Your company might have a couple of projects lined up and you can’t do without a translation provider. Getting the right translation company can be a daunting endeavor. There are just so many companies out there and making the decision can be overwhelming. You will obviously start a search on the internet as that is where you get all the information that you need.
Doing your due diligence is crucial as you don’t want to end up working with an unqualified company. The nature of translation services doesn’t encourage refunds. Here are some important questions you should be asking before you choose a translation company.
What Is Your Expertise and Specialization?
Every industry will have its own language. That is why you’ll find that there are some translation companies that focus on a particular industry. There are those that focus on medical translation while others only do patent work.
A translation company can’t be good at everything. That is why it is important that you’re looking for a company that specializes in your industry as they will be in a better position to understand your needs and requirements.
What are Your Linguistic Credentials?
There is a big difference when you’re looking at a bilingual and a professional translator. Someone could be bilingual but might not be that fluent when it comes to translation. There is also a big difference with the process of how companies screen and hire the translators. The objective will be to ensure that you’re looking for a company like Ethno Link translation services which only hires experienced and seasonal translators. This gives you peace of mind that you can expect quality translation services for your specific field. It should be noted that the majority of the companies work with freelance translators as opposed to in-house staff. Make sure you’re asking how they screen their linguists before making the decision to work with them.
What is The Project Process?
You will want to know what happens the moment the task is assigned to the translation company. There should be open and transparent communication throughout the whole process. Large scale projects can be a little bit challenging to handle and that is why there should be clear communication between you and the translation company. In order to stay informed with what is happening, there should be some sort of schedule. It could weekly or after every two days so that you’re aware of what is happening.
Meet People Handling the Project
If it is a big project you’re outsourcing, you should ask for a project manager. You need someone to be accountable at every step of the process. You will rest easy knowing that there is someone who you can call if you’d like something to be clarified or when you’re having concerns about the project. Having an account manager will make things a lot easier. The process is smooth right from onboarding up until when it is completed. Ask if you’ll be assigned a dedicated manager for the project, especially if it is sensitive in nature.
Which Technology Do You Use?
Your project could be technical in nature and you might need serious infrastructure for it to be executed. A good translation company should have both the necessary hardware and software needed to handle your project. You could be working with large audio and video files. This means that the company needs to be adequately prepared as huge video files could take days to upload and download. This could potentially delay your project and you might have time if you’re working on a tight deadline. Make sure to ask about the software being used and how they aid with the translation process.
What are the Rates For Your Services?
It is good to know how much you will be charged before deciding to work with the company. That is why it is important that you compare quotes before making a hiring decision. You will be surprised at the different rates that you get. You should be cautious of a company that is offering very low rates compared to the market standards. In most situations, they will cut corners and you may receive low-quality translation services.
To sum it up, it is crucial that you’re get the right translation provider, especially if it is a big project. You could do a test in order to gauge the quality that you will get from the company. The expectations for quality should be set even before the project begins.
