- Table of Contents
1. Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Translation
Benefits of using translation services by outsourcing include:
1. Does not burden internal operations
Translation work requires high expertise and is time-consuming. In particular, skilled skills are necessary to accurately translate while considering technical terms and cultural differences. When translation work is done internally, employees will have to spend a lot of time on translation, resulting in a decrease in the time they can focus on their own expertise.
By outsourcing translation, employees can be freed from translation tasks and focus on their areas of expertise. This allows employees to concentrate on their work and improve their skills, leading to increased efficiency. Additionally, by allowing employees to focus on their areas of expertise, overall productivity of the company can also be improved.
2. High Quality
Translation companies specializing in translation have experienced professional translators. These translators have years of translation experience and have honed their expertise and skills, ensuring high quality translations. Translators not only accurately convert words, but also consider cultural differences and nuances to find appropriate expressions in the target language. Therefore, it can be said that by entrusting translation to a translation company, much higher quality translations can be obtained compared to using internal resources for translation.
In addition, the translation company has established a quality management system. This is expected to ensure consistent quality throughout the translation project. As an example of a quality management system, there is a "double check" where another worker, called a reviewer or checker, checks the translated text completed by the translator. This allows for the discovery and correction of any mistranslations or unnatural expressions that the translator may have missed. Furthermore, the translation company is able to understand the skills and expertise of the translators and assign the appropriate ones to the project. This ensures high quality even for translations that require specialized knowledge.
As an international standard for quality management and service provision, there is ISO for translation. ISO for translation refers to the quality standards for translation services established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In particular, ISO 17100:2015 is an internationally recognized standard in the translation industry, which sets out requirements for ensuring the quality of translation services.
ISO 17100:2015 sets standards for quality management throughout the entire translation process, including qualifications and experience of translators, project management, and quality assurance processes. Companies that operate according to these standards can guarantee a certain level of quality for their translation services.
Obtaining ISO 17100:2015 certification for a translation company serves as evidence that the company has established a quality management system in accordance with international standards. Therefore, when outsourcing translation services, choosing a translation company that has obtained ISO 17100:2015 certification can be expected to provide higher quality translation services.
3. Can also translate languages other than the main ones
Translation companies often have the ability to handle not only major languages such as English, Chinese, and Spanish, but also minor languages such as those in Southeast Asia and Africa, making it possible to meet translation needs in a wide range of languages.
This benefit is extremely important in supporting global expansion for businesses. When entering markets around the world, communication tailored to the local language and culture is essential. By outsourcing to a company that can handle various languages, businesses can smoothly approach new markets. If translation is done in-house, it would require hiring staff who can handle minor languages, but outsourcing can reduce that cost.
4. Layout Adjustment Support
By outsourcing translation projects to external experts, we can not only handle translation, but also adjust the design and layout of documents. DTP and layout adjustments are important processes to ensure that translated documents look professional and attractive. However, these tasks require specialized knowledge and skills, and may be difficult to handle internally within a company. By outsourcing, we can entrust these specialized tasks to experienced professionals and obtain high-quality translated documents.
It is common for DTP operators to be included in the translation company's team. DTP operators are experts in desktop publishing (DTP) and play a role in making documents look professional and attractive by formatting and laying out translated text in the appropriate format. DTP operators are expected to be proficient in various software and tools and faithfully reproduce the original design and style of the translated text.
DTP operators can handle different languages and character systems. For example, when dealing with languages with unique character systems and formats such as Arabic, special knowledge and skills are required. DTP operators at translation companies have experience and skills in handling such languages, allowing companies to confidently entrust translation projects to them.
5. Specialized Terminology Support (Depends on the Company)
Translation companies often have translators who are well-versed in specific industries and fields, allowing them to provide accurate and appropriate translations. This is a major advantage as it ensures a high level of specialized translation quality that cannot be achieved when translating in-house.
In addition, translation companies are able to handle translation projects in various industries and fields, allowing them to use the most suitable translation methods and quality control based on the translated documents. This will lead to smoother progress of translation projects and an improvement in translation quality.
On the other hand, the disadvantages of outsourcing are as follows.
1. Differences in the final product depending on the translator
Translation quality and style may vary depending on the translator at a translation company. This is influenced by the translator's experience, skills, and understanding of translation. It is important to choose a translation company that has a system in place to provide consistent quality, such as being certified by ISO 17100:2015.
2. Not necessarily familiar with the industry or field
Translators are not necessarily familiar with every industry or field. Therefore, it can be difficult to find a translator with the necessary expertise when requesting a translation that requires specialized knowledge in a specific industry or field. Many translation companies have their own areas of expertise and have specialized translators for each field. It is important to choose the right translation company for your needs.
3. Risk of Information Leakage
When outsourcing documents containing confidential information to external translators, there is a risk of information leakage. There is a possibility that the translator may use the information for malicious purposes or leak it to third parties, so measures such as a confidentiality agreement are necessary. Generally, confidentiality agreements are not only made between the translation company and the client, but also between the translation company and the translator.
4. Cost Involved
When outsourcing translation, there will be fees to be paid to the translation company. Translation fees may vary depending on the amount and difficulty of the text to be translated, as well as the urgency of the project, making it difficult to budget. In addition, some translation companies may charge fees or additional charges, which may result in higher costs than expected. If translation needs occur over a long period of time, these costs will continue to accrue, resulting in a significant financial burden. It is necessary to compare the costs of preparing translators or translation departments within the company with those of outsourcing.
5. Takes Time
When outsourcing translation, it may take time to communicate with the translation company and adjust deadlines. The communication with the translation company includes requesting estimates, confirming translation content, and requesting revisions. If these processes take time, the time it takes to complete the translation will be longer. This can result in the risk of delaying the overall project schedule.
6. Lack of knowledge and expertise within the company due to outsourcing
Outsourcing translation can make it difficult to accumulate knowledge and expertise within the company. This can lead to the inability to handle translation needs internally. It can also make quality control of translations within the company more challenging.
2. Points to Consider When Outsourcing Translation
When outsourcing translation to a translation company, it is important to consider the following points.
1. Check if the translation company supports the language you want to translate
Before requesting a translation company, first check if they support the language you want to translate. If there are languages that are not supported, you may need to consider another translation company. Also, pay attention to the translation quality and it is desirable to choose a translation company that is strong in specific language pairs.
2. Experience in the field of the document to be translated
Translation companies each have their own areas of expertise. For example, in fields that require specialized knowledge such as IT, medical and pharmaceutical, industrial and manufacturing, and patents, it is important to choose a translation company with experience in that field. With a translation company that has experience, the accuracy of technical terms and expressions can be guaranteed, resulting in high-quality translations.
3. Native Check System
In order to improve translation quality, native check is essential. Native check is the process of having a native speaker of the target language check the translated document to ensure that the grammar and expressions are natural. When translating from English to Japanese, a native Japanese speaker will check, and when translating from Japanese to English, a native English speaker will check. When requesting translation services, be sure to confirm if the company has a native check system in place. With a translation company that conducts native checks, you can expect more natural and accurate translations.
By considering the above points, you can choose a translation company that provides high-quality translations. It is also important to confirm the delivery date and cost in advance and select a translation company that meets your company's needs.
3. Summary
As a benefit of outsourcing translation, it is possible to reduce the burden of internal tasks, expect high-quality translation, and handle translations in languages other than the main language, layout adjustments, and specialized terminology. On the other hand, the disadvantages include differences in the quality of the finished product depending on the translator, limited specialized knowledge, risk of information leakage, cost burden, potential for project delays, and difficulty in accumulating internal knowledge. When choosing a translation company, it is important to confirm their track record in the target language and field of expertise, as well as their native check system, and to understand the delivery date and cost in advance.
In addition, when translating in-house, the use of translation support tools (CAT tools) is essential. By introducing CAT tools, it is possible to improve the efficiency and quality of translation work, as well as reduce costs. For more information, please see the following blog post.
Blog post "What are CAT tools? Explanation of benefits and drawbacks"
We provide translation services in the IT, medical and pharmaceutical, and industrial and manufacturing fields. Please feel free to contact us if you are considering outsourcing translation services.
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