Translation Management System (TMS) is a system for managing translations.

1. What is a Translation Management System?

In translation work, multiple people are involved, such as project managers (coordinators), translators, and reviewers (checkers). Among them, the translation management system is particularly designed to support and streamline the work of project managers. Representative products include Memsource by Memsource and Trados GroupShare by RWS.

The duties of a Project Manager include the following tasks.

1. Receive translation requests and translation target files from other departments and clients within the company.
2. Convert translation target files to file formats for translation support tools.
3. Create a new translation memory. In the case of revisions, prepare a translation memory with the original and translated versions of past versions.
4. Calculate the translation volume and create a schedule.
5. Assign translators and reviewers.
6. Provide translators with untranslated files for translation support tools.
7. Receive translated files from translators.
8. Provide translated files to reviewers.
9. Receive reviewed files from reviewers.
10. Convert files for translation support tools to file formats for delivery.
11. Deliver the files.

Translation management system streamlines tasks 2-10 listed above. Eliminates errors caused by manual work and reduces the workload of the project manager.

2. Differences from Translation Support Tools

Translation support tools are designed to assist translators and reviewers. By providing translation memory that stores pairs of source and translated text, as well as terminology glossary functions that display definitions and predetermined translations, translation and review accuracy can be improved and work can be streamlined. Our machine translation solutions, MTrans for Memsource / MTrans for Trados, also integrate with machine translation services such as DeepL and Google. Some of the representative products of translation support tools include Memsource and Trados Studio. (Memsource is both a translation management system and a translation support tool.)

3. Three Benefits of Introducing a Translation Management System

・Centralization of information

In the translation management system, translation data such as files, translation memories, and glossaries, as well as work schedules can be centrally managed on the cloud.

Each team member can view the schedule and easily check the progress of their work. Translators and reviewers can access the necessary information at the necessary timing without having to contact the project manager.

Not only can you manage information on ongoing projects, but also information on past projects. When there is a revision to a translated document, you can quickly find and reuse past translation memories, reducing the amount of new translation work and saving time and cost.

 

- Process Automation

The translation process is automated. For example, when the translation step is completed, an email notification will be automatically sent to the reviewer. As the target files are centralized in the cloud, there is no need for file exchange between the responsible parties mentioned in steps 6-9. After the translation is completed, the reviewer can immediately start the review process. The intervention of the project manager is not necessary, minimizing lead time between steps.

 

・Confidentiality

Translation data is stored in the cloud, eliminating the need to exchange information via email and reducing the risk of information leakage. The translation management system also has access control features, allowing for the setting of translators and reviewers who can access each translation project. For example, when outsourcing translation to external translators, only specific project information can be shared with them. The translator will not have access to any other projects. It is also possible to restrict access to a specific project after the translation is completed.

4. Summary

Are you overwhelmed with managing multiple translation projects and keeping up with schedules, emails, and file exchanges? By implementing a translation management system, you can solve these problems. We utilize the expertise we have accumulated as a translation company to assist you in implementing the translation management system Memsource.

In addition, we also offer solutions that are integrated with machine translation and translation management systems such as DeepL and Google.
Please feel free to contact us.

 

Related Services

MTrans for Memsource
MTrans for Trados