Bitrix24 Interface Localization Setup for Global Teams
Imagine your company has switched the portal to English, but half of the CRM stages still display in Russian. Date formats remain Russian, thousands separators are spaces instead of commas, and automated emails to clients arrive with garbled encoding. The standard language switch only changes the system interface. Everything else — stages, fields, notifications, formats — needs manual localization. Order a turnkey localization setup — we’ll evaluate your project and propose the optimal solution.
Why Standard Language Switch Is Not Enough — Interface Localization
Bitrix24 system language packs cover only the general interface: buttons, menus, system messages. Data you enter into CRM — stage names, contact types, custom fields — stay in the language they were created. Full localization requires working with each directory and setting individually.
How to Set Up Localization for an International Team
System Language Settings
Bitrix24 Cloud uses language packs that switch at the user level. The administrator manages the default portal language, available languages, and notification language. For Bitrix24 On-Premise, you can edit language files — full customization of translations at the source code level. On-Premise offers flexibility that is 10 times more convenient for deep customization compared to the cloud version.
Localizing Directories and Custom Fields
System directories — lead stages, deal stages, contact types, sources — are created in one language. They do not translate when the interface language is changed. Localization:
| Element | Localization Method |
|---|---|
| Deal funnel stages | Manual renaming via REST API crm.status.update or UI. For multilingualism — a middleware wrapper with substitution |
| Contact types | Same as stages |
| Lead sources | Directory crm.lead.source.list |
| Custom fields | Bitrix24 supports multilingual names for custom fields: EDIT_FORM_LABEL, LIST_COLUMN_LABEL with language suffix |
For custom fields, when creating via API you can specify names in multiple languages:
EDIT_FORM_LABEL[ru] = "Region" EDIT_FORM_LABEL[en] = "Region" EDIT_FORM_LABEL[de] = "Region" LIST_COLUMN_LABEL[ru] = "Region" LIST_COLUMN_LABEL[en] = "Region" The user sees the field name in their interface language. More details on REST API methods can be found in the official documentation.
Date, Number and Currency Formats
Bitrix24 pulls formats from user language settings, but not always correctly — especially for custom fields and generated documents. We configure:
| Parameter | RU Format | EN Format | DE Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | DD.MM.YYYY | MM/DD/YYYY | DD.MM.YYYY |
| Time | 24-hour | 12-hour (AM/PM) | 24-hour |
| Number | 1 000 000,50 | 1,000,000.50 | 1.000.000,50 |
| Currency | 100 000 ₽ | $100,000 | 100.000 € |
For the document generator — format is set in the template. Middleware or business process substitutes values in the correct format based on client language (field UF_LANGUAGE).
Custom Translations for On-Premise
On the On-Premise version, language files are located in /bitrix/modules/*/lang/. Structure:
/bitrix/modules/crm/lang/ru/ /bitrix/modules/crm/lang/en/ /bitrix/modules/crm/lang/de/ Each file contains an array $MESS with keys and translations. For customization:
- Find the key of the desired phrase via developer tools (displayed in HTML as
data-bx-msgor in JS variables). - Create an override file in
/bitrix/php_interface/user_lang/or via module customization mechanism. - Specify your own translation for the required key.
This approach allows renaming any interface element: buttons, headers, hints, error messages.
How to Set Up Multilingual Business Processes?
Names of stages, buttons, and notifications in business processes are set during creation. For a multilingual portal, use neutral labels or duplicate in two languages: «Approval / Согласование». Send notification texts in the recipient’s language by checking a language field condition. Customize universal business process forms via form parameters.
Time Zones
Related setting: in an international team employees work in different time zones. Bitrix24 supports portal time zone, user time zone, displaying time in tasks, calendars, and CRM in the viewer's time zone. Administrator sets portal time zone, each user sets their own. Task deadlines are automatically converted.
What’s Included in the Work
- Audit of current language settings and translations.
- Configuration of interface languages and default formats.
- Localization of CRM stages, directories, and custom fields.
- Correct date, number, and currency formats for each locale.
- Custom interface translations (for On-Premise).
- Multilingual business process logic and notifications.
- Time zone setup for international teams.
- Documentation of settings and team training.
- Warranty on completed work and post-delivery support.
We have over 10 years of experience with Bitrix24 and have implemented localization for 30+ projects. Entrust the setup to professionals — get a consultation on your Bitrix24 localization.