Selecting a reliable, professional translation service is crucial when you need documents localized for official or personal reasons. Whether these are business, legal or private papers, it is vital to choose translators who take responsibility for the quality of output. They should be able to understand your specific needs and realize the unique context of the documents.
The simple fact of the matter is that the choices your translator makes now will have long-lasting effects on your company, both positive and negative.
Let’s learn how to select the most suitable service provider.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Translation Service Provider
Businesses that want to succeed in the global market must work with a linguistically diverse team of employees to serve clients from their target markets. But it isn’t always possible to hire local teams, especially in countries that are only being explored.
This makes translation services crucial not only for localization but also for enhancing customer support across all channels and markets. This simplifies things for your customers and helps them get to know your business holistically. Here are five things to consider when choosing a translation service provider.
1. Your Language Requirements
When choosing a language service provider (LSP), the first thing is to determine how many and what kinds of languages you need.
You may choose a freelancer or a modest translation agency for that personal touch if you only need your content translated into one or two languages. A smaller translation agency may not be able to handle your workload effectively if you have a lot of content to translate.
A multilingual LSP is the best option if you need to translate between more than two languages. Having a single MLV (multi-language vendor) handle translations between multiple language pairs is preferable to hiring multiple translators for the same project, especially if you care about maintaining brand consistency. The quality of localized goods and materials relies heavily on maintaining a consistent tone and style, which will make it simple to expand into new markets as you translate your content into different tongues.
Finding an LSP that understands the norms of your specific field is also crucial. A generic translation service may suffice if your company, like an online retailer, rarely uses specialized terminology. However, a translator specializing in the medical field will not meet your needs if you require legal translation.
2. What Kinds Of Services They Provide
While some translators specialize only in written translations, others offer a full range of services, including interpreting, localizing, proofreading, and editing. Finding a service that does more than just translations is best to get everything done.
If they also offer editing services, you should inquire about their methods. Is it a matter of just checking for errors in grammar and spelling, or does it also involve revising the content? Does this come at an extra cost, or is it included?
You should also check that the translation service you hire has solid quality assurance measures. Negligible mistakes can have severe financial and public relations repercussions.
3. Accreditations And Certifications
Find a firm with a solid workflow management system if you care about consistency and quality. When looking for a translation service, only go with one that has the ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certifications.
Be wary of businesses that make claims of certification compliance but haven’t undergone official accreditation and auditing before making those claims. Most reputable organizations will post downloadable documents detailing their certification and the auditors who vetted them.
4. Cultural Knowledge
Many people today receive formal training in translation, but this does not guarantee they will have the same fluency or cultural understanding as a native speaker. For instance, you can locate a Hindi translation service provider anywhere in the world, but it is beneficial to employ a native Hindi speaker for the position. Cultural knowledge is something that native speakers of a language possess.
As their mother tongue, they naturally gravitate towards and express themselves in their area of expertise’s language. They have developed a deeper appreciation for and understanding of their heritage. As a result, they have an innate and perfect grasp of the language.
5. Turnaround Time
In the business world, time is money. If you’re skilled at managing your time well, you can turn a mediocre performance into a triumph. Therefore, before hiring a translation service, ask about the turnaround time. Time is money, so working with a company that respects deadlines and charges extra for late deliveries is essential. Finding out if the agency can handle the project in your time frame is crucial.
Conclusion
Choosing a reliable language service provider is crucial to the success of your language translation effort. A dedicated LSP can help you tackle problems as they arise. So, take your time and carefully consider your options when choosing a language & translation partner.
Don’t just go with the cheapest option; make sure they meet all your other criteria and have a history of satisfying customers with their work. Check out their reviews and feedback from previous customers, or inquire about their portfolios. A sample translation from them can help you evaluate their level of skill.
Count On Us To Handle All Of Your Translation Needs
If you’re searching for a language services company that can handle all of your content needs, we at Translation Source would be delighted to discuss your projects with you. If you want to learn more about the languages we support or would like to speak with a specialist, please visit our Languages page or contact us at (800) 413-7838.
