Why single-source certified translation providers beat multi-vendors

Why single-source certified translation providers beat multi-vendors

For companies operating in a high-compliancy industry, such as the legal or medical field, accuracy is paramount. Because there is no room for error in these translation projects, many businesses turn to a certified translation provider instead of multiple vendors.

What is certified translation?

A certified translation is a project that has a signed testament to the document’s completion and accuracy to the best of the translator’s ability.

A certified translator is different than a certified translation. A translation can get certified from a non-certified translator.

Certified translations are different than notarized translations. For notarized translations, a licensed notary must sign off on the document’s accuracy. The translator himself signs off on a certified translation.

For legal, medical, and other high-compliancy industries, having a certified translation is ideal.

Market trends

Common Sense Advisory recently conducted a survey that investigated whether Language Service Providers (LSPs) can become the exclusive language service vendor for clients. After speaking to dozens of enterprises that frequently work with LSPs, they determined that only 15% of people work with a single provider.

The conclusion: Buyers of translation services strive to mitigate risk by keeping a wide pool of resources available.

This complicates matters greatly for clients and service providers alike.

  • It’s hard to balance budgets and workloads.

  • Project management becomes a little less clear.

  • Communication is muddled and, in some cases, non-existent between suppliers.

This poses several unique challenges to companies needing translation services.

Benefits of using single-source providers vs. multiple vendors

Upon closer evaluation of the 15% of companies that only used a single-source certified translator, several characteristics floated to the surface.

  • The companies had years of experience working with translators and purchasing translation services.

  • They valued innovation and scalability in their LSPs.

  • They needed someone they could lean on outside of business hours and regardless of their demand.

Experienced companies with a sturdy foothold in foreign markets have left fears and risks behind for a stronger working relationship with their translators. Upon closer examination, the reasons are clear.

Time and money savings

It’s shocking how much time it takes to manage multiple vendors. Companies put a heavy strain on project managers by asking them to oversee, coordinate, and communicate with various vendors.

The result is lower productivity and more room for error.

With a single source managing all translation projects for a company, vendors get to know their needs, communication styles, and model. Over time, this makes projects run faster and smoother, costing companies less money.

Certified translations improve accuracy

Output improves too. By using a certified translator on each project, companies know the results they can expect. With the attached certification that the project is done as completely and accurately as possible within the translator’s abilities, companies have confidence in the work turned over each and every time.

Conclusion

As more companies realize the benefits of housing all certified translation projects in one place, 2015 will be the year where more companies partner with single-source LSPs as a way to reduce costs and improve results for every translation project.