> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://knowledgebase.fabricdata.com/fabric-knowledge-base/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://knowledgebase.fabricdata.com/fabric-knowledge-base/resources/case-studies/warner-bros.-discovery.md). # Warner Bros. Discovery Localization Transformation. Joint Development of cloud-based Localization Ordering and Management Process between Fabric and WarnerMedia. ## Context In most international media organizations, the process of preparing content for global audiences involves dozens of teams across multiple departments communicating with a vast network of localization studios. Hundreds of people, scattered across multiple time zones, speaking numerous different languages - this is the kind of business ecosystem that is a breeding ground for miscommunication, task duplication and cost inefficiency - and a scenario ripe for an automated cloud-based solution. Previously, WarnerMedia’s programming and operations teams would call or email the technical delivery teams to prepare assets for content localization. The technical delivery team would then prepare the content in line with technical and editorial requirements specific to the region and deliver it to one of over two hundred localization studios to prepare subtitles, dubs, translations, graphics and artwork. Communication between internal teams and the studios was happening via emails, calls and spreadsheets and localized assets were not always returned on time, correctly labelled, or delivered to the right place within the Asset Management System (MAM). The challenge for Fabric, along with Crossland and his teams at WM, was to design & engineer a platform that would streamline & consolidate the core localization pro cesses, enable increased productivity, reduce the margin for human error, and all the while keeping a clear audit trail of orders and assets through the international supply chain ## Challenge In 2018 Time Warner and AT\&T merged to become the new entertainment giant: WarnerMedia. This merger was the catalyst for significant technological transformation within the newly consolidated group, and the announcement of the HBO Max streaming platform further signalled the intent to position the business as a leader in direct-to-consumer streaming entertainment. SVP of International Operations for WarnerMedia, James Crossland, recognized an opportunity to replace legacy technology and help maximize the value of Warner Media's immense catalog. A complete overhaul of the International Supply Chain was begun, with best-in class vendors meticulously reviewed & selected to support the newly defined business and its objectives. WarnerMedia tasked Fabric with housing their title catalog in 2018, and shortly after, Fabric went live with their content metadata platform, which was very well received by internal teams and users for its intuitiveness and ease of use. The management of content localization had historically been handled through multiple custom-built internal software solutions, spread across the organization, so the decision was quickly made to start afresh. With Fabric already housing the international title catalog, the company became the natural candidate to handle the new localization ordering & management processes. ## Solution The collaboration between WarnerMedia and Fabric to find a solution to these problems was comprehensive. The Fabric team were embedded into the offices of WarnerMedia to allow the hour-by-hour, day-to-day, face-to-face interactions required to build relationships based on trust and deep understanding. The Fabric team asked each key stakeholder in the localization value chain three questions; How do you do things today? What are your key challenges? How would you design the perfect solution from scratch? These answers continue to guide Fabric’s priorities today. Fabric also undertook extensive consultations directly with the localization studios. The questions asked were: How do you receive orders from WarnerMedia today? How could this be improved? What are the bottlenecks? How would you redesign this process from scratch? These consultations yielded more valuable insights that further informed the technical solution. As the MAM holds both the source for, and the output from the localization process, Fabric spent a substantial amount of design and development effort on this integration & User Interface. Whilst the technical complexity of data patterns in and out of these systems is substantial, it needed to be presented to users in a clear and understandable way. The Fabric Localization Manager leverages Fabric’s cloud architecture, advanced React design components and API gateway to connect orders from programming and operations, through to over 200 external localization studios. The platform further keeps a clear audit trail of all localizations, minimizing the risk of asset duplication and reducing the margin for human error. The improvements in efficiency are manifold. The process begins with the creation of a simple collection of titles from the master WarnerMedia catalog that are intended for localization. With the title selection complete, the user chooses the languages that need to be covered under the order - adding the relevant internal stakeholders that provide sign-off for each given language - and the type of localization required – e.g. dubs, subs, translations, etc. With the key attributes defined, users can then drill down into incredible detail to configure each language: which studio to use, desired turnaround time, graphics, dubbing, accessibility requirements and much more. At each stage the order is validated, checking the right source assets for each title exist already in the right place in the MAM. All master and compliance edits, alternate audio tracks and subtitles are clearly presented within an easy to access UI - so users can quickly see what components are available for a given title and therefore what new localizations need to be ordered. It’s now also clear to users exactly what has been ordered and when, giving a clear indication of what dubs and subs in what language can be expected against a title. On approval, Fabric first packages up all the Metadata required for translations and sends this directly to the studio - once the translations are completed and returned they appear in the Fabric platform automatically - in a “Proposed” state, awaiting approval and internal sign-off. Fabric then creates new placeholders in the MAM for the newly ordered subs & dubs, and then triggers the relevant export and delivery processes that are pre-defined for each studio. Fabric then notifies the technical delivery team of what has been ordered and where to store the new assets when they are returned to the MAM. Fabric enables a clear audit trail of communication between Warner’s internal teams and their external partners, eliminates the possibility of task duplication and keeps a centralized record of all global assets. ## Benefits The Fabric Localization Manager centralizes subtitling, dubbing, translation, graphics and artwork localization requirements for WarnerMedia International’s catalog of 250,000+ titles and also plays a key role in the technical and editorial compliance processes. The programming operations team now simply log into the beautifully intuitive Fabric user interface and create highly specialized orders detailing all the technical and regional requirements for any collections of content. The clear and intuitive design principles of the Fabric UI also reduce the amount of training required for WarnerMedia’s programming and operations staff. Instead of a new recruit having to be personally introduced to the technical delivery team and the vast network of localization studios, a run through guide of how to make an order via Fabric is all they require. Furthermore, the avoidance of duplication of work, and the clear visibility of existing subs and dubs, via Fabric’s content metadata platform, delivers improved efficiency at lower costs. > #### *“At WarnerMedia, we were excited to engage early on with Fabric and bring our own expertise, experience and ambitions to bear in a mutual investment of ideas and knowledge sharing. We believe rich metadata communicated efficiently throughout our supply chain is key to how we connect our content to our audiences. We’re always looking for ways to use new technologies to improve our business processes.”* **James Crossland**, SVP of International Operations. ***
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