Translation and localization services are experiencing high demand, driven by the increasing need to break linguistic and cultural barriers. The market has reached $42.2 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to reach $54.1 billion by 2034.
For companies going global, partner selection is a critical business decision that can make or break their overall international strategy. With over 18,000 service providers globally, identifying the right translation and localization service provider is a key determinant of whether a company will thrive or fail in its expansion efforts.
In this blog, we will evaluate top translation services companies; we analyze and compare them across several factors critical to the selection process, while also exploring the top selection criteria.
7 Essential Factors to Consider When Looking for Top Translation Service Companies
Selecting a reliable translation company is a real challenge, especially when considering the many aspects you should take into account. From their subject-matter expertise and their translators’ experience and qualification to the use of technologies and quality assurance processes, you should examine these factors and more in alignment with your needs and expectations.
Here are the 7 essential factors you should never overlook when selecting a translation provider:
1. Linguistic Expertise
Looking for a translation company that hires native speakers isn’t only essential for producing high-quality translations but also culturally sensitive ones. A native speaker will ensure both the highest level of fluency and cultural understanding.
Also, it’s imperative not to overlook the subject-matter relevancy when evaluating a translation provider. Each industry has its own nature and unique terminology, which requires a specific set of skills and in-depth knowledge. That’s why go for the language service provider with years of experience in your industry or field.
In addition, inquire about the translation team’s ongoing language training and professional development. A commitment to continuous improvement and staying updated with linguistic shifts and cultural nuances is a sign of a reliable and competent translation services company.
2. Quality Assurance Process
A reliable translation company should have a multi-layered quality assurance process, which means having multiple rounds of review to guarantee accuracy and consistency in the translated content.
Translation is more than a one-step process! To ensure you get the desired results, you should hire an ISO-certified language service partner who assigns different translation, proofreading, and editing teams to produce well-polished translations.
The company should possess efficient error tracking and correction procedures to swiftly track and correct any mistakes that may arise during the translation process.
Also, they should utilize translation tools and glossaries to maintain a consistent use of terminology and style throughout the translation. However, those translation tools shouldn’t be randomly chosen. A successful translation company will always choose the most suitable technologies for the designated project.
3. Industry Experience
The translation agency should have at least 5 years of experience in your industry, mainly if you specialize in legal, medical, technical, or other sectors. That’s because of the risk that comes with such specialized content; one error couldn’t only jeopardize the success of the whole project but also may risk people’s lives.
A solid portfolio of past projects in your industry showcases their ability to handle relevant content effectively.
Also, go through their client testimonials, which can provide valuable insights into their performance within your industry. Positive feedback from clients in similar fields can strongly indicate the company’s capabilities and reliability.
4. Technology and Tools
As we mentioned earlier, each project has a direct, decisive impact on the chosen tools. However, some tools should be integrated into any project and used effectively to enhance the translation process.
That includes translation memories, MT, and project management systems.
Translation Memory: A vital tool that stores previously translated segments and automatically recalls them, preventing the need to translate the same sentence twice. It ensures consistency and efficiency across various projects and increases the translator’s productivity by up to 60%.
Machine Translation: Machine translation can produce an initial translation for translators without translating from scratch. Not eliminating the role of human translation, MT can be used to expedite the translation process, especially for large volumes of content. And here comes the integral role of the machine translation post-editing services MTPE, which saves you 30% of the time when compared to human translation.
Project Management Systems: Effective project management systems help organize and track the progress of translation projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality control. Additionally, these systems facilitate collaboration among team members, allowing for seamless integration of translation tools and technologies to enhance productivity and quality.
5. Turnaround Time and Scalability
A trustworthy translation company should demonstrate a proven track record of meeting deadlines without compromising the quality of their work. Regardless of the project’s complexity and volume, they should be able to produce high-quality translations within your specified time frame.
They should also be able to fulfill the most urgent translation needs, equipping themselves with multi-disciplinary teams working around the clock and the most advanced technologies.
6. Data Security and Confidentiality
You should look for a translation agency that adheres to General Data Protection regulations and prioritizes secure file transfer methods to ensure your sensitive data remains protected during the translation process. Only the designated translators should have access to your documents.
They should also readily sign non-disclosure agreements to provide legal assurances that your proprietary data will remain confidential and not be disclosed to third parties.
7. Customer Support and Communication
A trustworthy translation company dedicates a team of project managers who work 24/7 to ensure the smooth progression of translation projects. Their oversight and coordination help in meeting deadlines, maintaining quality, and addressing any issues that may arise during the translation process, among many others.
Also, they should have clear communication channels to ensure effective collaboration between the client and them. They make it easier for the client to share instructions, queries, and feedback without needing endless back-and-forth email loops.
An In-Depth Review of the Top 10 Translation Services Companies
Feeling overwhelmed by the task of choosing the right translation service? Don’t worry—we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 translation companies to make the decision easier for you.
Here are the top 10 translation agencies of 2024:
Smartling
Smartling is a cloud-based translation platform and language service provider known for its robust translation management system with powerful translation memory capabilities.
Even though they offer AI-powered translation services, they attach importance to the existence of human experts, who are both natives and subject-matter experts. They blend both the endless capabilities of AI and quality-driven human expertise.
While their primary goal is accelerating your time to market, their commitment to quality assurance is evident through their multi-layered process and human resources.
XTM International
XTM International is a language services company that focuses on technology and innovation. They are an all-in-one management system that is customizable based on the unique requirements of each project.
They have a wide range of products to streamline and centralize translation processes and assets, including XTM Cloud (translation management system) and XTRF (translation business management solution).
They enable enterprises the opportunity to fully automate their localization processes, supporting a broad spectrum of languages and almost all content types and industries, including manufacturing, life science, and technology.
Phrase
Phrase is a powerful AI-driven localization platform that enables clients to translate, manage, and automate content under one roof.
It’s a platform designed to keep every team member on the same page, facilitating collaboration and efficiency.
With one target: connecting translation teams with technology, organizations striving for global success will have complete control of the translation project step by step.
memoQ
Supporting over 100 languages, memoQ is a company specializing in translation software and TMS that is designed to streamline translation processes and workflows.
It comes with a unique set of features for enterprises, such as flexible workflow management, easy project tracking, automated quality checks, and advanced reports, among many others.
Crowdin
Crowdin is a cloud-based localization management platform, powered by glossaries and translation memories, that produces content-aware translations using AI-powered human translation approaches. They combine the limitless power of technology with human insight. It supports integrations with over 600 apps and tools, such as Hubspot and Mailchimp.
It offers translation and localization solutions in over 100 languages, supporting all file formats.
Unbabel
Unbabel is an AI-powered language operations platform that hits the sweet spot between speedy AI power and human accuracy. It supports 130 languages and specializes in retail, technology, travel, logistics, and food industries.
It’s an all-in-one language solution with long-standing expertise in customer support translation in chat, email, and FAQs.
AsiaLocalize
AsiaLocalize is an Asian-language specialized translation company that supports brands in reaching and engaging the Asian market and audience. With cutting-edge processes, advanced technologies, and highly skilled linguists, it strikes your potential clients’ hearts and minds through culturally sensitive translations.
Supporting all file formats and over 120 languages, it minimizes any risks on your way to the Asian market. Its dedication to quality is unrivaled since it has three-tiered translation processes and rigorous quality assurance.
TransPerfect
Supporting over 170 languages, TransPerfect has an extensive net of native translators with over 30 years of experience in the field.
Even though it’s based in the United States, it appears in the first search engine results for translation and localization services.
WeLocalize
With over 30 years of experience in the translation and localization industry, WeLocalize delivers speedy translations in over 250 languages without negatively affecting quality. That’s because of their focus on linguistic talent management and the use of AI-powered capabilities.
It has extensive experience working on various content types, including websites, patents, and software.
LanguageWire
LanguageWire’s language solutions strike a balance between the speed of AI technologies and human accuracy and expertise.
It delivers customized solutions based on the client’s preferences and needs, working toward one goal of eliminating the language barriers.
Still struggling with the decision to make the right choice for your needs?
AsiaLocalize is at your service! We have worked with thousands of clients to thrive in the Asian market.
We build a customized strategy based on your needs and around your target market’s preferences. In over 120 languages, we support your global aspirations regardless of the given project, industry, or level of complexity.
