When the time comes for you to partner with a Language Service Provider (LSP), where do you start? You might think they’re pretty much all the same. They provide you with translation and interpretation services which is a straight forward request. So, how much difference can there be from one LSP to another?

Well, we can tell you that the depth of services, the way those services are rendered, the strength behind the proof of quality and just the general help you’ll get to enter a new market can vary widely across the language services industry.

So, let’s spend five minutes taking a look at the mistakes we’ve seen companies make on their journey to find a partner who’ll help their business grow into new territories that require new languages.

1. Just Looking at the Price

Many businesses go for the cheapest LSP without considering quality.

Of course, cost is an important factor, but low-cost providers often cut corners by using unqualified translators, relying too much on machine translation, or reducing crucial quality checks.

We suggest focusing on value over price. Find yourself a good LSP that balances affordability with high-quality service.

2. Not Checking Industry Expertise

We always suggest linguists with experience in our client’s industry. It’s not good enough to just translate a document word for word without considering the industry.

This is especially important in fields like the legal, medical, technical, and marketing sectors that require specialized knowledge that your LSP needs to consider.

Hiring a provider without subject-matter expertise can lead to inaccurate translations that confuse or mislead your audience.

Make sure your LSP is going to bring a team that has experience in your industry before engaging with them.

3. Ignoring Quality Assurance (QA) Processes

Your LSP should have a multi-step quality control process, including translation, editing, proofreading, and final review. Some businesses fail to ask about QA, resulting in errors that could have been prevented.

Make sure your LSP follows strict quality control measures and they have proof that they follow these. Ask to see work for their other clients, and not just the finished article, but how it was worked through, if necessary.

4. Not Asking About Quality Certifications

One way to make sure your LSP follows the procedures they’ve laid out is to make sure they’re properly certified, in particular with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Many businesses fail to verify their LSP’s certifications, qualifications, and track record.

Make sure they have ISO 17100 (the standard for translation services) and ISO 9001 (for quality management), which prove they adhere to international standards and regular, scheduled external auditing.

5. Just Using Machine Translation (MT)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is improving MT all the time. Still, only a small portion of translations don’t need any human touch in the form of post-editing.

MT alone almost always lacks cultural and contextual understanding.

And while it may look like a cost-effective alternative to human translators, it can lead to poorly localized content that your new audience will see hasn’t really been created for them.

The result of this is less engagement, and your brand will have an uphill battle to get its reputation back on solid ground.

6. Not Considering Cultural Nuances

Language isn’t just about words—it’s about culture, tone, and regional variations. If you don’t account for cultural differences, you risk alienating your audience with inappropriate or confusing translations.

You have to localize your content, not just translate it. Work with a LSP that provides localization services, ensuring that your message resonates with your target audience.

7. Not Tightly Defining Project Requirements

This one might sound like it’s your fault. You haven’t given a tight enough brief. However, a good LSP will demand all the information they need and put a framework in place to provide clear instructions regarding terminology, tone, formatting, deadlines, and anything else your project requires.

Vague briefs can lead to translations that don’t meet your expectations. Your LSP should ensure that the project scope, deadlines, and brand-specific terminology are all clearly defined. It’s their job to get a good brief, not yours.

8. Looking Short Term

Some businesses hire an LSP for a single project without considering future needs. If your company plans to expand, you need a partner who can scale with your growth.

Partnering with an LSP that offers multiple languages, localization services, and long-term collaboration options will save time and effort down the road.

After all, this should be a strategic partnership, not just a vendor/supplier relationship.

9. Not Realizing the Importance of Project Communication

This may sound obvious, but we see businesses assume good communication without their LSP putting a proper framework in place to ensure this happens.

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful partnership with your LSP. Some businesses hire LSPs who fail to respond promptly or lack transparency about project timelines.

A good LSP should have clear communication channels, dedicated project managers, and timely updates throughout the translation process.

10. Failing to Consider Data Security and Confidentiality

When translating sensitive documents, businesses often overlook data security measures. If your LSP doesn’t have proper confidentiality policies and secure file-sharing protocols, your information could be at risk.

This could lead you into legal trouble that can jeopardize your whole business. Always verify that your LSP follows strict data protection measures and signs non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) if necessary.

Getting it Right

Now you know a lot of the common pitfalls when hiring an LSP, getting it right doesn’t have to be difficult.

If your LSP offers good value for money, they have strong QA, project management, and data protection processes backed up by the right certifications; they’re transparent in how you’ll work with them, and their team understands your industry and marketplace, then you’re in the right place.

Sound like a lot to cover? For a good LSP, this is all second nature, and they should give you confidence in all these areas.

If you’re looking for a LSP to help you move your business forward we’d love to talk to you.

Consultations are free and there’s no obligation. You’re in safe hands with us as we’re ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 compliant, have over twenty years of professional translation experience, and have earned the trust of organizations around the world.