How to choose a translation company?
Knowing how to choose the best translation company for your business is the first step in guaranteeing the integrity of your message. Globalisation has increased demand for translation companies to ensure the expansion of products and services, resulting in a rise in turnover and the number of clients.
Translation is more complex than just translating words from one language to another. Translators need to have special training, technical skills, cultural knowledge and an in-depth understanding of grammar. This knowledge and experience ensure that the final document does not look like a translation at all. It should be a fluent text in which the message is put across as if it was written in the target language in the first place.
Faced with this vast range of translation companies, how do you choose the right one for your business? There are a number of criteria that you should consider when making your choice:
Customer care
Right from the first contact, it is important for the company to tell you the name of the account manager who will be in charge of your project. This manager must provide a personalised service and be able to give immediate answers to your questions.
References
Check its references and testimonials before hiring a translation company. You can normally find testimonials from other clients on the internet or on the company’s website providing insight into their experiences. Certifications and distinctions are other forms of reference that may help you with your decision. It is important to know what quality certifications a company may have, as they are an excellent indication of the standard of the services provided.
Areas of specialisation
Check the company’s experience in the areas that you are interested in. You need to consider whether it has certification from recognised entities and whether it has experience with the language that you need and the type of work that you are looking for (translation, interpretation, localisation, etc.).
Languages
It is essential to understand what your real needs are before going ahead and hiring a translation company. If you do business with only one country, focus your search on companies that have considerable experience in that country’s language. If you have transactions with several countries and want to expand your business, it is important to choose a company that can meet all your language needs.
Portfolio
A company’s portfolio provides important information on the history of the firm and its services. The portfolio will provide an insight into how it operates and whether its style suits your needs, both in terms of writing and technology. Don’t forget that the translation company you choose will be a partner of yours.
