4 best pieces of advice for clients

We believe that these three elements can not only be combined, but should also become the quality criteria in translation agencies. Meanwhile, there are several simple rules that clients should follow to help make the translation process run as smoothly as possible. These include the following:

1. Finalize your materials.

Generally, the translation process is initiated once an order is confirmed. The text is prepared in a particular way and glossaries are compiled. Then the project is transferred to one or several responsible translators. A large amount of parallel processes are deployed instantly. If we receive additional edited materials during the course of the project, this may cause a serious delay in the completion of the translation. This will result in the cancellation of the translation that has already been completed or the implementation of new stages, which in turn will significantly increase the costs of reviewing materials and editing. Therefore, translation materials should be prepared and finalized in advance, if possible.

2. Send materials for translation in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, if possible.

Completion deadlines largely depend upon the file format of the original text. Conversion of documents into the required format may take different amounts of time. In other words, for example, the translation of an MS Word document doesn’t require additional work and formatting, while handwritten text should be first typed and then translated. The conversion of scanned PDFs and JPG copies requires file recognition in TXT format. In general, the more complicated the original format, the more time will be needed for the translation. In most cases, clients want to keep the same format for both the translated and original texts. Therefore, if you want the translation to be carried out rapidly, you should provide editable text files (e.g. Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files).

3. Prepare proper instructions and any available relevant information.

In order to maximize the speed of the translation process, it is necessary to provide the translator with all available reference materials. These may include a list of terms and abbreviations, previously translated texts along with the original versions, glossaries, or Translation Memory files. If the client is not able to provide such data, the translator is forced to search for many details himself. This will affect the speed of the translation process. When the translator deals with software translation, it is very desirable to obtain screenshots or provide access to the software in order to take a look at the specific context.

4. Provide feedback.

Always provide feedback on translations. All comments are considered and are added to the list of requirements for each client’s specific needs. Furthermore, these requirements will be taken into consideration and reviewed during future translation projects.