How to Choose the Best Translation Agency
Choosing a translation agency can be overwhelming—there are countless options, all of which promise top-notch results. However, not all translators are created equal. Just because someone is bilingual doesn’t mean they’re equipped to handle complex, high-stakes translation work. Similarly, artificial intelligence (AI) often struggles to interpret industry-specific terminology and cultural nuances.
If you need professional translations, partnering with a reputable translation service provider is essential for accuracy, appropriateness, confidentiality, and ultimately success. But, how do you choose the best translation agency for you?
What Do Translation Services Do?
The best translation services facilitate accurate and effective communication—whether written, spoken, or signed—from one language to another. As much an art as a science, the best translators don’t simply provide a literal interpretation, but rather offer services such as transcreation and localization, which consider linguistic, cultural, and contextual subtleties to ensure the intended message is properly conveyed.
Translation agencies support a wide variety of fields, including:
Professional translation services that stand out from the crowd don’t merely provide language experts, but also experts in their fields. This assures a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of language and culture, as well as deep knowledge of the field they’re working in.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Translation Agency
Translation is a serious business! Just consider the significant implications a misinterpretation can have on anything from a medical diagnosis to marketing material. It’s a valuable reminder that even the smallest words can have an enormous effect on meaning and lead to everything from a potentially deadly misdiagnosis to a PR nightmare.
Below are some characteristics shared by the best translation companies.
Comprehensive Services and Industry Expertise
Professional translation firms use translators who aren’t only fluent in the target languages but also highly knowledgeable in the subject matter they specialize in. The best translation agencies carefully match translators—many of whom hold advanced degrees or certifications—with work in their field and languages of expertise.
Top-end translation services cover numerous languages and sectors, ensuring the agility to meet customers’ needs as they expand, whether into new markets or different fields. For example, Translations ABC has a roster of 4,000 linguists who speak 200 languages and are experts in 28 fields and services.
Proactive and forward-thinking translation services, like Translations ABC, also request that clients provide glossaries to maintain consistency, accuracy, and brand voice. They also have a quality control process in place to ensure precise, accurate translations.
The Human Touch
While adoption of AI and machine-based translations has grown in recent years, it’s not ready to replace professional linguists when working with consequential content. Translation technology remains limited, often failing to capture tone, idioms, and specialized terminology—areas where top-tier translation agencies consistently excel.
Beware of companies that rely solely on technology. After all, a French translation that resonates with customers in Canada may differ significantly from one intended for a French audience in Europe.
Customer Support and Communication
Strong customer service is often what separates the good from the great. Providing high-quality deliverables, ensuring projects run smoothly, meeting deadlines, and resolving issues promptly are all qualities of the best translation services.
At Translations ABC and other high-end translation agencies, we provide a point of contact who understands your business and offers support during the translation process—from initial translation to proofreading and editing.
Confidentiality and Data Security
Translation often involves working with sensitive content. Sensitive information like what’s found in financial documents, legal contracts, and employment information makes confidentiality and security a priority.
More so, fields like healthcare are regulated. Sensitive patient information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Leading language service providers safeguard patient privacy and help healthcare organizations stay compliant with legal requirements.
Firms like Translations ABC have a long history of working in high-security sectors like government and healthcare, and have established protocols for ensuring your data is secure.
Certifications and Compliance
There is no certification required to become a translator. However, the best translation companies’ linguists are often highly credentialed. It’s common for them to hold a certification from the American Translators Association (ATA)—which requires passing an exam focused on accuracy, fluency, and professional standards. Additionally, standout translators will often have academic bonafides or professional experience in their area of expertise.
Depending on the field, many top translation agencies will also adhere to industry standards such as:
- ISO 17100: A standard for translation services that defines the processes and resources required to deliver high-quality work meeting industry and client expectations.
- ISO 18587: The requirements for human post-editing of machine translation output, including the necessary competencies of post-editors.
- HIPAA: Regulations for handling sensitive health information and protecting patient privacy.
- GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation is an EU law that governs how organizations handle personal data and grants rights to individuals whose data is processed.
Reputation, Clients, and Testimonials
Reputable translation agencies have built their businesses by exceeding expectations and making their clients look great. Before choosing a language service provider, see who they’ve worked with and what their clients have to say about them. Testimonials and past success stories are powerful indicators of what you can expect in the future.
Even better than a Google review or Yelp rating is word of mouth. Nothing inspires confidence like someone you trust vouching for a company. For over 30 years, Translations ABC has built its business on personal referrals. By prioritizing client needs and consistently delivering high-quality work, we’ve earned the trust of customers who confidently recommend us to others. Our 97% client retention rate speaks for itself.
Key Takeaways for Choosing the Best Language Service
It can seem daunting to determine the best translation agency for your needs from the hundreds, if not thousands, of available services. However, by focusing on a few specific characteristics, it’s significantly easier to find the right translation company for you. So, remember to prioritize translation agencies:
- With linguists who are experts in both the languages and the fields they work with
- That use technology, but aren’t overly reliant on it—you can’t beat the human insight of a highly skilled linguist
- Focused on the needs of the customer. Do they promptly answer questions? Quickly resolve issues? Meet their deadlines?
- That have established protocols for securing data
- With highly trained, certified, and credentialed translators
When all else fails, testimonials and reviews are a great way to gain insight into a language service. Or, ask a trusted peer for a recommendation. If you ask one of Translations ABC’s clients, chances are they’ll give us a strong endorsement—proof of our linguistic expertise, professional service, and the lasting satisfaction we deliver.