Now available

The 2020 Web Globalization Report Card

Now in its 16th year, companies around the world rely on the Web Globalization Report Card to provide objective benchmarking and insights into emerging trends.


  PDF brochure


Take the guesswork out of web globalization

Web and mobile globalization is complicated. You must navigate countries, cultures, content and, in many cases, must coordinate among central and remote offices to ensure everything works smoothly. For more than 15 years, The Web Globalization Report Card has been the "secret weapon" for global organizations, answering questions such as:

  • What languages do our competitors to support?
  • What languages should we support?
  • How is our global website doing compared with our competitors—and why?
  • What emerging trends in localization should we be aware of?
  • How do we build a truly user-friendly global gateway?
  • How do we design a website to best manage diverse brands and diverse locales?

Learn best practices and emerging trends

This report, now in its 16th edition, answers these questions and many more. You’ll learn which companies have improved their global and mobile websites — and why. Through website profiles, loaded with screen shots, you'll learn which practices to emulate and, of equal importance, which to avoid. More than a dozen industry sectors are profiled, with key web localization developments and best practices highlighted with visuals.


150 global websites benchmarked

This year, like years before, we benchmarked 150 websites across more than a dozen industry categories. These websites comprise 80% of the companies on the Interbrand Best Global Brands 2019 list and more than 30% of the Fortune 100, ensuring a broad reach of the leading global brands and businesses.

How to use the Web Globalization Report Card

Never before have companies been expected to support so much content across so many languages and across so many devices. And while this continues to be a very exciting time to be involved in web globalization, it’s also quite challenging.

This report serves two purposes. First, it calls attention to those websites that have excelled in the practice of web globalization. The companies that have made the top 25 did not get there by chance. The people who have helped raise their websites onto the top 25 list deserve recognition for helping their companies communicate effectively with the world, regardless of language, culture, or geography.

Second, this report identifies emerging trends (both positive and negative) to help you avoid the painful missteps that others have already taken. This report is designed to help you guide your web, marketing, content, mobile and local teams to positive, efficient action.

Two decades of web globalization experience

Founded in 2000, Byte Level Research was the first company dedicated to the art and science of web globalization. We have consulted with hundreds of multinationals and have learned what works and what doesn't work and, just as important, where their websites are headed. This expertise is carried over into the methodology of the Report Card, the first report dedicated to best practices in web globalization. The report is relied on by some of the most innovative global and consumer product companies and we are proud to have many clients who have purchased this report for more than a decade.

Every year, we conduct a hands-on analysis of the world's leading websites, analyzing how web designs are shared across countries and mobile platforms, noting languages used on every website. We study local content, visuals, social media, website weight (in kilobytes), and navigation. This information, along with 15 years of historical and linguistic data, will help you benchmark your company against competitive and “best of breed” sites such as Google, Wikipedia, Amazon, IKEA, NIVEA and Booking.com. A combination of quantitative data and practical, hands-on advice make this report an invaluable resource for any company doing business across borders.


Who this report is for:

  • Marketing executives use this report to improve the effectiveness and usability of their global websites. The numerous screen shots included in the report clearly illustrate trends and best practices. The report points out flaws in many of the world's most popular websites — and, more important, makes clear suggestions for improvement.
  • Web and IT executives use this report to learn best practices and drive changes within their companies based on concrete data. For example, knowing exactly which companies are now using geolocation can help raise awareness and get management buy-in. No other report will tell you exactly which companies are using geolocation right now and which companies are using language detection.
  • Web design firms and advertising agencies rely on this report to upgrade their web globalization skills. This report's accessibility and its wide range of real-world examples makes complex concepts more easily understood.

Purchase Details



Web Globalization Report Card Bundle

Pages: 425
Exhibits & Visuals: 250
Format: PDF
License: Enterprise

Included with the Report Card:

  1. New Report: 2020 Web Globalization Best Practices & Emerging Trends
  2. eBook: The Art of the Global Gateway

0,2020 Web Globalization Report Card

You may also purchase via Square
All major credit cards accepted.
John Yunker will follow up within a few hours (usually fewer) to deliver your PDF reports and to answer any questions.


Report Card + Presentation

Includes everything listed above PLUS a benchmark of your company's website and a conference call presentation with your team.

Purchase via Square
John Yunker will follow up within a few hours (usually fewer) to deliver your PDF reports and to answer any questions.


Companies that have relied on the Report Card over the years include:

  • Airbnb
  • Cisco
  • Expedia
  • FedEx
  • Ford
  • KPMG
  • Nike
  • Philips
  • Sony
  • Uber
  • Verisign
  • And numerous national tourist boards and governments

Available for onsite speaking

Author John Yunker has spoken at organizations and conferences in more than two dozen cities and countries around the world. Learn more



Web Globalization Report Card library

For enterprise clients, we also offer the Web Globalization Report Card library



Companies that have purchased the Report Card over the years

Panasonic
FedEx
Cisco
Apple
3M
eBay
Caterpillar
Philips
Adobe
Thomson Reuters

The Top 25 Global Websites

Wikipedia was named the best global website, according to the 16th edition of the Web Globalization Report Card, followed by Google and Microsoft. Wikipedia supports more than 290 languages demonstrating that people around the world demand a truly multilingual internet.

The teams behind the websites featured in the top 25 all deserve a round of virtual applause. We know how difficult it can be to build the case for supporting languages -- and how one must continually battle to support usability for all users, not just those who speak the dominant languages of the executive team.

Notable highlights include:

  • The top 25 websites support an average of 61 languages, nearly twice the average number of languages supported by all 150 websites.
  • Airbnb joined the top 10 list for the first time, after having doubled the linguistic reach of its website.
  • Nestlé leads all consumer goods companies with a world-ready global design and ongoing investment in localization.
  • Technology companies such as Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Siemens, and Adobe continued to demonstrate leadership in languages and global consistency, as well as increasing degrees of investment in localization.
  • NIVEA leads the cosmetics and skin care industry with support for 46 languages and culturally relevant visuals in many markets.

Table of Contents

  • Moving beyond China

Part I: The Best Global Websites

  • The top 10 global websites
  • The leading 50 websites
  • The most improved (and notable) websites

Part II: Language Leaders, Laggards, and Emerging Trends

  • The average number of languages your website should support
  • The language leaders
  • The 40+ language club
  • Language laggards
  • Language expansion: 2010 to today
  • Websites gaining languages
  • Language totals for all websites
  • Most popular languages
  • What are the global languages?

Part III: The Websites and How They Were Scored

  • How websites were selected
  • The websites benchmarked
  • Scoring methodology
  • Global Reach
  • Global Navigation
  • Global/Mobile Architecture
  • Localization & Social
  • Methodology FAQ
  • What do the scores mean?

Part IV: Website Scores
  • All website scores
  • Global navigation leaders
  • Most global companies use country codes
  • Why you should use the globe icon
  • Three reasons to avoid using flags
  • Language detection remains a powerful navigation tool
  • Geolocation is a proven web localization solution
  • Leaders in global consistency

Part V: Website Profiles by Industry

  • Industry leaders
  • Automotive
  • Consumer Goods
  • Consumer Technology
  • Diversified
  • Enterprise Technology
  • Financial Services
  • Luxury
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Nonprofit/Community
  • Professional Services
  • Retail
  • Travel & Hospitality
  • Web Services
  • Conclusion
  • Globalization Terminology
  • About the Author

Websites included in the Report Card

  • 3M
  • ABB
  • Accenture
  • Adidas
  • Adobe
  • Airbnb
  • Alibaba
  • Allianz
  • Amazon
  • American Airlines
  • American Express
  • Apple
  • Audi
  • Autodesk
  • Avis
  • Axa
  • Bayer
  • BBC
  • BMW
  • Booking.com
  • British Airways
  • Burberry
  • Canon
  • Capgemini
  • Cartier
  • Caterpillar
  • Chevrolet
  • Cisco Systems
  • Citibank
  • Coca-Cola
  • Costco
  • Dell
  • Deloitte
  • Delta
  • DHL
  • Disney
  • Dyson
  • eBay
  • Eli Lilly
  • Emirates
  • Enterprise
  • Ernst & Young
  • Facebook
  • FedEx
  • Ford
  • Four Seasons
  • GE
  • Gillette
  • GoDaddy
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Google
  • Gucci
  • Heineken
  • Hermès
  • Hertz
  • Hilton
  • Hitachi
  • Honda
  • Honeywell
  • Hotels.com
  • HP
  • HP Enterprise
  • HSBC
  • Huawei
  • Hyatt
  • Hyundai
  • IBM
  • IKEA
  • Intel
  • InterContinental Hotels
  • J&J
  • Jack Daniel's
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses
  • John Deere
  • KLM
  • KPMG
  • Land Rover
  • LEGO
  • Lenovo
  • Lexus
  • LG
  • Loréal
  • Louis Vuitton
  • LUSH
  • Marriott
  • MasterCard
  • McDonald's
  • Mercedes
  • Merck
  • Michelin
  • Microsoft
  • Mitsubishi Electric
  • Mont Blanc
  • Motorola
  • MUJI
  • Nestlé
  • Netflix
  • Nike
  • Nikon
  • Nintendo
  • Nissan
  • NIVEA
  • Oracle
  • Pampers
  • Panasonic
  • PayPal
  • Pepsi
  • Pfizer
  • Philips
  • Pitney Bowes
  • Porsche
  • Procter & Gamble
  • PWC
  • Roku
  • Rolex
  • Royal Caribbean
  • Salesforce
  • Samsung
  • Sanofi
  • SAP
  • Siemens
  • Sony
  • Spotify
  • Starbucks
  • Steelcase
  • Subaru
  • Tecno (Transsion)
  • Tesla
  • Texas Instruments
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Thomson Reuters
  • Tiffany
  • Toshiba
  • Toyota
  • Trip.com (Ctrip)
  • TripAdvisor
  • Trivago
  • Twitter
  • Uber
  • United Airlines
  • UPS
  • Visa
  • Volkswagen
  • Volvo Cars
  • Walmart
  • Western Union
  • Wikipedia
  • Wordpress
  • Xerox
  • Xiaomi (Mi)
  • Zara
  • Frequently Asked Questions


    Do companies pay to be included in this report?

    Absolutely not. We have never and will never accept money in return for inclusion within the report. We take great pride in creating a report that is self-funded and completely independent in focus, content, and findings.

    Who analyzes these websites?

    Report author John Yunker reviews every website — and has done so for every edition of the report. No work is outsourced. This in-depth, historical understanding of each website (combined with one-on-one interviews with many of the executives who manage these websites) provides invaluable and actionable findings and recommendations.

    How do you select companies for your list?

    We survey a wide swath of global companies across all major industries to provide a well-rounded overview of the state of web globalization. Within each industry, we include the leading companies with a focus on brand leadership. We include more than 30% of the Fortune 100 companies and 80% of the 2019 Interbrand 100 Best Global Brands.

    What companies purchase this report?

    Many of the companies benchmarked within this report have purchased the report for multiple years. Purchasers include Cisco Systems, Deloitte, Panasonic, FedEx, Philips, and The World Bank. There are companies not included in this report that also use it regularly, such as global consulting and web development firms, as well as government agencies.

    What’s the value of comparing companies across different industries?

    Web globalization best practices may emerge in any industry. By keeping a broad focus on all major industries, we are able to point executives to those companies and industries that are doing the best job of presenting themselves to the world. Every company included does have peers by which it can be evaluated. In the end, our goal is to provide a truly global perspective on which companies and industries are the most active and successful in web globalization. Only through casting a wide net do we achieve this goal.

    Scoring Methodology

    The Report Card analyzes each website according to the following four criteria:

    • Global Reach (Languages): The website supports enough languages to reach a wide global audience.
    • Global Navigation: Web users can quickly and easily find their localized content, regardless of what language they speak.
    • Global/Mobile Architecture: The website leverages global templates to support global branding while still allowing room for local customization.
    • Localization & Social: The website is relevant to the user's locale and culture and provides functionality on par with the global website. Local-language social media are also supported and promoted on the local websites.


    Optional Conference Call

    A call to answer questions and provide custom website analysis

    Author John Yunker will share key findings from the report and, if your company is included in the report, will share in-depth recommendations. If your company is not included in the report, he will review your website during the call, pointing out best practices and room for improvement. Every phone call is customized to the client's needs and may cover topics such as:

    • Insights into web globalization workflow and content management best practices
    • Questions to ask before selecting a localization vendor, CMS platform, or design firm
    • Emerging globalization trends within specific industry sectors, including languages, commerce, and cultural customization.

    Onsite presentations available

    Some clients elect to combine the presentation with onsite training and cross-team meetings. Over the years, John Yunker has presented at dozens of companies across three continents. Please contact us for more information.

    About the Author

    John Yunker

    Since 2000, John Yunker has helped hundreds of companies improve their global content, websites and software. He authored the first book devoted to the emerging field of web globalization Beyond Borders, as well as the most recent: Think Outside the Country (also available in Japanese).

    John speaks at numerous industry events, including Localization World, Internet Retailer, and the Unicode Conference and has been quoted on global topics in publications including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He writes the popular web globalization blog Global by Design.

    The Web Globalization Report Card is a trademark of Byte Level Research LLC.


    A Web Globalization Pioneer

    Founded in 2000, Byte Level Research was the first agency devoted to website and content globalization best practices. Over the years we have helped hundreds of companies improve their global content, websites and software through our reports, consulting, speaking and training sessions.




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