5 Tips Worth Considering When Hiring A Translation Company

considerations hiring translation company

Looking to hire a translation business? Here are some great tips to do so. 

1. Small, Large, Or Medium Size Agency? 

You can find a translation agency that can offer services for one language to large ones that rake in millions by providing multilingual translation services. However, it is best to focus on this aspect while considering what suits your needs. 

Many agencies, such as Lionbridge and TransPerfect, which have massive resources, also boast a wealth of experience that makes them viable candidates for the job. But their service packages and prices might be less flexible; thus, they might not meet your needs. If you plan to spend significantly, like over a million dollars, they are your best bet because you want translation service providers with global coverage and experience. 

You also can find what you need in the smaller players. They are more likely to be flexible since your business is crucial to their growth and success in the industry. That is why they will create packages that you find favorable. However, the smaller agencies could lack in some areas, such as in-house tech expertise, thus falling short of your expectations. It is best to find out if they have the necessary systems and resources for the job. 

2. Invest In Tech 

We live in a world in which technology is central to everything. Expect the same to reign in the localization industry. However, it is not uncommon for people to dive into things without taking the time to understand and exploring the technology options. Customers start translating in a rush to find later their budgets can’t cut it therein, disrupting their multi-lingual workflow. 

Therefore, one of the best approaches to your translation needs is to think forward. Jump a few years ahead, trying to anticipate your future growth and the emerging/emerged markets to target. You then can pick a translation agency that’s invested in the tech that will help you get there. It should be a company that works with machine translation confidently and has robust CMS integration options, code repository, and massive cloud file storage, among other techy resources. 

3. Consider A Specialist Translation Agency 

While many translation companies can cover different linguistic areas, it is best to consider working with one specializing in a particular language if your content is geared towards a specific area. 

Most customers need a translation agency with a variety of specializations. For instance, working on your website will need translations for the content (marketing), product specifications (technical), employee welfare (HR), and T&C (legal). A generalist agency could fit the bill, especially if your content is not one type. They could handle all your requirements. 

If the work volume is significant, splitting the project between a few specialist translation agencies is best. That way, you can pass individual tasks to the appropriate agency, having an elaborate Translation Memory and Terminology Database to help you avoid duplications. Moreover, a Style Guide can help enhance the consistency in work flowing in from the different translation agencies working on your project. 

4: Transactional Websites Vs. Full-Service Translation Agencies 

Rosetta Translation is one of the translations websites to consider if your needs are more of a one-off. Such translators offer these services at an affordable cost but will take the job if you are unlikely to need significant tech support, and the project is not complicated. Therefore, go for an agency with a suitable service capacity if you have an ongoing multi-lingual translation requirement with different file formats. 

It brings about the need to ask yourself who flexible the agencies are and have experienced project managers. Also, consider if they can provide multi-lingual search engine optimization. Can they handle mixed media for your website, and will they charge extra for specific file formats? 

Overall, the objective is to gauge the quality to expect by assessing their performance. You can do this using the following strategies: 

• Request them to give you the contacts of existing and former clients to get an impartial view. 

• Ask them to do a trial translation to allow you to evaluate their turnaround time, how they tackle tricky terminologies, and how they might treat you as a client or customer. 

• Visit their customer portal, assess its ease of use, the features provided, and if some suit your needs, such as adding users, placing orders, retrieving invoices, and more. 

• Find out how they measure customer satisfaction and which metrics they use that are worth sharing with you for your project. 

5. Value Fast Turnaround 

At times, you might have a time-sensitive translation project that needs a fast turnaround. It is best to consider specialist translation services

However, that vital aspect of “speed” that you need comes at a cost. You are likely to dig deeper into your wallet. Moreover, the urgency could push you to hire different translators if the one you work with is unavailable, which should mean working with a translator who does not know your business. Check likes proofreading, and rechecks by a second translator might also not be possible given the time constraints. Similarly, handling essential queries from the translators might be challenging. 

The Take Home Message On Translation Companies 

It is best to plan in advance, leaving room for the translation to be done without haste. That is how you might bet better quality at low rates. Check out our blog post about how long a translation takes to learn more.

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