What to look out for when hiring a Translation Service Provider

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 14:29:20 +0000

Did you know that the Language Services market in the UK is valued at a whopping £1.75billion and there are over 1600 translation companies in the UK alone to choose from? If this sector is new to you, navigating the maze of translation providers and service options can be challenging.

Here are Dialogue’s top 10 considerations to help you select the right company for your translation needs:

1. Starting your search

Google will provide a list of companies who have paid to be top of the search list. But is that really what you’re looking for? The Association of Translation Companies (ATC) and Slator are industry-recognised institutions which will show you which Translation Service Providers have attained and maintained a quality and successful business, and those which adhere to the Industry’s code of Professional Conduct. These sources will provide a much more reliable start to your search.

2. Quality Is King!

Being an accredited ATC member is only one aspect of quality management. Adherence to ISO standards 9001:2015 and ISO 17100:2015, ensures projects are completed to the highest standards. ISO certification confirms rigorous quality assurance, not just in project delivery but also in how translators are hired and managed. This will give you peace of mind that you’ll receive a top-quality service from all perspectives.

3. Happy Customers

Does the company have published customer references in the service areas you’re interested in? Named quotations, rather than just a list of company logos, indicate you’re on the right track with your search.

4. Digital Health Check

Is the company’s website and social media up-to-date? Your review of the company’s digital presence should reassure you that the company is on top of new trends in the translation industry, has happy clients, presents clear service options, and cares for its marketing – which is a good indicator that they’ll be on top of service delivery too.

5. Responsiveness

Can you easily book an intro meeting or call with their team, or are you only encouraged to upload documents to their website to determine a quote? This first touchpoint will tell you whether the company offers partner potential or whether they’re just interested in one-off transactions.

When you get in touch – by email or phone – how long does it take them to get back to you? Do they give you the feeling that they want your business? Again, this is a key aspect of quality customer support.

6. Want vs Need

The world of translation can be complex – and often, what you think you want, isn’t always what you really need. Are you looking for translation, localisation, or transcreation services to deliver the result you expect for your project?

This is where taking time to discuss your requirements – to get the right advice – can ensure that your translation is fit for purpose, delivered on time and within budget. Make sure your agency is giving you the time you need from the start to set out objectives and understand your challenges.

7. Always with a human touch

AI and machine translation play a part in every translation company’s business. They help reduce costs and build efficiency and speed of delivery (especially for last-minute requests). BUT AI and machine translation should never be a stand-alone service. Always check that even the cheapest service option you’re offered is a human-reviewed service, ensuring the highest quality.

8. Project Management

Reputable translation companies will use platforms like Phrase TMS to track and manage project milestones. They will also assign a Project Manager to your account, to keep you updated on progress, discuss any in-project issues with you, and ensure that your project is delivered on time and within budget. They should liaise with you from the start regarding any preferred style guides, glossaries, and workflow/communication preferences.

9. Afters...

So, your first project is finished and delivered. How would you rate the experience? Did your provider come back to you for feedback with a view to future improvements? How much post-project engagement did you experience? A positive experience will be one you’ll want to repeat to meet your business’ needs.

10. Commitment

Confirming an ongoing scope of works with your Project Manager can lead to improved delivery timescales, volume pricing negotiations and the possibility to secure continuity of support with named translators, who really come to understand your business in depth. A mutual commitment to build a strong, long-term partnership can build true success for your business.

We hope you’ve found this blog useful. What was the most important element for you when you chose your translation company?

And don’t forget: if you’d like to try Dialogue’s award winning translation services, email us at enquiries@dialogueuk.com or book a call with one of our team at a time to suit you so we can understand your needs.

The post What to look out for when hiring a Translation Service Provider appeared first on Dialogue.

The Language of Our Time

Robert Shimwell — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 15:33:17 +0000

There are over 7,000 languages spoken world-wide, at least half of the world’s population are bilingual and countless words are being added to dictionaries across the world every year. Language is alive! Here at Dialogue, we work with over 200 languages and our in-house team are proud to be able to speak an impressive 8 different languages from Italian to Polish, German to Russian!

Language is constantly evolving. Did you know that last year alone, over 3,000 words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary? Here are some of my favourites from 2022:

Fluffernutter

For all the people with a sweet tooth out there, this is a very American snack made by mixing peanut butter (of course) and marshmallow spread between two slices of white bread. Yum…

Dine-and-dasher

You can probably guess this one; a person who dines in a restaurant then dashes off without paying the bill. Anyone come to mind?

Birdo

Not a weirdo, a birdo. Aka, my mum – an avid birdwatcher. I was once woken up by my mum at 5am and dragged out of bed to go and see this rare bird she’d spotted in the garden. By the time I got downstairs, I could only see a couple of pigeons…

Doomscrolling

Something I think I have mastered over the last two years in particular. It’s the art of endlessly scrolling through depressing news stories online and constantly checking for updates, despite knowing that any new news isn’t going to be good news.

That last new entry is a real sign of the times we live in. Language is ever evolving and adapting to keep up with these changing times. So many words were added to the dictionary during the pandemic that just weren’t a thing before 2020: lateral flows, antivaxxer, super-spreader, coronacoaster. Likewise, other words resurfaced or grew in popularity: a staycation, self-isolation and hydroxychloroquine – the latter brought back into use thanks to a certain US ex-president.

At Dialogue, we are also committed to changing with the times. We are now working remotely, using the latest translation technology, launching our very-own online-learning platform (Kudos – check it out!) and branching out into transcreation. It’s safe to say that Dialogue has a growth mindset; we adapt the way we work to make our business more effective and our clients all the more satisfied. One of our company’s values is that learning is for life – if you don’t move forwards, you fall behind.

How we can help you at Dialogue

That’s why you can be sure to entrust us with your translation and training needs. In all of our work, we go the extra mile to make sure that our services meet your requirements, even if that means taking a brand-new approach to the task at hand. We are not a one-size-fits-all company, and we aim to establish a conversation – communication on a level playing field. Our excellent team of linguists will work with you to pick out just the right words for your translation and ensure that you reach the correct target audience, taking into account different language varieties.

Fun fact – Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese are more dissimilar than Spanish and Italian! So, if you want a consultation on how to tap into the current global market, you need help localising your translation or discerning whether to translate into German or Swiss German or one of 20 Arabic dialects, then give us a call – we’d be happy to help!

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