Making a service choice in areas that are not our expertise can be troubling.

Translation services are popular in a wide array of industries. From healthcare to finance, legal, marketing, education, and all the way to technology. The most popular types of translation services in each industry vary depending on the documents and content that need to be translated.  

In the healthcare industry, medical translation services are popular for translating documents related to patients and medical procedures. And many times, interpretation between doctors, nurses, and any hospital staffing and patients who speak a language other than the local one. In the legal industry, document translation services are used to translate legal contracts, court documents, and other legal materials. In the finance industry, financial translation services are used to translate financial statements, reports, and other documents.  

The list goes on. From interpreters, to translators, to dubbing, to website and app localization services. Any of these may be what you need. But is it always obvious which? We many times postpone that decision making until someone else we hope knows more takes over this burden. We’ve seen this before. It’s not easy to know how to best choose a language provider. But we can help. 

How to tackle it

Choosing the right language service provider for your company is an important decision that will have a lasting impact on your business. With the global market becoming increasingly competitive, it is essential to select a provider that can provide high-quality language services and help your company succeed in the global market. When selecting a language service provider, there are several factors you should consider. 

First, take stock of your company’s needs. Consider who your audience is. What you want the person on the other side to be able to do once the job is done and where will they most likely make use of this service. How complex is the information? All these questions help answer what type of service is more adequate. And not only the type of service, but the level of expertise you’ll need from the provider. Not all tasks need the same amount of specialization in the topic at hand. Some tasks require knowledge of very specific jargon in both the source and target language.  

If it’s more to the chase and less personal, maybe just translation will do. If it enters the realm of marketing and multimedia, maybe consider localizing services, And if it’s to work with people, you may also have to consider language training, cultural consulting or other specialized services. 

Potential language service providers

The next step is to research potential language service providers. Talk to other companies in your industry and find out which providers they have used and how satisfied they were with the services. At Stillman, we are happy to have a free call to consult and tell you all about our services, our teams, what we do and our experience in the field. And we’d be happy to listen to your needs and find the best fit. 

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of providers, you’ll want to check their credentials. Make sure they are certified by a recognized organization and have extensive experience in the language services you’re looking for. Ask for references and find out how long they’ve been in business. 

Finally, compare prices and make sure you can afford the services you’re looking for.  

By taking the time to do your research before selecting a language service provider, you can ensure that you’ll get the best quality services at a competitive price. This will help ensure that your company succeeds in the global market.

What type of language services are there?

There are so many to choose from. To start: 

1. Translation: Translating written material from one language to another. 

2. Interpreting: Conversing in two languages simultaneously.  

3. Localization: Adapting content to fit the particular language, culture, and customs of a specific target audience.  

4. Transcription: Converting audio or video recordings into written text.  

5. Editing/Proofreading: Checking written material for accuracy, clarity, and consistency.  

6. Voice-over: Recording a voice-over of a script in a foreign language.  

7. Subtitling: Adding subtitles to audio or video content.  

8. Multilingual Desktop Publishing (DTP): Formatting texts for multiple languages. 

And these are only a few. We suggest having a first meet with any language provider to tell them more about your needs, so they can provide understanding and advice as to which is the best. Therefore, language service providers with a wide array of services will be more convenient, since they have a more holistic view of the market. 

Any more sound advice?

Here is a set of questions you can ask yourself (and, most importantly, your potential language service provider) to help you decide: 

• Do they know about your industry? Have they worked in it before? 
• Will they integrate with your team? Are they an independent outsourced service? Which would work best for your structure?  
• Do they have the technology needed to work at a good pace and with top quality? 
• Have they worked with companies the size of yours?  

• Do they have any references?  
• Do they have language experts who are also familiar with the target culture?  

These are some key questions to keep at hand. That being said, the best of luck with your quest. We are of course free to meet and answer any remaining questions you may have.

If you would like to learn more topics about communication, you can read “Why diverse business organizations make better business”.