In terms of market size, there has never been a better time to own a business than today. Businesses theoretically have access to a wider net of customers than ever, and not all potential customers are restricted to a region or country.

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s hard to penetrate the international markets. The solution for most businesses is to employ data in adapting their products and services for different people.

The most appropriate form of data for this ‘localization’ of products and services is localized data. However, this data is not always readily available beyond a country’s borders. The answer to this problem is a location proxy, and this article explains why.

Benefits of Localized Data

Localized data is arguably the most essential resource for the adaptation of products and services to international markets. The most basic forms of localized data can give companies insights into how their products, services, and branding would translate in a different local market. Specifically, though, here are the advantages international businesses stand to gain from using localized data:

  • It would save companies from marketing/advertising gaffes. An example of this would be a scenario where localized data alerts a company to potential mistranslation of its brand name in a new market. In fact, advanced knowledge of cultural and religious preferences is important to proactive marketing before entering a new market.
  • It would facilitate improved acceptability of a product or service. The religious/cultural distribution of a country could affect how they interact with a product. For instance, a pork-containing product will likely fail in a predominantly Muslim country.
  • Localized data would help facilitate customer support in international markets. In its simplest form, localized data should point businesses to the languages of choice within particular regions. Such information helps companies distribute their customer care effort with more accuracy. In addition, businesses can identify the preferred customer care options within a country and region.
  • Businesses can plan their pricing strategies and promotional activities from a position of less risk. One reality of international business is that economic realities vary from country to country. As such, employing the same pricing strategies in all markets is unreasonable, especially when there is significant local competition to consider. Localized data can inform businesses about the best way to price their product. It could also provide insight into the most popular promotional ideas that help products gain traction.
  • It makes competitor analysis possible. Competitor analysis is necessary for international business if a company intends to garner a significant market share.  Localized data can help companies identify how customers perceive a product. Such perception is informative in the product design process, as it helps discover areas of service that can be improved upon by a new product.

Role of Web Scraping and Proxy Servers in the Extraction of Localized Data

As stated earlier, access to localized data from outside a region or country may be impossible. In addition, companies usually require large amounts of such data to help reach the most accurate and relevant conclusions possible. Both these issues are solvable using location proxy and web scrapers.

A location proxy is a gateway server that allows its users to appear as though they are connected from a different location. It is an intermediary that routes internet traffic through another country or region, thus effectively hiding a user’s location.

On the other hand, a web scraper is a product or tool that helps businesses extract data from a website. The automatic, large-scale data collection makes it possible for companies to access the quantity of data needed to reach reasonable conclusions.

A location proxy server and web scraper present the perfect combo for extracting localized data. The location proxy grants geographical access, while the web scraper facilitates seamless collection. This way, businesses can extract bulk localized data from anywhere in the world without exposing their identities or locations.

How Businesses Can Extract Localized Data

Businesses need localized data and can get it via web scrapers and location proxies. However, there are roughly two ways to achieve this, and it depends on the web scraper. 

When using web scrapers, it is important to configure the tool to guide its data collection. The configuration helps companies collect relevant data, and in a useful form for analysis.

Due to this need for configuration, it may not always be ideal for businesses to use ready-made web scraping tools sourced from vendors. The alternative is for them to build theirs. Most popular custom-built web scrapers are made using Python because of its extensive libraries.

However, while most vendors provide web scrapers integrated with a location proxy in a single product, in-house custom-built web scrapers do not have this. Yes, the business can build its proxy network as well, but the advantages of this are rarely worth the cost.

As such, there are two major ways that companies extract data: by using web scrapers integrated with proxy servers from a vendor or by purchasing web proxies to combine with an in-house scraping tool. The choice should depend on the particular needs of the company, the resources they possess, and the security risk of exposing the data they are extracting.

Conclusion 

Data is the lifeblood of successful modern businesses, and there is no international business success without localized data. When available online, the size of this data and its localization means its collection is difficult without a web scraper and location proxy. 

By extension, these tools are necessary for businesses looking to maximize growth. If your business is looking to expand into new markets, there is no reason why you should not be leveraging these tools to maximize your growth as well.