Choosing a translation company can be hard – especially if you are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the industry.
For example, what do certain features and qualifications mean, and which offering is actually better when you compare? Why is one company giving a detailed list, while another company is being more vague with what its services include?
At Voiance, we know it can be confusing, and we’re here to help. Today we’ll talk about the kinds of qualifications translation companies should hold and what is usually included in a standard translation and localization offering.
Translation Providers’ Qualifications and Standard Offerings
Most reputable translation and localization agencies will hold an independent, third-party translation services certification. The current industry standard is the International Standards Organization (ISO) 17100:2015 Certification for Translation Services.
The ISO 17100:2015 is considered the industry standard for translation process quality, replacing the EN15038 certification since 2015. ISO awards this certification to companies or agencies whose core processes pass a set of requirements and who possess the resources necessary to deliver secure, quality translation services.
Reputable providers should also include in their pricing bid any additional services needed to ensure that they produce a turnkey product of your translation project. These included services often mean dedicated project managers, translators, editors, and proofreaders. Additional services include desktop publishing, website localization, Braille, and audio files for American Disabilities Act compliance.
Red Flags
- The translation agency does not have any independent certifications or they have not updated their certification from EN15038 to ISO 17100:2015.
- The translation agency does not provide proofreading or desktop publishing support, or they do not include these services in their pricing bid.
Would you like to hear more about the translation industry and any red flags you should watch out for? Check out our Voiance RFP Guide to learn more:
