiries in multiple languages
• Human agent support: Seamlessly transition to human agents for complex issues
• Translation memory: Maintain consistency across customer interactions

Askly’s multilingual live chat support enables your customer service team to communicate with shoppers in their native language, dramatically improving customer satisfaction and reducing cart abandonment.

Consider this scenario: A Spanish-speaking customer has questions about sizing before completing a purchase. Without multilingual support, they might abandon their cart due to uncertainty. With Askly, they can initiate a chat in Spanish, receive immediate automated responses to common questions, and if needed, connect with your English-speaking support team who can communicate effectively through real-time translation.

Weglot vs. native BigCommerce: Feature comparison

Feature	Weglot	Native BigCommerce
Language scope	100+ languages	Limited to checkout translations
SEO	Automatic indexing	Manual hreflang implementation
Ease of use	No coding required	Requires technical expertise
Content coverage	Full site translation	Checkout-focused
Maintenance	Centralized management	Distributed across storefronts
Update process	Automatic synchronization	Manual updates across storefronts
Development resources	Minimal	Extensive for custom implementation

Best practices for managing a multilingual BigCommerce store

1. Prioritize high-value languages

Focus on languages with significant demand in your target markets. Analyze your traffic sources and customer data to identify which languages will deliver the best ROI.

For example, if Google Analytics shows 30% of your visitors come from Germany but have a high bounce rate, German should likely be your first implementation priority. Start with 2-3 languages rather than attempting to translate your site into dozens of languages simultaneously.

2. Maintain translation quality

While automatic translation provides a solid foundation, consider these quality enhancements:

• Manually review key pages (homepage, product descriptions, legal content)
• Use translation memory to ensure consistency
• Consider professional translation services for high-stakes content

One effective approach is the “hybrid translation model” — use machine translation for most content, then allocate budget for professional human translation of your most critical pages and highest-selling products.

3. Optimize for multilingual SEO

• Implement proper hreflang tags to avoid duplicate content penalties
• Research localized keywords for each market
• Create region-specific content where appropriate

Remember that direct translations of English keywords may not reflect how local customers actually search. For instance, the Spanish term for “running shoes” might not be the exact translation but a culturally specific term that local shoppers use.

4. Test user experience across languages

• Verify that all functionality works in each language
• Test checkout process in all supported languages
• Ensure currency and payment methods align with language preferences

What seems intuitive in English might be confusing when translated. Test your multilingual store with native speakers to identify any usability issues or cultural disconnects. Pay special attention to forms, error messages, and checkout processes.

5. Leverage multilingual customer support

Integrate multilingual chat to provide real-time assistance to international customers. This creates a seamless experience from browsing to purchase to post-sale support.

Proactively offering support in a customer’s language dramatically increases trust. Consider adding chat prompts in the detected language, such as “¿Necesitas ayuda?” for Spanish-speaking visitors.

Case study: Expanding reach with multilingual capabilities

While specific BigCommerce case studies weren’t available in our research, Weglot’s documentation highlights retailers achieving 30-50% revenue growth in target markets after implementing multilingual capabilities.

For example, an e-commerce store using Askly’s live chat reported reduced cart abandonment by addressing language barriers during checkout. This mirrors the success seen with multilingual Shopify stores, where merchants experienced similar benefits.

One fashion retailer expanded from UK-only operations to serving customers across Europe by implementing Weglot for site translation. Within three months, they saw German-language visitors spending 35% more time on site and a 28% higher conversion rate compared to when those same visitors had to navigate an English-only store.

Choosing the right multilingual solution for your BigCommerce store

When evaluating multilingual solutions for BigCommerce, consider these factors:

1. Number of languages needed: If you need extensive language support, Weglot’s 100+ language options provide comprehensive coverage.

2. Budget considerations: Weglot offers subscription-based pricing with a 14-day free trial, while Askly’s pricing starts at €49/month with custom enterprise plans available.

3. Technical resources: Weglot requires minimal technical expertise, making it accessible for businesses without dedicated development teams.

4. Customer support needs: If real-time customer support is crucial, pairing Weglot with Askly provides a complete multilingual solution.

5. SEO requirements: Weglot’s automatic indexing and SEO compliance simplify the complex task of multilingual SEO.

The ideal approach for most merchants is to begin with website translation using Weglot, then add multilingual customer support capabilities with Askly as international sales grow. This phased implementation allows you to establish a presence in new markets before investing in full customer service capabilities.

Ready to go multilingual with your BigCommerce store?

Implementing multilingual capabilities on your BigCommerce store is a strategic investment that can dramatically expand your market reach and improve customer experience. By combining Weglot for website translation with Askly for multilingual customer support, you create a comprehensive solution that addresses both content and communication needs.

For businesses looking to explore the best approach for their specific needs, consider researching the best multilingual website builder options and evaluating how they integrate with BigCommerce.

Start small with your most important target languages, measure results, and expand your multilingual capabilities as you see positive returns. Your international customers will appreciate the effort, and your business will reap the rewards of a truly global e-commerce presence.