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8 Key Considerations for Hiring the Right Language Service Provider
When it comes to localization, choosing wisely can mean the difference between global applause and lost opportunities.
If your business is transitioning into an international enterprise, you are probably searching for the right language service provider to render your business media for the global market.
Likewise, it’s quite probable that you have some of these questions:
- How can I find the exact language services provider?
- Are they familiar with my business vocabulary?
- How do they assign my task to the translators?
- How much does it cost?
- How can I determine whether the translations are accurate?
This article aims to provide answers to all of these queries and assist you in making the best decision possible so that you can interact with your global clients in an efficient manner.
But first things first…
Definition of a Language Service Provider (LSP)
The Language Service Provider (LSP) is usually an agency who furnishes their clients with a range of translation, localisation and other linguistic services. LSPs can be established according to considerably variable structures. Most of which are comprehensive organisations, employing thousands of professional staff, while some can be a one-person business.
From SMEs that specialize in a certain language combination, to multinational corporations that serve a variety of languages, solutions, and industries, LSPs can provide a wide range of services, languages, and specializations. Therefore, to decide on the best fit for your work, it’s critical to identify your needs and take into account the following elements.
What to Consider When Hiring a Language Service Provider
If your business is transitioning into an international enterprise, you are probably searching for the right language service provider to render your business media for the global market.
1. Language Pair Requirements
Your first consideration when choosing an LSP should focus on which language pair(s) you need to translate or localize your material into, and if the language service provider can satisfy your demands. You may use a freelance translator or a small LSP if you just require two or three languages, but a larger LSP will be better able to manage content in numerous languages if you intend to release your media in various languages.
Smaller language service providers typically offer more flexibility and personalized service. Nevertheless, instead of managing the work of three or four different translation companies or freelancers, it is simpler to handle all of your languages with a single LSP.
Choose if you wish to collaborate with one or more language service providers (LSPs) and confirm that they have demonstrated expertise working in the languages you require.
2. Industry-Specific Terminology and Knowledge
Look for an LSP that employs translators who have good knowledge in your field. An LSP that may be excellent at producing a certain kind of material might not be the greatest option for you because the language and intricacies of legal, medical, and marketing texts are completely different.
Accordingly, hiring a translation business that focuses exclusively on medical materials might not be a wise choice if you need to translate a website for a hotel or tourism destination.
3. Translator Assignment Process
Knowing the qualifications and years of experience of the translator working on your project is crucial, regardless of whether you are going to hire a translation agency or a freelancer.
Find out from the LSP how they hire qualified translators. Do they speak English as their first language? Are they required to pass an exam? Do they have any industry-specific specialties? Do they own certifications from trade bodies like the European Language Industry Association (ELIA), Globalization and Localization Association (GALA), or American Translators Association (ATA)?
Having a large staff of language experts on hand is essential to guaranteeing the timely and high-quality delivery of the language services, as most translators deal with a variety of customers and are only able to generate 2,000–3,000 words per day.
4. CAT Tools and Leverage Software
There are a handful of the technologies and tools that can make it easier and faster for you to achieve your localization and translation objectives such as translation management systems, Computer Assisted Translation (CAT tools), and website integrations.
Make sure the software your language service provider offers can handle various translation file kinds, manage project progress, and share documents, among other features that will streamline the translation process.
Join together with an LSP who shares your vision if you don’t like managing translation projects through several email threads and spreadsheets.
5. Project Workflow
A project management workflow is a methodically organized series of actions the manager must take to finalise a particular project.
LSPs frequently offer a project manager or a single point of contact who is in charge of your project. They facilitate the process by serving as a middleman between clients and translators.
Although this seems like a solid strategy in theory, direct connection with the translators using translation management systems can reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings and mistakes. Find out if your translation partner’s workflow meets your demands by asking them about it.
6. Quality Assessment Procedure
Assessing translation quality (QA) internally may be done, for instance, by asking staff members of your subsidiaries operating in the relevant markets to review multilingual material. Employees lacking linguistic training, however, might not be able to spot grammatical mistakes or determine whether or not the appropriate terms of art were employed.
You can anticipate excellent results and save your team time by working with a translation house that adheres to best practices and offers a comprehensive translation, editing, and proofreading service.
Various people and businesses have various tastes when it comes to words or phrases, which are crucial in establishing a business’s message. Errors and preferred options should always be distinguished when evaluating the quality of a translation. To guarantee the greatest outcomes, it is quite beneficial to comprehend these preferred options and establish the brand’s character before the translation and localization procedure starts.
7. Price Plans vs Budget
Depending on a number of variables, including service costs, language combinations, and minimum word prices, the cost of professional translation services might differ amongst language service providers.
As with any industry, there are a variety of price plans available. Which choice is better to choose – the most costly or the least expensive? Selecting the translation service provider (LSP) that offers the lowest price might result in subpar translations, which could harm the reputation of your company. It is easy to understand. How are they going to pay a qualified and experienced translator if the costs are so low?
Additionally, if you and your LSP are building a long-term working relationship, talk about any discounts and various pricing tiers based on volume.
8. Additional Services
Your language service provider may now perform more tasks than merely translation or interpretation. The following services may be included in your language bundle by some LSPs:
- Multilingual SEO to help you rank better on search engines.
- Graphics, presentation, and layout design.
- Video subtitling or voice over.
- Cultural adaptation or transcreation for marketing content
How is your plan for creating content globally? Perhaps what you need is an LSP who can help you decide what sort of content would work in your new markets and then distribute it for you.
Language service providers have been adding new services, such as content production services, to their packages because to the market’s constant growth. You need to assess the level of help that you could require from your potential LSP. Seek out a business that can meet all of your linguistic demands in one place.
The Bottom Line
Your localization project may succeed or fail depending on your language service provider. The correct LSP will support you in overcoming obstacles as they appear. Thus, before making a choice, you need to take your time and consider each of your possible language partners. Make sure they meet all of your other requirements and have a history of providing high-quality services before focusing just on pricing. Examine the endorsements and comments left by prior customers, or request to view their portfolio. To evaluate their level of skill, it is also a good idea to request a sample translation.