The objective for any company trying to reach new markets is to have their intended message understood correctly the first time around. As obvious as this may sound, without the right technical translation service in place, your intended message can end up confusing or even offending the intended audience, as a result of poorly or mistranslated content.
In order to ensure quality translation services, a technical translator must have an in-depth understanding of subject matter, language, tone, nuances, and culture.
This is especially important in specialized fields, such as the medical device and manufacturing industries. This is because the slightest mistake in translation can result in serious consequences, such as personal injury, negative brand image, and lawsuits for your company.
Before investing in a technical translation service, you should consider a few key factors.
Why Certification Matters for a Technical Translation Service
When it comes to searching for a technical translation service, you want to choose one that provides exceptional translations that are put through an intense quality assurance process. But how can you know that you’re choosing the right translation partner?
One way is to look for a translation services company that is ISO-certified. ILS maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification, which means that our quality assurance methods have undergone thorough review by an independent third party and been determined to be effective and of high quality. Annual audits ensure that we provide our translation services in accordance with our documented processes for each and every project.
To obtain this type of certification requires diligence and fool-proof processes designed to promote effective, accurate translations.
A Technical Translation Service Should Include a Multi-Step Approach to Ensure Quality
When looking for a technical translation service provider, it’s not enough to just look at certification. You also want to inquire for yourself about their internal processes for quality assurance.
Effective translation services require a process that includes a multifaceted approach to translation and quality assurance. Only a top-quality technical translation service can ensure your translation is delivered on time and projects your message clearly and accurately.
At ILS, all of our translators have industry-recognized credentials. Not only do our translators provide native translation in more than 180 different languages, but they’re also subject matter experts in highly specialized fields such as the engineering, manufacturing, and automotive industries. This helps ensure accuracy in translation since they have the background to fully comprehend your messaging.
Our three-step quality control process includes editing and proofing to ensure the translated document correctly represents your source document and no detail is ever overlooked.
We assign a two-person team to every project—one translator to provide the initial translation and another translator to ensure your message accurately represents the original document.
The third step is a final in-house quality review that ensures your delivered translation is error-free and meets the highest standards of quality.
Technical Translation Service Should Include an Experienced Project Manager
Before hiring a professional translator for your technical translations, you may want to consider if a project manager will be included in the process. Having a project manager involved gives an extra layer of assurance that your technical translation is accurate, concise, and free of errors.
What are the benefits of having a project manager on board for your translation project? For one, he or she will manage the project for you from start to finish. A project manager provides a single point of contact to help streamline the process and bring all the pieces together effectively. This is especially important when you need to translate materials into multiple languages or when you have ongoing requirements that require consistency from one project to the next.
Finally, a project manager ensures the technical translation passes through proven quality assurance checks that guarantee accuracy and consistency in the chosen language. At ILS, our project managers have a minimum of 10 years working in-house, in addition to prior industry experience. This provides stability to our clients, as well as access to industry knowledge and expertise.
