Freelance translators vs. an LSP: What you need to know

Freelance translators vs. an LSP: What you need to know

What do you think of when you hear the term “freelancer?” If you’re like most people, the first thing that comes to mind is a one-person company with no overhead costs to pass on to you. And while this is true, there are a few things you should consider before hiring a freelancer to translate your life sciences or legal documents.

Depending on your industry and your translation needs, a freelancer may be all that you need to get the job done. But, complex industries such as life sciences and legal requires expert knowledge of your niche. And, typically a freelancer doesn’t have the breadth and depth to provide the quality translations that you require. 

Before you hire a freelancer, take a look at the 5 reasons why a language service provider (LSP) might be a better option for your next legal or life sciences translation project.

1. You get experience.

For any translation project, the quality of the returned document requires that your translator is experienced. This is especially true when it comes to the life sciences or legal industry. Documents for both of these industries are complex and heavily laden with industry-specific terms. Unless the freelancer specializes in your specific niche, this person will most likely be unfamiliar with the industry and its jargon. This adds layers of complexity for a freelancer to quickly and successfully complete your translation project.

It’s also important to remember that a freelancer is always on the hunt for new jobs. This person is constantly looking for ways to boost their resume to be able to take on more work. Unfortunately, this means that the freelancer that you hire may not always admit to confusion about a term or when they need clarification.

On the other hand, LSPs that are experienced in legal or life sciences translations have already found and tested freelancers who are professional translators and understand the complexities of your industry. With this experience comes accuracy and the ability to meet your deadlines – something you can’t afford to miss.

2. You get a team.

Freelancers typically work alone. Your freelancer might have a colleague or two that they enlist when needed, but the vast majority of their work is done solo. When you have a high-volume translation job and, of course, accuracy is essential, LSPs have the additional people to review the document  Their main function is to look for inaccuracies and to help handle high-volume work loads .

Let’s face it, you’re busy keeping your business on track, and you don’t have time to micro-manage your translation projects. By working with an LSP you’re given the flexibility to hand over a large portion of the translation work at one time. With a team of industry-specific experienced translators at your disposal, you can focus your attention on doing more important things.

3. You get deliverables faster. 

Let’s face it, translation jobs are rarely anticipated far in advance. That means that when a translation need comes up, you can’t afford to delay the project while you wait for a freelancer’s schedule to clear up. As a single resource, your freelancer may not be able to meet the tight deadlines you require. 

With a team of qualified translators, you’re able to maintain your deadlines and get your translations done faster. In addition, you don’t have to take time away from your busy day to interview a variety of people trying to find one that is qualified to do the job. An LSP enables you to maintain your deadlines and stay ahead of the game.

4. You get specialists. 

Typically, a freelancer has to be a jack-of-all-trades to survive. Ideally, the freelancer would know one or more languages inside and out, and have intimate knowledge about your specific industry. That’s a lot to expect of one person, isn’t it? 

When the freelancer is just skilled in translating general content, they need to do a fair amount of research about your industry, which typically results in project delays. And, if their research is flawed or inadequate, your content can be mistranslated, which can put your entire project in jeopardy. 

With a language service provider that specializes in life sciences and legal translations, you get a team that does these types of translations on a regular basis. An LSP that specializes in life sciences and legal has a legacy of archives of past translation work and a larger pool of specialized translators, so that you get better results, faster.

5. You get more service offerings.

You’re busy and you need to be focused on what makes your company successful. The last thing you want to do is manage multiple vendors.

For example, a freelancer might offer specialist legal or life sciences translations, and have someone review their work before delivering it to you. But, what if the document needs to be notarized, mailed, or any other scenario?

We know that every job is different. Can a freelancer offer document review on-demand, academic document validation along with the translation, or summarization of a number of documents within a short time span? With an LSP at your disposal, you get access to a broader service offering. No matter how you operate, you know there is a solution that will integrate seamlessly with your business.

Summary

Freelancers are single entities, which come with resource and capability limitations that might surprise you at the wrong time. Although you might save a few dollars by working with a freelancer, your reputation can’t afford to take that risk.

If you’d like to learn more about how BURG Translations helps you ensure high quality translations, contact us today.

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