5 Important Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Translation Partner
As a side effect of globalization, every company out there, be it large or small, tends to increase its market reach by expanding into the international market. Another reason to expand is to overcome its competitors and benefit from a larger number of clients. But in order to achieve this goal, companies need to be able to communicate with their customers in their own language. Here an important factor is the need for a translation partner that will enable smooth communication with said customers.
The use of translation and localization is only the beginning to achieving this goals. But how can one company be sure they have chosen the right translation partner? Following are some questions which might get you on the right track.
How to choose a translation partner
Question 1: Who does your translations?
To ensure that you get a quality translation you need to have a professional translator on the job, specialized in the field. The translator also needs to be a native of your target language as only a native will provide you with a perfect translation. If your translation is not properly localized to your target country, it may sound confusing. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of choosing a translator whos native language is the same as your target language, who will be available whenever you have a new project.
Question 2: How is the translation process handled?
Your translation partner should have a precisely defined translation process. Your document should be first reviewed by the project manager, who will assign the best translator on the job. When the rough translation is done, another native translator should be assigned to proofread and edit the document, correcting errors. If DTP is involved, a desktop publishing specialist should add the translation in your original file, making sure the same formatting is being kept. Lastly, a QA team should check the document in order to make sure the translation is consistent. Only after that the file is ready to be delivered to you.
Question 3: Do you have any references?
Your translation partner should have great references. So look out for reviews on various sites on the internet which allow clients to review companies. Websites like Yelp, Manta, Google Local should be your first search. Have a look at the reviews related to the company, also look into their website and see what their clients have to say about them. How long has the business been online is another aspect, as years of experience and recommendations received for work done in the past will indicate the quality of the service you can get.
Question 4: What differentiates you?
It is essential that with each service provider you work in a specific way that will help you achieve your goals. It is sometimes necessary to do tests with different translation partners and see who can provide multilingual desktop publishing, if they are able to adapt the content using specific tools (like CAT tools), and check the formatting of the output. Another important thing is that the end product should look as close as possible with the original document. Furthermore, another important aspect is that your translation partner should use up-to-date technology tools that will speed up the translation process and reduce errors by using translation memory and glossaries. Also important is building a sense of trust. Only in this way can you think about a long and successful cooperation and you can be confident that you can rely on your translation partner.
Question 5: What are your values?
If you are aware of your values and what you aim to achieve, then you will have a better idea of the potential translation agency and how to build a strategy that will help your company to expand globally.
Each translation agency offers various services and therefore it is important to find the right translation partner for you. This way, regardless of the language you need to translate into or the localization of your product, you can always count on a long-term cooperation.
