Managing your translation timeline (and meeting deadlines)
We find that most translation projects are “urgent”! Sometimes this is entirely justified, as in the case of an imminent trade fair, client presentation, website launch, or contract signing. By contrast, some deadlines are entirely unjustified, often because they have been randomly set by an unrealistic boss, or because the project was overlooked until the last minute. Either way, urgency is bad for any type of project, not least translation and documentation. Rushing to get something finished increases the probability of stress, errors, and most importantly, less-than-optimal results. So how should you manage your translation timeline?
Generally speaking, the earlier in the documentation process you think about translation, the better. Typically, people think about translation only when the source language is complete and finalised. At this point, you may have missed the possibility of saving considerable amounts of time and money.
Choosing a supplier
We know it’s tempting to use cheaper, independent freelancers, but consider: if you are outsourcing different languages to different suppliers this can also create complications. Will they all deliver on time, with the same level of quality, and in the same, desired format?
We have built a network of qualified, specialised translators. Which enables us to offer translation from, and into, over 50 languages — including all European languages, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and all major Indian languages. We select our translators very carefully and stick to those who give the best results. We ask for rigour and professionalism, as well as proof of linguistic and/or translation qualifications. All our prospective translators complete a written test to assess their linguistic skills. In all cases they:
- are native speakers of the target language;
- hold university degrees in relevant languages, linguistics and/or translation;
- use specialist CAT software tools (MemoQ or compatible);
- apply glossaries and terminology supplied to them by QuickSilver Translate.
- have extensive experience in the project’s specific subject matter (some hold degrees in specialist areas, eg: law, engineering, medicine, etc)
We remain loyal to those freelancers who always produce high-quality, on-time translations. We want to build long-term relationships with our translators, just as with our customers. So if you need your new brochure in multiple languages — we can handle them all!
An effective translation process
Many projects are slowed down by manual processes — copy+pasting the text into a spreadsheet, sending it for translation and then painstakingly copying the translation back into the original document. Furthermore, you might need to pay extra for designers to tweak the layout of the brochure to fit the translated content. Different languages will take up a different amount of space. These seemingly small expenses pile up and eat away at your marketing budget.
There are savings to be made — and efficiencies created — by providing your language service provider (LSP) with the original files for the documents you need to be translated. In doing so, you can significantly boost your Translation ROI (Return on Investment). If you’re working in InDesign, it’s as easy as exporting to an .idml file (the same way you export to PDF). This way, we can deliver the translated file to you in its original format. If required, our in-house design team can also make any necessary adjustments. You’ve got a looming print deadline? No problem, we can deliver press-ready files direct to your printer.
If you’re a regular client of ours, we will create a Translation Memory (TM) for you. So you never have to pay to translate the same copy twice. TMs also guarantee consistency across projects and over time — meaning your slogans, taglines and product names will be translated the same way, every time — strengthening your brand recognition.
Find out more: Can we translate directly from a PDF?
Last minute revisions / additions
If you need to apply last-minute changes to your document — such as adding a new product, or adjusting a spec. No problem! Just send us the updated version of the original document, and our translator(s) will be notified of any newly added content they need to translate. You won’t lose any progress on the text that has already been translated.
Is someone keeping an eye on the translation timeline?
A professional LSP should have systems in place to manage complex translation projects, assign various tasks to different people, and track the progress of each of these tasks. We assign a project manager to your project who assumes responsibility for delivery, provides milestone reports and has the entire scope as well as all minor details in view. Via our Customer Portal you can also see online status reports for your project.
A top language provider will go above and beyond the call-of-duty and foresee your future needs. For example, if we know that you update your catalogue every quarter, we will create a project-specific process which will automatically flag the segments that need to be translated every time, instead of having to re-translate the entire document. This process not only saves time and money, but builds in consistency across the board and eliminates the possibility of errors.
Contact us for a quote
We will effectively manage your translation timeline and ensure your deadlines are met!
