The translation industry is booming. In the U.S. alone, industry experts expect it to grow to $39 billion by 2018.
The driving factor behind this trend is consumers want everything on their terms and in their language. This is also, why localization is becoming more and more important for global companies. A company can be effective in their home market, but nonexistent in other parts of the world. Companies turning to translation agencies are doing so because an effective localization strategy can make or break an international business venture. For a complete discussion on localization, jump over to our earlier blog on the topic.
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There are many translation agencies to choose from, and it is important for companies to know what to look for when selecting their provider. The purpose of this blog series has been to help businesses find the best translation company for their projects. This blog will serve as a summary of the first nine posts in this series.
Why Companies Use Translation Agencies
Lowering costs is the main reason companies choose to outsource. Perhaps, in-house translators will cost a company more than just handing the work off to an agency. In addition, firms can take advantage of translation agencies overseas. Things such as exchange rates, time zones, and native speakers can be used as benefits to shopping around.
Also, there are many other reasons why companies elect to outsource.
• Not enough internal resources
• Lack of in-house personnel
• Lack of needed translation software
• No project managers available
• Difficult to find multiple qualified translators
• Localization is time-consuming
• Do not have localization specialists for target area
• Unfamiliar with new market
• Project is on a tight deadline
• Bottleneck in internal translators work
Some companies elect to outsource when they see the in-house demands to produce high-quality translations adding up. Another reason companies might decide to outsource is when their bilingual employees need additional support.
More and more companies are using translation service providers because they are seeing the benefits of doing so. There is more to producing quality translations than simply being bilingual. For more on this topic visit our blog on the topic here.
One of the first places companies choose to add languages to is their website. Your company website is your communication headquarters with the world. A website is a great place to bring in customers, but it can also be the last interaction you have with customers if they are not attracted to your product or service. If your website is not available in their language, it is possible that the customer will go somewhere else. For more information on the importance of a multilingual website, visit this blog.
Questions You Must Ask Your Language Service Provider
When the languages you need vary according to project, it is important that you choose a translation service that can cater to your needs. An LSP with an extensive directory of translators, both in-house and freelance, can handle translations in multiple languages, with individuals who specialize in a variety of industries. Therefore, flexibility in the translation industry is something that involves a well-managed translation service that can adapt to any project.
Here are some questions that you need to ask your translation provider:
• Can they deliver no matter the translation memory program your company uses?
• Can they format your documents once they are translated?
• Can they handle tight deadlines?
• Can they handle all the languages you need?
• Do they have translators that specialize in your industry?
• Do they meet the quality standards your industry demands? For more information on quality standards, visit our website.
Your Translation Service Checklist
In addition, to asking the above questions, you also need to be aware of the available services most translation companies offer. Here is a list of ten services most quality LSPs offer.
1. Editorial and Proofreading services
2. Search Engine Optimized translations
3. Document reformatting
4. Express delivery of translations
5. Rare languages
6. Language combination costs
7. Chance to choose your translation style
8. CAT tools
9. Project managers
10. Specialized content
For an in-depth discussion on the topic, visit our blog.
This concludes our blog series on tips for choosing a translation service. We hope it was beneficial for companies considering the benefits of speaking to customers across the globe.
