How to Choose the Best Translation Service for Your Company’s Needs
In today’s global market, communicating with clients and customers in their native language is crucial to the success of any business. If your company is expanding globally or targeting non-English speaking markets, investing in the right translation service is critical. There are several translation service providers out there, and choosing the best for your business can be overwhelming. In this post, we’ll highlight some essential features you should look for in order to select the best translation service for your company.
1. Language Expertise:
When choosing a translation service, ensure they have experienced linguists in the target language you need. You should verify the quality of their translation by requesting a sample and checking their resume, certification or industry accreditation. Experience and expertise are a fair predictor of what will they provide in terms of accuracy and cultural relevance of the services offered.
2. Certifications:
Language quality certifications are difficult to get and, although some companies strictly use them for marketing purposes, they show that there is a process in place to deliver a quality product that is not strictly a translation but a methodology geared to provide a high-quality product to the client. There are several certifications and you should decide which is the most appropriate for your industry and market to narrow down providers that have it or ask the potential vendors to provide a detailed quality process. The most popular certifications in the industry are ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 17100 for quality in translation services, ISO 27001 for content security and ATA certification.
3. Technology:
A technology savvy translation service provider should use Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools to ensure consistency, high-productivity and cost savings. Also, they should not have copyright of the translation memory (TM) created for you. Make sure you are able to receive the TM when you ask for it, as it will contain all the work performed during your contract. Also, they should use some type of QA tool such as XBench or Verifika to improve the deliverables’ quality. Finally, AI and Machine Translations are tools that can provide a fast and less expensive output but generally of lowquality. You should be wary of translation companies that include these processes without letting you know about it. Reputable translation companies offer solutions including AI and Machine Translation, but they let you know the benefits and risks involved in the use of these services.
4. Affordability and Quality:
Pricing can be an important factor in choosing a translation service. However, quality should be the primary factor when selecting a translation service, as inaccurate or inappropriate translations can lead to miscommunication and ultimately, financial loss. Therefore, you should choose a service provider that balances competitive pricing and high-quality translations.
5. Scalability and Flexibility:
Scalability should be a factor if your company generates a lot of content or expects to over time. You should choose a translation service provider that has the capacity to scale with your business to meet your translation needs. Additionally, they should be flexible with your project requirements, such as accommodating multiple file formats and customization.
Choosing the right translation service provider is an important and essential step for any global business. With these criteria, you can select the most suitable provider for your company. Remember to verify their qualifications, language expertise, technology, certifications and scalability before selecting a translation service. With the right translation service provider, you can communicate with your clients and customers in their native language, thus promoting engagement and building trust, giving your business a competitive advantage.