There are thousands of translation and interpretation service providers in the market today. Many claim to offer you the most competitive rates, the best quality, the fastest turnaround, and much more. There is no doubt that these companies offer appealing promises, but how many of them actually have the skills, resources and expertise to provide you with high quality services?
More importantly, how do you choose the right one for your needs? When it comes to your brand and communicating with your clients translation and interpretation services cannot be anything less than 100% accurate. Here are some tips that will help you in selecting the best translation and interpretation service for you:
1. Ensuring Your Needs are Understood
What is it you require? A website localization from English to Vietnamese? A translation of your brand campaign to a local dialect? Interpretation services for a high value business negotiation? Each of these scenarios is vastly different and requires different skills from the linguist. It is important to ask a company if they have a variety of specialized linguists, as well as request copies of resumes and background for the linguists being assigned to your project. Additionally, professional companies will always ask for background information about the service and industry you require, so they can make sure their linguists are working within their scope.
2. International Experience & Expertise
Ask questions about how long the company has been in business, and do a database search for rankings in the Better Business Bureau or Dunn & Bradstreet to confirm this information. Be sure to ask how companies test and screen their linguists as well as any efforts they contribute to for continuing education. Reputable companies will maintain a list of their clients and industries they work the most in that you can also request. This may not be available on a language provider’s website, but you can request this information before selecting the company. This list will give you an accurate picture of the industries that the company has the most experience working in.
3. Evaluate the Company’s Portfolio
Most professional translation and interpretation companies provide you with their literature that highlights the company’s services and unique features that set them apart. Always review their value proposition to determine if it lines up with yours. Here are a few questions you should ask when reviewing this information:
- Is it a local freelance individual, or a large company with a varied network?
- How many languages do they offer translation and interpretation services in?
- In what industries have they worked?
- What is their specialization?
- Do they provide on-site as well as telephonic interpretation services?
- How long is their usual document turnaround time?
- What is their quality control process?
4. Request a Sample Translation or References
Before closing the deal with a provider, ask for a sample of their translation work or for 2 – 3 professional references. Professional language service companies will happily provide you with samples of their translation projects or contact information for references that can provide insight into their interpretation service experiences.
Finding the Right Language Service Provider
Finding the right service provider to suite your needs is no easy task, but we hope that the tips we gave you will help simplify the process to find the best translation and interpretation services provider for you.
One provider that has a national network of linguists with multiple specializations is Niki’s Int’l Ltd. This company has a global team of translators and interpreters with extensive knowledge and expertise in local and global markets and diverse fields. With nearly 20 years of experience in the language industry, and a high level of quality control, Nikis Int’l Ltd. is an outstanding choice no matter what language service you need.
To learn more about them and their services, please visit the website of Niki’s Int’l Ltd.