In today’s globalized market, it is essential to employ a high-quality translation services provider for effective business communications and promotions.
When choosing a translation services provider (also known as a “language services provider”), look for these five qualities: translation qualifications and skills, a quality control system, references, availability, and reliability. Focusing on these five factors will help you choose the translation company that is right for you.
QUALITY #1: QUALIFICATIONS
If you are looking for translation services in the USA, you need a company that offers translators who are more than bilingual; you want someone who is a native speaker. You need a linguist who is not only fluent in English, but who also understands the complex lingusitic and cultural disapriesi between English and the translated language(s). A less qualified translator may get the words right, but if they don’t understand the context, then the translation may convey the wrong meaning.
The most important qualification to seek is a translator who is certified. At present, the American Translators Association (ATA) is the only organization in the United States or abroad that offers certification to translation professionals.
QUALITY #2: HIGHLY SKILLED
Look for a company whose linguists possess years of experience translating in your industry. Each industry, be it manufacturing, legal, financial, medical, or technology, has its own set of terminology and jargon.
For example, if it is a medical document that needs to be translated, you’re more likely to get the results you want when you hire a translator who has graduated from medical or nursing school and who has been translating medical materials for five or more years. A pre-med student who is trying to make some extra money to pay for school might get the job done, but will they have the same level of skill and professionalism as an experienced pro?
QUALITY #3: QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEMS IN PLACE
A professional translation company should have a quality assurance (QA) process with multiple stages in order to catch errors. A pool of linguists should be at the ready to translate, edit (revise/review) and proofread your project.
Experienced companies utilize special resources, such as translation memory (TM) software, which enables translators to translate a repetitive sentence or phrase only once. Although TM software is intended to reduce the workload of the translator and the time needed to complete the project, it also reduces the number of errors.
Many translation projects (i.e. legal contracts and technical manuals) contain repetitive language, which involves less work for the translator. This is particularly easy if you're working with a translation company because some software programs have an analysis function that calculates the precise percentage of matches.
QUALITY #4: GREAT REFERENCES
A great translation company will have great references. Check out the references or testimonials available on their website. Are they from reputable individuals or companies? Contact a few of these companies and ask questions. If they were not completely satisfied, in what area was the service lacking?
Find out if the company has been around for a while. If so, this indicates customer satisfaction. In order for a company to achieve longevity, it must provide high-quality service.
Visit LingualLinx’s case studies to see our many successful projects.
QUALITY #5: READILY AVAILABLE AND RELIABLE
Before you hire a translation service, check their hours of availability and ask what kind of turnaround time you can expect. If you are ever pressed for time and need your documents translated on short notice, you need a company you can count on to return your translations quickly. In order to ensure this, look for a translation company that operates 24/7 and can process new requests at any time of the day and any day of the week.
A translation company that has many translators and high availability is the best choice to ensure your translation needs will be met.
From delayed marketing campaign launches to delayed production runs, delays cost money. You need to be able to trust that your project will be delivered on time.
