Why Quality Assurance Matters When It Comes to Translation
No matter the type of business or role you have, quality matters.
When it comes to translation, this is no different. Poor translation quality can negatively impact your business and your reputation by causing a disconnect between you and your non-English-speaking customers.
A reputable translation provider should offer a quality assurance process so that you can rest assured that the text you need translated is being handled with utmost precision and attention to detail.
But what does quality assurance mean when it comes to translation, and why does this step matter?
Moreover, how can you tell if your provider is offering a service that best meets your project requirements?
What does the quality assurance process look like when it comes to translation projects?
At ATS, quality assurance is a multi-faceted process, and it begins the moment you request a new translation.
You can group the stages of quality assurance into three categories: pre-, during, and post-translation.
Pre-translation
The project manager assigned to your project will look over your documents and begin our quality assurance process before the translation work even begins.
They will review items such as:
– Whether or not the file type provided is suitable for the translation process
– Which translation team would be best suited for the type of text you need translated and the audience who will read or use it
– What questions we may have about the content before we begin
During translation
There is a lot that happens behind the scenes during the translation process.
Your text is not only translated, but also edited and proofread by separate linguists, all of whom are skilled and qualified to translate the type of content you have requested.
These linguists work together to craft the best and most appropriate translation for your content.
While the translation team is working on your text, you may hear from your assigned project manager, as he or she fields questions from the translation team about the text that may need additional clarification from you.
Our translation and quality assurance teams can always update style guides or text preferences based on our questions and feedback.
Post-translation
It is of great importance that you are satisfied with the translation that you receive from us, so the quality assurance process does not end once the translation work has been completed.
The QA team at ATS will review the translated file, comparing it with the original English source file you provided.
They will check for any discrepancies or items that our translation team would need to further clarify before delivering the final translation to you.
If you have requested Desktop Publishing or other design or formatting services, our team at ATS will oversee that process, as well, before delivering the final product, checking that the formatting is correct, all design elements are properly handled and that nothing is out of place.
How you can partner with your translation provider to ensure the project meets your own internal quality standards
When sending your documents for translation, there are a few ways to help ensure you are an active partner in the quality assurance process.
If you have previously had any of your content translated by another provider, let us (or your chosen provider) know. If you have access to the final translations, it is helpful to provide these.
That way, the new provider can use these translations as a starting point to make sure all necessary terms and phrases are consistent.
You should also mention if there are any terms or phrases that need to be left in English, such as proprietary names or titles. While most brand names, proper names, product names, etc. are usually left untranslated, it’s best to confirm this before the start of the project.
In addition, the more detail you can give your translation provider about the intended audience, the better. Let your provider know about your audience’s location, background and reading level, along with the purpose of the text.
If you already have a style or terminology guide, be sure to include these as well. This will help your provider adhere to the writing style and terminology choices that you have already established and prefer.
If you have questions about the quality assurance process for your translation, please ask! It’s important that you and the translation provider are on the same page about expectations so you know whether or not the provider will meet your needs once the translation process begins.
What’s at risk without a quality assurance process?
Utilizing a translation provider that does not offer a quality assurance process, or attempting to assign the translation yourself without the assistance of a company that offers the added security of a quality assurance process increases the chances of receiving a poor-quality translation in return.
A low-quality translation can not only be off-putting for your new audience, but it can put you at risk for possible legal ramifications if something has been translated incorrectly.
Even one translation error can change the meaning of a text, turn potential customers off to a brand, or even potentially result in costly litigation fees, depending on the nature of the error.
Skipping the quality assurance process is not worth the risk of these potential blunders.
Conversely, a high-quality translation can help the reader feel confident in the information they are consuming, turning them into paying customers or a more informed audience, depending on your goal.
A high-quality translation should feel authentic to the reader. In other words, it should not feel like they are reading a translation at all.
With such a translation, you are more likely to engage these new consumers and drive them through your sales funnel.
When working with a translation provider with a solid quality assurance plan in place, you drastically minimize your chances of receiving an incomplete, sloppy, or erroneous translation.
Your readers will appreciate that you have prioritized their experience with this content, leading to more satisfied—and hopefully repeat—customers.
What if you have questions about the translation after it is finalized?
Your feedback and satisfaction is extremely important to us! Once you receive the finalized files from us, it does not mean that we close the door for any questions you may have.
No question or feedback is unimportant when it comes to the quality of your translation.
If you have any questions or concerns about the translation you receive, reach out to your assigned project manager. We can always check with our translation team about a word choice or make adjustments if needed.
As your translation provider, our goal is to ensure you are able to communicate effectively with your readers and customers. A high-quality translation is the best way for you to achieve these goals. Having a translation provider with a strong quality assurance process is the best way to help partner with you to make that happen.