In today's era of globalization, the need for translation is increasing rapidly. According to a Statista report, the global translation market is expected to reach 56,18 billion USD by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 5,5% from 2021 to 2025. This shows the importance growing number of translation services in the international business environment.
For Vietnamese experts and businesses expanding their operations into the international market, finding high-quality translation services is extremely important. Below are detailed notes when choosing and using translation services.
Consider between professional translation services and freelancers
When deciding between using a professional translation company or a freelancer, consider the following factors:
Professional translation company:
Advantage:
- Strict quality control process
- Diverse team of experts
- Ability to handle large volumes
- Better information security
Disadvantages:
- Higher cost
- Processing time may be longer for small projects
Freelance translator:
Advantage:
- Lower cost
- Flexible in time
- Suitable for small or specialized projects
Disadvantages:
- Quality may be inconsistent
- Limited capacity to handle large volumes
- Information security risks are higher
Choose the right specialized translation service
Choosing a translator with appropriate expertise is a determining factor in the quality of the translation. According to a study by Common Sense Advisory, 74% of customers are more likely to buy products when information is provided in their native language. This emphasizes the importance of accurate and culturally appropriate translation.
Popular areas of specialization:
- Medical and pharmaceutical
- Law
- Engineering and technology
- Finance and accounting
- Marketing and advertising
Evaluate experience and expertise
Experience is an important factor in ensuring translation quality. According to a survey by ProZ.com, a leading translator connection platform, 68% of customers value work experience when choosing a translator.
Experience evaluation criteria:
- Number of years of experience in the industry
- List of implemented projects
- Related certificates and degrees
- Reviews and feedback from previous customers
Comparison table: Below is a comparison table between new and experienced translators:
| Criteria | New translator | Experienced translator |
| Translation quality | May be uneven | Stable and reliable |
| Working speed | Usually slower | Fast and efficient |
| Ability to handle problems | Limit | Flexible and creative |
| Cost | Lower | Higher but worth it |
Ask questions and clarify requests
Effective communication with the translation service provider is key to ensuring the expected results. A study by the Project Management Institute found that 56% of projects fail due to poor communication.
Important questions to ask:
- Translation process and quality control?
- Estimated completion time?
- Cost and payment method?
- Information security policy?
- Ability to handle special file formats?
For example: When you need to translate an e-commerce website, you should ask about the supplier's localization capabilities, including adjusting currency, date format, and other factors. other culture.
Evaluate technology and tools used
In the digital era, the use of modern technology in translation is indispensable. According to a report by Markets and Markets, the translation technology market is expected to reach 1,5 billion USD by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 14,6%.
Important technologies and tools:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (Machine Learning)
- Computer Aided Translation Tools (CAT Tools)
- Terminology management system
- Quality testing software
Note: Although technology plays an important role, human intervention is still indispensable to ensure the highest quality and accuracy.
Review privacy and data protection policies
In the digital age, information security is an extremely important issue. According to an IBM report, the average cost of a data breach was $3,86 million in 2020.
Factors to consider:
- Security certification (such as ISO 27001)
- Confidentiality Agreement (NDA)
- Data processing and storage process
- Policy to protect intellectual property rights
For example: When translating internal documents or sensitive information, signing an NDA and ensuring the supplier has strong security measures is a prerequisite.
Evaluate after-sales service and support
The quality of after-sales service can greatly impact the overall customer experience. According to a study by Zendesk, 84% of customers say customer service quality is an important factor in their purchasing decisions.
Factors to consider:
- Response time
- Editing and refund policy
- Technical support (especially with complex projects)
- Ability to provide additional services (such as editing, design)
For example, if you're translating a mobile app, having a technical support team ready to address localization issues after launch is important.
Choosing the right translation service requires careful consideration of many factors. By applying the above considerations, you can significantly increase your chances of finding a high-quality service provider that meets your project's specific needs.
Remember, a quality translation is not simply a translation from one language to another, but also a cultural bridge, ensuring your message is conveyed accurately and effectively to the target audience. target.
By investing time and effort in the process of choosing a translation service, you are laying a solid foundation for the success of your project and the sustainable development of your business in today's global business environment. more competitive.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How is notarized translation service different from regular translation?
Notarized translation request legal confirmation of the accuracy of the translation. Typically, the cost is 30-50% higher than regular translation and the turnaround time is 1-2 days longer due to the additional validation process.
2. How to evaluate the quality of a translation?
It can be evaluated through criteria such as grammatical and vocabulary accuracy, stylistic consistency, cultural appropriateness, and the ability to convey the true meaning of the original. Many companies use a rating scale of 1-10 for each criterion.
3. What is the average time to complete a translation project?
Time depends on the length and complexity of the document. Normally, a professional translator can translate about 2000-2500 words per day. For example, a 10.000 word document may take 4-5 business days to complete.
4. Should you use a machine translation tool like Google Translate for important documents?
Should not. Although machine translation tools have improved significantly, accuracy is only around 60-70% for common language pairs. For important documents, professional translators should be used to ensure quality.
5. How are translation costs usually calculated?
Costs are usually calculated by word count or page count. For example, in Vietnam, English-Vietnamese translation prices commonly range from 50.000 to 150.000 VND/page (about 300 words), depending on the complexity of the content and time requirements. Watch now Translation price by number of words, pages, and working hours in HCM Reputable, best price today.
6. How to ensure confidentiality when using translation services?
Signing a confidentiality agreement (NDA) is an important step. In addition, you should choose a supplier with ISO 27001 certification for information security. Some companies also use end-to-end encryption to protect customer data.
7. Is there a difference between translation and interpretation?
Have. Translation involves written text, while interpreting is oral translation. Interpreting requires faster language processing skills, often divided into simultaneous interpreting (real-time) and sequential interpreting (consecutive).
8. Is it necessary to use editing services after translation?
Highly recommended. Post-translation editing can improve translation quality by 15-20%. It helps ensure consistency, correct errors, and fine-tune style to the target audience.
9. How to handle specialized terms during the translation process?
Using a glossary is an effective method. Many translation companies build separate terminology databases for each client, helping to increase consistency up to 95% in long-term projects.
10. How to ensure consistency in long-term translation projects?
Using Translation Memory (TM) is an effective solution. TM stores previously translated passages, helping to speed up translation and ensure up to 80-90% consistency for repeated content.
11. Is it necessary to periodically update the translation?
Yes, especially for online content. Language and trends change rapidly, and periodic updates (usually every 6-12 months) can help maintain the relevance and effectiveness of your content.
Nguyen Trung Khang - Talented interpreter and translator, passionate about translation
Nguyen Trung Khang is a talented interpreter and translator, with many years of experience in the field of translation and linguistics. He graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, majoring in Linguistics in 2015.
After graduating, Mr. Khang participated in a professional interpretation and interpretation training course at the University of Foreign Languages - Hanoi National University. He achieved a high-level certificate in interpreting and interpreting, and was also awarded a master's degree in linguistics.