The ongoing global supply chain issues have caused many manufacturers to look for alternative supply sources to mitigate risk. According to a recent DNV survey of 1,142 companies, “56% of the respondents have experienced supply chain disruption due to the pandemic” resulting in “57% planning to strengthen and diversify their supply chain by working with new suppliers.”

Do these statistics hit home? Manufacturers everywhere have had to respond to the shortages of raw materials resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world begins to open back up, the disruption to the global supply chain still persists.

Although it’s unclear when things will get “back to normal”, experts predict that these disruptions could last well into 2022 or longer. 

In this post, we’ll discuss diversifying your supply base and how a language service provider can help make the transition smoother.

Diversify Your Supply Base

The U.S. - China trade war has caused some manufacturers to adopt a “China plus one” approach to diversify their supply base. Your industry will dictate which regions to evaluate as alternative sources of supply. 

Those in the textile industry have several options. For example, clothing manufacturers may look to South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh or South American countries like Brazil or Peru. With the electronic industry being much more specialized, there are fewer available options and are mainly limited to South and Southeast Asia. 

Japan is even offering subsidies to manufacturers within the country to move production out of China. Manufacturers are incentivized to move production back home or even to other countries. The overreliance on China is indeed an issue that affects many countries that are attracted to its large market, inexpensive labor, and sophisticated infrastructure. 

Willy C. Shih provides this advice to managers considering their diversification options, “Managers should consider a regional strategy of producing a substantial proportion of key goods within the region where they are consumed. North America might be served by shifting labor-intensive work from China to Mexico and Central America.”

At a time where nothing seems certain regarding the global supply chain, it’s wise to consider expanding your supplier base. Do not let communication concerns be a barrier to securing an alternative supply source. A Language Service Provider can help you navigate relationships with new suppliers in other countries through translation and interpretation services.

Language Service Providers Help Streamline Communications in New Markets

You’ve decided you need to secure an alternative supply source. If you’re entering a new market where the language spoken is different than yours, this may seem like an intimidating prospect. 

A Language Service Provider (LSP) will be your new best friend. An LSP can help streamline all of your communications back and forth between your points of contact within the supplier relationship. 

Translation Services

When you enter into a new supplier partnership, you will undoubtedly have contracts and other legal documents that need to be reviewed and signed. There will be agreements and orders to review and approve. 

While the convenience and lower cost of machine translation may be appealing, there is no substitute for human translation. Human Translation ensures translation consistency and quality. All LinguaLinx translations undergo the TEP process: Translation, Editing, and Proofreading. It’s important to know that if a project does not go through the editing process, it is not certified.

Quality communication with your suppliers is vital to relationship building and ensuring long-term partnerships. Providing regular communication and deliverables in your supplier’s first language will ensure they always understand the status of projects and your expectations.

When you work with an LSP, you can be confident that your document translations are accurate. Certified translation offers other important benefits, including fair pricing. Working with industry-standard rates, ISO-certified LSPs like LinguaLinx provide efficient work that is on time and on budget.

Human linguists can also localize translations to account for cultural nuances in the target language. 

Cultural Consulting

Localization goes a step further than regular translation. Localization takes into consideration language subtleties, cultural expectations, and target-market distinctions to convey the meaning of the source communication in a more culturally cogent manner. More simply put, communication that is localized will feel like it was originally written in the target language, not just a word-for-word translation. 

Making an intentional effort to communicate accurately, clearly, and in a culturally sensitive manner will go a long way as you establish new business relationships.

Interpretation Services

What about meetings with your new team or phone calls with a manufacturer overseas? Many Language Service Providers also offer interpretation services. The job of an interpreter is to be a real-time mediator for people who communicate in different languages. Since you’re not likely to meet with your suppliers in person, you have two options. 

At LinguaLinx, we offer both Over-the-Phone Interpretation (OPI) and Video Remote Interpretation (VRI) services. We offer OPI services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 100 languages. We also offer on-demand VRI services in the most-requested languages.

You may need an interpreter on short notice, for a phone call, making OPI services very convenient. The LinguaLinx telephone interpreting service instantly connects you to phone interpreters and unlike other options, does not require equipment to lease, set-up fees, or monthly minimums—perfect for that one-off phone call where it’s critical you understand a shipment is running late or new material is not running properly.

Video Remote Interpretation (VRI) services are another great way to connect with your contacts. LinguaLinx VRI connects users with professional interpreters via our online platform or mobile app. Its built-in high-speed and high-def technology ensures seamless and clear communication (an assurance everyone will appreciate on another Zoom meeting.)

As you consider your options for alternative suppliers and manufacturing partners, remember that LinguaLinx is here to help. We’ll be an extension of your team as you navigate entering new markets and communicating with associates in a different language. 

Our experienced linguists span all industries and cover over 200 languages. We provide certified document translation and have experienced interpreters to suit any occasion whether you have a large team meeting or need an interpreter on a call with you on short notice.

LinguaLinx Can Help Translate Your Documents

If you need documents translated into nearly any language, LinguaLinx can help. 

With Lingualinx, you won't ever have to worry about your message getting across. You know you're in good hands with our ISO 17100 compliance, twenty years of professional translation experience, and the organizations whose trust we've earned.

To chat with us about your English-to-Spanish translation needs, click on the link below.

Continue Learning with these helpful articles:

• How to identify the right translator for your organization
• What is the role of a language translator?
• 7 pricing factors of language translation services