A lot of small-scale businesses are better off, servicing in their local market. However, due to competition, advancement of technology, globalization, the urge to expand one’s profit margins, and a wide range of available opportunities, there is certainly a paradigm shift in the way businesses used to operate.
Today, nearly every other company wants its presence in the foreign markets. From healthcare, FMCG, entertainment, education, to the hospitality industry, every domain is trying to capture the attention of international users. While the business goals and related strategies are better managed by the leaders and board of directors, tapping into the international geography requires a local connect.
All forms of communication, including words, pictures, graphics, audio, videos, etc. requires a local touch and a style which is familiar to the natives of a particular region. In other words, the art of communication needs to be translated into local language/s or dialects to establish a brand’s presence. It is quite evident that a company cannot have a different brand idea for a different language, but it can definitely search for professional translation services in India or the specific country it is serving in. A country like India where there are several languages, it may not be cost efficient for any business to set up a separate team, each specializing in a distinct Indian language and yet be consistent with the ideation and execution of the brand’s message. Though it is not an impossible job, it does require time investment and money.
Due to the operational complications and huge investments, this job is usually outsourced to the experts who are better at it. Now, hiring the top translation company in India which could offer professional translation services, is not a piece of cake. The ideal way to proceed in this regard is to meet all the shortlisted translation companies - check out their offerings, assess them by the depth of their understanding of your industry, your business, and their expertise in the same domain. Another area of consideration is their response rate, their team, their approach, technical know-how, and the X factor.
Other aspects of analysis could include the larger benefits that a professional translation service provider has to offer.
? Proof-read material
If the case was about the mere translation, then it would have been a different thing. However, professional translation agencies undertake the responsibility of translating the essence of the message and not just the words. Making an expression appear original yet captivating to the native audience is highly crucial.
? Industry understanding
It is always a good idea to check for references, testimonials, and study the clientele of the top translation company in your list. While they may be willing to assign a dedicated team of translators to your account, they may not be trained experts of your industry. So, even if they are good at translation or transcreation, unless they have sufficient understanding and experience of working for your industry, partnering with them may not sound too fruitful.
? On time delivery
Although most of the translation companies work towards delivering the project on time, the real test is when they can deliver the translated copies in the shortest span of time, with minimum to no client brief, outside their usual working hours, over weekends and/or holidays, including urgent/ emergency requests as well.
? Consistency
Given the fact that most of the translation companies work with empanelled freelancers, there are chances of inconsistency to deal with a particular thought/ expression in the source text. Professional translation service providers deploy a focused team of quality analysts who review the work done by the translators before the final copy is delivered to the clients. This helps in aligning the text written in different languages to original context as relayed in the source text.
? Hidden clause
Look for hidden clauses (if any) and ensure that all the terms and conditions are clearly stated, covering the NDAs (non-disclosure agreement), payment, bonuses, penalties, KPIs (key performance indicators), etc.
One of the biggest benefits of partnering with a professional translation service provider is the quality, language proficiency, trained team of translation experts, and compliance to the cultural sensitivity of that region. Once assured regarding the above points, going through the sample work of the chosen translation company is a good move.