What to look for in a translation company
In the early days of translation, individuals performed foreign-language services for other individuals. In today’s global economy, international business dealings represent a steadily growing demand for more robust translation, interpretation, and localization services. In other words, larger Language Service Provider (LSP) entities are sharing this now immense market with hundreds of thousands of individual freelancers. The importance of accurate, speedy, and cost-effective translation has never been higher. The fact that providers often take out professional indemnity insurance highlights the financial risk involved in the challenging nature of translation. In the current economic downturn, a financial loss of any kind can be the final nail in a business’s coffin. Poorly translated business documents, legal contracts, or medical texts can have devastating consequences. That is why choosing a top-notch LSP is crucial to modern businesses looking to survive in a tumultuous global economy.
One of the most important elements to look for in a reputable translation company is the presence of various certified linguistic specialists. Companies like Translators, Inc. (www.translators.com) house many certified translators that specialize in over 130 languages. The more translators that are available in a company, the more likely it will be that they’ll have the perfect resource for a particular foreign language need. A wide variety of native speakers tends to offer greater understanding of the nuances of a language. A company that has gone through the act of consolidating and grouping together the best translators they can find is a much more attractive option than just one freelancer who may or may not be limited to just one specialized area of expertise.
As a rule, it is wise for businesses seeking important foreign language services to stay away from translation freelancers. Unfortunately, with an estimated 200,000 individual translators worldwide, the fact is most translation work is outsourced to freelancers. In some cases, freelancers even outsource work to other freelancers. The overall effect of such fragmentation is a lack of consistency among service providers, and a degradation of translation quality. With an absence of industry-wide standards for controlling quality and price competition, it is up to translation companies to set their own standards.
An LSP with high standards has an established protocol for checks and balances. In other words, any worthy translation organization will have a system in which a colleague other than the original translator reviews a translation for accuracy and overall quality. Freelancers often can’t or don’t do this as they are only one person. When seeking foreign language services, businesses or individuals should make sure they find a company that has made their translation process clear. Part of this process should include redundant checks to make sure the translation is true to the source language as well as accurate in the target language.
Another thing to consider when looking into an LSP is pricing. A high-quality translation company will make free quotes easily available. And, while it’s obviously in the best interest for a company to remain true to their budget, they shouldn’t necessarily base the final decision strictly on price. It is more important to find a quality provider who will get the translation done right the first time. Settling for the cheapest translator one can find often invites poor quality, leading to eventual re-writes and “change orders.” This will cost your business more money in the long run, and even endanger your reputation. In the business world, documents, contracts, manuals, and other such texts are critical elements. A bad translation could result in any number of dire consequences, including business/client misunderstandings, legal issues, and a negative company image. Paying extra for an excellent translation is a smart investment, not an expense.
Final elements of a high-quality LSP can be lumped into the overreaching category of good customer service. Any good business will rely on their skills in dealing with clients and customers for consistent growth and success. For a translation company, close communication with customers is key. The translation process is such that a customer will need to be kept in the loop. Questions pertaining to source and target languages often arise and project management becomes a crucial part of providing an excellent translation. From the initial quote to the final delivery of services, a customer should be confident that they are respected and valued. Other than close client contact, various other customer service offerings are important, including multiple format options, Internet accessibility, and speed and efficiency of final deliverables.
Businesses that have done their research and considered these important elements of what makes an excellent foreign language service provider will be able to make a wise choice when seeking such services. In today’s widening global economy, the quality of a single translation may make the difference between boom or bust for a business.
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