Distributor-Provided Translations for Manufacturers

Some companies believe that translation projects can be done best by distributors in the target country. At International Language Services, we’ve seen many projects that ended up in our hands after a distributor-provided translation simply didn’t live up to expectations. To help you understand the sorts of issues that can arise, we will share some real-world examples from our client base:

Example 1: A medical device manufacturer asked their Chinese distributor to translate a product data sheet describing two products. One product carried a five-year warranty, the other a one-year warranty. The distributor decided that it looked better if the two warranties were consistent. So, they applied the five-year warranty to both products. With the change written in Chinese characters, our client did not realize that their warranty terms had been “revised” potentially exposing them to unintended liability in the Asian market. Fortunately ILS was requested to review the translated document prior to publication and the change from the original English version was caught.
Example 2: In order to save costs, an industrial equipment manufacturer asked their German distributor to translate an Operator’s Manual. After this manual had been in use for quite some time, it was discovered that entire sections were missing in the German version. Important safety instructions which were included by the corporate safety and legal department specifically to protect the machine operator and limit potential liability to the manufacturer. The German distributor had deemed these sections unnecessary and simply omitted them from the translated version, thus exposing the manufacturer to serious risks.

Our clients encounter similar situations regularly with distributor-provided translation. Consider whether simply communicating to your customers in their native language is enough. When you first decided to translate, it was most likely to meet a customer or regulatory requirement or limit your company’s liability. Wouldn’t a single, consistent message communicated across all languages serve you better?

Companies often delegate translations of product documentation, packaging and promotional materials to their in-county distributors. After all, they reason:

Distributors know their industry specific jargon.
It makes sense for them to be responsible for the translations, since they are the ones using them.
It’s free! (A bargain, if you ignore the associated risks.)

If it were that simple, there would be no need for a global, professional translation industry! Your distributors want to sell your products. They willingly provide needed support materials in their native language to generate revenue. Their motivation is very simple.

You, however, have other important considerations related to your company image, branding, in-country regulatory requirements and liability issues for your firm. That is why you painstakingly lay out specifics relating to proper usage of your product, warranties and warnings, usually with the help of legal counsel. Distributors, however well intended, may not be concerned about such details. The consequences of distributors “editorializing” your content to meet their own needs can be disastrous!

International Language Services – Keeping Translation Control in Your Hands

Your English-language content is carefully planned and controlled by your marketing staff, technical writers and legal team. Your translations deserve no less. At ILS, we work with your needs in mind.. We understand your legal, ethical, and business needs, and ensure that all of translations communicate your intended message.. Don’t risk your company’s reputation or increase its liabilities by allowing non-professionals to handle your translation needs. Contact ILS today to discuss your translation projects, or for a review of translations performed by others. Let us partner with you and provide translations that are complete, correct, and meet your exacting standards.