Working with a Translation Services Agency
Maintaining a proactive role in your own project is critical to the project’s success. The translation services agency wants to provide quality work, and you can assist them to that end. Translation providers are experts in their field, but cannot deliver the highest quality product without accurate client input.
Your involvement in the translation process ensures nothing but the best results in your own projects. One key to this end is proper communication. All Translation Services as well as each individual translator strives and project manager strives for perfection in each project. Their efficiency is affected in a large part by your accurate and timely communication. Unclear instructions regarding project requirements result in poor quality service, an unsatisfactory situation for both you and the translation agency.
Only you understand your job goals and project requirements completely, so it is imperative that you communicate them thoroughly to the translation team. Each project has a unique focus. For example, if your materials are for the purpose of marketing it may be helpful to explain the details of your marketing plan to your translation agency. Your goals for the documents to be translated as well as any specific needs will assist the team in delivering the best translation possible.
Furthermore, your translation team needs to understand fully both the source and target languages, and what your needs are from each. Why did you choose the target language for the project? What is your goal? Many translators will have extensive professional experience in multiple fields including your own. It is possible and even likely that your translation services agency may have even completed projects in the same industry. However, never assume that the agency understands your goals; you need to start them clearly for optimum project success. Your purpose and goals are unique, and they cannot attain them if they do not know them.