Companies looking to expand internationally will need an determine the best translation option for their business and an overall localization strategy to help them achieve their goals. But many businesses are often paralyzed by the many translation options available to them. Depending on the company’s financial capability, number of languages to be translated, and the complexity of their project, businesses have several choices: hire in-house linguists, work with freelance contractors, or outsource projects to a Localization Service Provider (LSP). In Today’s Simply CSOFT, we will examine each of these options to help you make the right choice.
Hiring In-house Translators
In-house translators are paid a regular salary, not a per-word rate. Therefore, depending on the number and size of ongoing translation projects, having an internal translation team may or may not be the most cost effective solution for you. If your business’ translation work is sporadic, this option is probably a disadvantage. Depending on the nature of your projects, your team may be overwhelmed on some days (and thus unable to complete the project on time), but have nothing to do on other days. On the other hand, having a team of in-house translators might benefit your company if they collaborate closely with other employees and are able to add value to your products in the form of better translation.
Working with Freelancers
If you translate into multiple languages, but don’t have enough projects to justify hiring permanent staff or using an LSP, your best translation option may be to utilize freelance translators. This can be a good option if you need translation services on an ad-hoc basis. First, you will need to vet a pool of qualified linguists; just because a translator knows a language doesn’t mean he or she is automatically qualified to translate. Being able to write well and accurately convey meaning in another language comes with experience and training, and depending on your industry, a certain level of subject matter expertise will be required. As a general rule, a translator has an average daily capacity of 2,000 to 3,000 words, depending on their level of expertise. Keep this in mind when planning projects.
Using a Localization Service Provider (LSP)
Hiring an LSP lets you outsource every aspect of your localization work, thus avoiding the day-to-day headaches of planning and managing translation projects. This will be your best translation option when you need simultaneous translation services in multiple languages, are dealing with complex, specialized topics, or if you need large volumes of text translated in a short amount of time. Working with an LSP will also be advantageous if your company requires industry-specific terminology or needs materials available in specific applications (e.g. CAD, InDesign, QuarkXpress, Flash, etc.). To make the most of working with an LSP, you first have to ensure that the agency is experienced and has well-established processes. Be prepared to negotiate and ensure that the agency is aware of your company’s requirements and objectives.
After examining each option, we hope you can start to make an informed decision as you undertake the complex task of localization. If you are interested in learning more about CSOFT or have an urgent translation request, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@csoftintl.com. We work in multiple shifts to provide you with 24/7 service throughout the year.
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